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2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI price and specs: New hot hatch to cost nearly $60,000 drive-away

2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI price and specs


  • New hot hatch to cost $53,100 before on-road costs, or close to $60,000 drive-away
  • Carry-over engine under the bonnet, with a 180kW turbo 2.0-litre paired to a seven-speed DSG auto
  • Full safety suite is standard, as are large infotainment screens and digital instrument clusters

Australian pricing and specification for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI has been confirmed, with the new-generation hot hatch to start from nearly $60,000 once on-road costs are included – eclipsing that threshold once option packs are added.

On sale from May 24, the new Golf GTI will be priced from $53,100 before on-road costs, up $5910 over the outgoing 'base' version of Volkswagen's hot hatch, and $1610 more than the previous-generation, limited-run GTI TCR, equating to around $58,000 to $59,000 drive-away.

The price rise is partly offset by a handful of additional features – namely a larger, more advanced infotainment screen – however the new GTI will become one of the more expensive options in its class spec-for-spec, based on standard equipment and performance.

Powering the new GTI is the same engine and gearbox as its 'Performance' predecessor from October 2018 onwards, a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder sending 180kW and 370Nm to the front wheels through a seven-speed (wet) dual-clutch automatic transmission.

A six-speed manual hasn't been offered since it was discontinued for 2019, while the 221kW/400Nm GTI Clubsport flagship is currently not in Volkswagen Australia's plans, as reported at the time of its unveiling.

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Above and throughout: UK-spec Volkswagen Golf GTI, riding on Australia's 18-inch Richmond alloy wheels.

Volkswagen claims a 6.3-second 0-100km/h time, while the combined fuel economy rating label is 7.0L/100km.

Performance features bundled as standard with the punchy petrol powertrain include an 'XDS' front differential lock, paddle shifters (to complement the stubby shift-by-wire gear selector), 'progressive' sports steering, adaptive dampers and two-stage stability control – all handled by a new Vehicle Dynamics Manager system.

Standard comfort, convenience, and technology equipment includes a customisable 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with satellite navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED 'performance' headlights, LED daytime-running lights, and X-shaped LED fog lights.

The 18-inch 'Richmond' alloy wheels (with red brake calipers) are standard-fit in Australia, with the larger 19-inch 'Adelaide' and 'Estoril' wheels available as an option in Europe appear to not be offered in Australia at launch.

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There's also a pair of sports seats trimmed in tartan-pattered cloth, red contrast stitching, stainless steel pedals, ambient interior lighting, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, black headlining and a full GTI sports exterior body kit with a bespoke front bumper, red headlight accents, sportier side skirts, a new rear diffuser, dual chrome exhaust tips and a larger rear spoiler.

Volkswagen's full IQ.Drive safety suite is fitted as standard, comprising Travel Assist (combining adaptive cruise control and lane-following assist to steer, brake and accelerate the car within its lane on freeways), autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection and support for intersections, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, an array of airbags and multi-collision braking, which applies the brakes after an accident to prevent subsequent impacts.

There's also a 'proactive occupant protection system' – which closes windows, tightens seat belts and more when sensors detect an imminent collision – plus semi-automated parking, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, driver fatigue monitoring, and a tyre pressure loss alert (though, oddly, not individual tyre pressure monitors).

Two option packages are available: the $1500 Sound & Vision pack, and the $3800 Luxury package.

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The former adds a head-up display and a 480-watt, nine-speaker (plus subwoofer) Harman/Kardon premium sound system, while the latter includes Vienna leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat with memory, front seat heating and ventilation, a heated steering wheel and an electric panoramic glass sunroof.

Pure White, Moonstone Grey Premium, Dolphin Grey Metallic, Atlantic Blue Metallic, Deep Black Pearl Effect and Kings Red Premium Metallic colours are available, the lattermost attracting an additional $300.

A five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty is standard, while $1450 three-year and $2300 five-year servicing packages (dubbed 'Care Plans') can be purchased.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI will go on sale in Australia on May 24.

2021 Volkswagen Golf Australian pricing

Golf manual – $29,350

Golf auto – $31,950

Golf Life auto – $34,250

Golf R-Line auto – $37,450

Golf GTI auto – $53,100

Note: All prices exclude on-road costs.

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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