2023 VW Golf GTI: Does It Live Up?

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI offers a range of features that driving enthusiasts will appreciate. It includes a manual transmission, ample torque, and unique design elements that help it stand out among other cars. Additionally, it provides features that my dog enjoys, such as a high roofline, easy access, and a user-friendly center console.

Every month, we showcase a new car that is tested by our team of Australian Shepherds. You can explore the complete 2023 Will It Dog? catalog here.

Bramble and her fellow canine companions had a great time in the Golf GTI, although I must admit that I was not as impressed with the driving experience. While the car delivers on its promise of practicality and performance, I didn't feel as emotionally connected to the GTI as I had expected. 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 can either help or hinder its suitability as a dog-friendly car. While we primarily focus on the car's physical attributes for carrying animals, we also provide insights into its driving dynamics.

Do you have a favorite car yet?

Our primary test dogs, Bramble, Indi, and Silas, are littermates. They are a mix of Golden Retriever and Australian Shepherd breeds. Bramble is the smallest, weighing around 40 pounds, while her brothers weigh approximately 60 pounds each. They are energetic dogs who are 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, although it may not be optimized specifically for them.
• Will It Dog Score: 7/10

The Golf GTI has a relatively upright hatchback design, with a shorter hood and a higher driving position compared to other cars like the Honda Civic hatchback. This design provides excellent visibility, and the rear hatch is steep, resulting in a generous amount of usable cargo space.

The cargo bay behind the rear seats is not particularly deep, but it is tall. You can fold down either one or both of the back seats to create more room for larger items, such as a dog kennel.

All the seats are covered in a durable cloth material. The front seats strike a good balance between support, sportiness, and comfort, although the backrests feel slightly less refined. The signature plaid inserts add personality to the otherwise plain black interior.

The display and driver interface are predominantly digital, with a screen gauge cluster, center controls, and a few remaining buttons that function more like touchscreens. Unlike most modern cars, VW has taken advantage of this digital platform to create visually appealing and unique gauge cluster layouts.

However, the plastics used in the door and dashboard are disappointing. They lack interesting shapes or surfaces and contribute to a monotonous black interior. While we didn't observe any scratches or claw marks during our doggie test drive, it is advisable to be cautious and cover any surfaces within the dog's reach.

Getting in and out of the Golf GTI is effortless for both humans and animals. The car's shape ensures that there is no need to climb or descend excessively, regardless of the size of your dog's paws.

The tailgate is slightly higher than the rear door, but overall, the Golf GTI is user-friendly for a wide range of body types and dog breeds, especially among sporty cars.

During normal driving speeds, Bramble enjoyed riding in the back and had ample space to stick her snout out of the open rear windows. The front seats are designed in a way that allows her to easily reach my shoulder, which is quite adorable.

The center console is positioned low, making it easily accessible to our animals. If your dogs are not restrained, you may find them sneaking into the front if you momentarily divert your attention.

One drawback of the rear seat design is its flatness. When driving at higher speeds and taking corners, dogs can easily slide around in the back. Other small sporty cars, such as the Acura Integra and Toyota GR86, have deeper bucket seats that provide better support and stability for dogs.

The rear windows of the Golf GTI roll down sufficiently, allowing dogs to enjoy fresh-air sniffs at lower speeds.

On paper, the GTI appears to be an exciting car, with its six-speed manual transmission, 273 lb-ft of torque, and a curb weight below 3,500 pounds. However, I personally found it difficult to emotionally connect with the car, unlike my experiences with Miatas, Toyobarus, and older Hondas.

The steering feels slightly numb, and the gear shifter has long and somewhat rubbery throws, which prevented the car from truly igniting my enthusiasm. It seemed a bit too refined in the wrong areas. However, unlike other cars in its class and price range, the GTI is not tiring to drive. So, what didn't resonate with me might be a positive aspect for others.

The GTI's road noise is not bothersome, and its driving posture is comfortable for long journeys. While it may not be my preferred choice for spirited driving in the canyons, it is well-suited for daily commuting and cross-country trips.

The flat rear bench, which I mentioned earlier, can be advantageous when transporting multiple dogs or a large canine. We were able to fit several dogs comfortably in the Golf GTI, and smaller breeds could even fit behind the rear seats, allowing for five people and an unrestrained animal in the cargo area.

However, if your dogs are on the back seat, be cautious of the low center console, as they may try to jump onto the gearshift. We recommend using a seatbelt-compatible harness to secure your dogs, but if that's not possible, consider using a cabin divider to create a separate space for them.

Based on the Golf GTI's tall and spacious roof, I expected it to accommodate kennels more easily than it does. While the area behind the rear seats is tall enough for a medium-sized collapsible kennel, it lacks sufficient depth. You can fold down one of the rear seats to fit the kennel, but this reduces the passenger capacity to three (including the driver).

Alternatively, you can leave the rear seats in place and place a kennel on top of them, preserving cargo space behind the seats. However, this option is only suitable when there are two people in the car. The kennel must be able to fit through the door, such as our inflatable Diggs Enventur unit.

In conclusion, the VW Golf GTI, and its higher-performance sibling, the Golf R, are excellent cars for those who enjoy driving and need a dog-friendly vehicle. While I personally didn't feel a strong emotional connection to the GTI, it is undeniably an appealing car. However, it is important to consider how you utilize the available space in the Golf GTI to ensure the comfort of both humans and dogs. With two people in the car, it may be best to fold down the back seats and create a large dog nest. With three or more people, the car can realistically accommodate only one dog of approximately Golden Retriever size.

Keep in mind that while the Golf GTI may appear spacious when empty, the presence of a kennel or a large breed of dog can quickly consume the available space. Despite its growth over the years, the Golf GTI remains a relatively small car.

Explore our featured dog car gear and travel accessories, and discover more cars that have been tested by dogs, for dogs.