The came to America (notably as a replacement for the Beetle) during the 1970s. That hatchback, which ushered in "hot hatch" nomenclature, is now in its eighth generation as it nears 50 years on sale in the United States. The regular Golf is no longer available, but the legendary Golf GTI and new-age, all-wheel drive are still on sale, with a manual transmission.
For the last 49 years, VW has offered the Golf with a human-shifted gearbox. Soon, it will be no more. For 2024, the is sending off the manual transmission into the sunset with a new "380" option package included on all versions with a six-speed.
The name is a nod to a fourth-generation special, itself a nod to the original. The GTI 380 tested here wore an exclusive color called Graphite Gray Metallic; all come with an adaptive suspension, gloss black 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and summer performance tires. The 380 also adds a gloss black painted roof with gloss black mirror caps.
The GTI was redesigned in 2020 but it kept its signature red strip on the front to denote its sportiness. An optional light bar behind the VW logo adds a bit of flair while newly standard LED headlights sit above X-shaped fog lights for a unique signature in rearview mirrors. All 2024 Volkswagen GTI hatchbacks are powered by a turbocharged 2.
0-liter four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower (hp) and 273 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. The engine is plenty powerful for fun, daily driving and the gear shift is enjoyable to move through the ga.
