2023 VW Golf GTI: Can It Impress?

author: FutureCar Staff    

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI is a car that appeals to driving enthusiasts with its manual transmission, torque, and unique design features. It also offers practical features that are appreciated by dog owners, such as a high roofline, easy ingress, and a user-friendly center console.

Every month, our award-winning family of Australian Shepherds tests a new car. You can find the complete 2023 Will It Dog? catalog here.

During our test, Bramble the dog and her fellow canines enjoyed their time in the Golf GTI. However, I personally didn't feel as connected to the car as I expected to be. While it delivers on practicality and performance, it didn't evoke the emotional response I was hoping for. We will discuss this further in the review.

Welcome to Will It Dog, The Drive's car review series for dog owners. In this series, we examine what it's like to live with a VW GTI if you have dogs and highlight specific aspects that are beneficial or detrimental for dog owners. While we focus on the car's physical attributes for carrying animals, we also provide insights into its driving dynamics.

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Our main test dogs, Bramble, Indi, and Silas, are littermates with a mix of Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd. Bramble weighs around 40 pounds, while her brothers weigh about 60 pounds each. They are energetic and comfortable with car rides, harnesses, and traveling.

Here are the specifications of the 2023 VW Golf GTI for dog owners:

• Base Price (as tested): $31,765 ($34,030)
• Seating Capacity (people): 5
• Seating Capacity (dogs): 4 (one in the cargo bay) (with human driver only)
• EPA Fuel Economy: 23 mpg city | 32 highway | 27 combined
• Cargo Volume: 19.9 cubic feet behind second row | 34.5 cubic feet behind first row
• Quick Take: A practical performance car that can accommodate dogs, but doesn't feel fully optimized for them.
• Will It Dog Score: 7/10

The interior of the Golf GTI offers a comfortable and upright hatchback design. The high driving position and excellent visibility make it easy to navigate. The cargo bay behind the rear seats is not very deep, but it is tall, allowing for large items like a dog kennel.

All the seats are covered in a durable cloth material. The front seats strike a good balance between sporty and comfortable, while the plaid inserts add personality to the otherwise plain interior. The display and driver interface are mostly digital, and Volkswagen has taken advantage of this to create unique gauge cluster layouts.

However, the plastics used on the doors and dashboard are disappointing. The interior lacks interesting shapes or surfaces. If you have a dog, it's advisable to cover everything within their reach to prevent any scratches or claw marks.

Getting in and out of the Golf GTI is easy for both people and animals. The car's shape and height make it accessible for dogs of all sizes. The tailgate is slightly higher than the rear door, but overall, the car is user-friendly for a wide range of body types and dog breeds.

When driving at normal speeds, Bramble enjoyed riding in the back and had plenty of space to stick her snout out of the rear windows. The center console is low enough for dogs to reach, so it's important to buckle them in to prevent them from sneaking into the front.

One downside of the rear seat design is that it is quite flat. This can cause dogs to slide around when driving at higher speeds. Other small sporty cars have deeper seats that allow dogs to nest and brace themselves. The rear windows of the Golf GTI roll down deep enough for dogs to enjoy fresh-air sniffs.

On paper, the GTI seems like an exciting car with its six-speed manual transmission and powerful torque. However, the driving experience left me feeling somewhat disconnected. The steering felt numb, and the gear shifts were long and rubbery. While it may not be the most thrilling sport compact, it is comfortable for long drives and daily commuting.

The Golf GTI offers decent cargo space for carrying multiple dogs or one large canine. The flat rear bench can be beneficial in this regard. However, if you need to carry more than two people, you may have to sacrifice some cargo space. It's important to secure your dogs with a seatbelt-compatible harness or use a cabin divider.

Based on its design, I expected the Golf GTI to accommodate kennels more easily. The area behind the rear seats is tall enough for medium-sized kennels, but not deep enough. Alternatively, you can place a kennel on top of the rear seats, but this reduces passenger capacity.

In conclusion, the VW Golf GTI is a suitable car for those who enjoy driving and need a dog taxi. While it may not have evoked a strong emotional response from me, it is objectively appealing. However, it requires some strategic planning to ensure both people and dogs can coexist comfortably in the limited space. Keep in mind that while the car may appear spacious when empty, it fills up quickly when accommodating a kennel or large breed of dog.

For more information on dog car gear and travel accessories, and to see other cars tested by dogs, visit our website.

FutureCar Staff