It May Be Time to Shed a Tear
The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 S is a one-year special edition model available exclusively to North America. The Golf, now in its eighth generation, debuted in 1983, replacing the Rabbit. It’s a driving purist’s car with a great reputation among enthusiasts.
What makes it a ‘special edition’ is Volkswagen has announced the third pedal will become a memory with the end of production of the 2024 Golf GTI 380 S. The Golf will continue to be built past 2024, but all future models will have the semi-automatic transmission. We are not selling the quick-shifting automatic short, but let’s get real here—it isn’t a manual.
Let’s cut right to it because if the 6-speed manual is the primary reason you are considering buying it, then don’t sit on your hands much longer!
Strap in. Feel the engine rumble. Engage the clutch. Try to stop smiling.
The 2024 Golf GTI 380 S hatchback needs to be driven; nay, wants to be driven. Which is exactly what we did for one fun-filled week, tackling Southern California freeways and mountain roads. Hey, Volkswagen, please reconsider and don’t take this one away!
Turbocharged Enthusiasm
The Golf GTI 380 S, has an intercooled turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 16-valve 4-cylinder engine putting out 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The front wheels are driven through a smooth, slick-shifting 6-speed manual that has a very forgiving clutch. If you are looking for more umph and traction, the 2024 Mk8 Golf R with 315 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque comes standard with 4Motion all-wheel drive.
Maximum torque for the GTI 380 S is at 1,750 rpm, but that doesn’t begin to tell the performance story. The torque band is wide as you go through the gears, with 2nd through 4th where the acceleration fun and responsiveness lies. Our 0-60 times were a respectable 5.1 seconds, but straight line speed will not be the pacing item for owning a Golf GTI 380 S or what makes it so much fun.
Launching in first is only the gateway to the 2-3-4 gear sequence wringing out performance that is wonderful between 3,500 and 6,000 rpm. Go find sweeping corners or tight twisties to test this gear sequence and torque. Note: Pay no attention to the upshift/downshift read-out on the dash gauge, as it wants you to shift so as to take the fun out of driving in high revs.
The clutch is smooth and forgiving; the transmission has short throws. Volkswagen engineers have made it possible from a standing start, at slow speeds and on flat roads, to gently release the clutch without pressing on the accelerator pedal. This helps with smooth launches making dumping the clutch and stalling the engine hard to do. The forgiving clutch at low speeds also comes in handy when stuck in stop-and-go rush hour traffic, as the fewer times needing to depress the left pedal, the less stress and fatigue on your leg.
Fuel economy estimates by the EPA are 23 city/34 highway/27 combined miles per gallon. Because of driving aggressively much of the time, over 231 miles we averaged 25 mpg. But in one 110-mile highway run and another of 85 miles at 65 mph, we averaged 33.7 mpg. Fuel economy numbers reported by Clean Fleet Report are non-scientific and represent the reviewer’s driving experience. Your numbers may differ.
Driving Experience: Stay Away from a Straight Line
The 3,137-pound Golf GTI has a light and agile feel with a surefooted driving experience, that begins with the Bridgestone Potenza S005 235/43R summer performance sport tires mounted on 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. This hot hatch sticks to the ground!
The well-weighted progressive variable-ratio electric-power assist steering provided accurate turning, with the leather-wrapped steering wheel having a good, solid feel. The driving modes of Comfort and Sport have different steering weight and throttle response, while Custom allows the driver to set those to their liking.
The four-wheel independent multi-link sport suspension, with electronic stability control, has front struts and coil springs with coil springs, telescopic dampers and an anti-roll bar on the rear delivering a smooth, solid ride. The torque-sensing limited slip differential with an electronic differential lock aided in providing for precision handling.
Search out esses with left-right sweepers that will demonstrate the ease and flow of the handling. There is no herky-jerky correcting of the steering wheel, or as Volkswagen calls it, “steering corruption,” only smooth transitions to easily find the apex. There was good lateral stability in the chassis in part because the stamped steel body uses high-strength, hot-formed steel. The tight turning radius of 38.1 feet made most three-point turns unnecessary.
The stops were straight and true with the Golf’s standard four-wheel anti-lock braking system, power assisted front vented and rear solid discs, with electronic brake pressure distribution and electronic stability control. The red calipers poking out from the multi-spoke gloss black aluminum-alloy wheels looked sharp.
How to summarize the handling of the Golf GTI? It is a sport hatchback with a balanced suspension for handling and ride comfort that can only be topped for handling and performance in the Volkswagen line-up by its sibling, the Golf R that has all-wheel drive, more horsepower and torque, but comes at a higher price.
Sport Interior
The 2024 Golf GTI comes in three trims—S, SE and Autobahn. Clean Fleet Report drove the Golf GTI 380 S, the one-year special edition where practicality and performance meet.
The heated sport front seats have manual adjustments, but power recline. Covered in a black durable cloth, the Titan Black and plaid design had red stitching and accents, with red embossed “GTI” on the integrated headrests. The seats were comfortable, supportive and grippy, especially when cornering. There is an impressive amount of seat travel that will accommodate tall drivers. Without a sunroof, there is plenty of head room. The shoulder belts were height adjustable so they don’t cut across your neck.
The rear seats two adults, three in a pinch, where they get USB ports and adjustable climate vents. Leg, head and shoulder room was good, and the fold down center console has cup holders and opens for long item pass-through. The utility of a hatchback comes into play with 19.9 cubic feet of cargo storage with the rear seats upright that grows to a useful 34.5 cubic feet with the 60:40 split rear seat laid flat. There is a nifty system to hold up the rear cargo deck cover that reveals the 125/70/70 temporary use tire.
The three stainless steel pedal covers, plus the dead pedal, and the carpeted front and rear floor mats were nice touches.
Digital Cockpit
The 10.25-inch configurable digital information display includes round speedometer, tachometer and boost gauges with a black background, white lettering and red accents that matched the red stitching on the leather-covered steering wheel and shifter. The ball-style shifter has a nice grip and is situated perfectly in the center console where it shares space with the electronic parking brake piano switch.
Taking center stage of the dash is the 8.25-inch color touchscreen that handles the rear view camera and the seven-speaker audio system with AM/FM/HD radio, with four USB C ports and app connection interfaces. SiriusXM is not available. Also part of the MIB2 infotainment system is Bluetooth for telephone and streaming music and wireless phone charging. The SE and Autobahn trims have a 10-inch display.
A combination of knobs, switches and touch controls on the center screen or on the multi-function steering wheel work the radio and single zone climate system.
Other conveniences are power windows, keyless access, push button start/stop, rain sensing windshield wipers, power adjustable and folding heated side mirrors with puddle lamps, rear window wiper and washer, electronic parking brake, hill hold, anti-theft system, a tire pressure monitoring system, trip computer display and multi-color ambient cabin lighting.
All Golf models are equipped with Volkswagen’s CarNet connected car technology that provides a seamless link between the car and an iPhone, Android smartphone or computer, to as Volkswagen says, “keep you connected with your car even when you’re apart.”
Iconic Design
The iconic exterior is classic Golf, with Volkswagen designers not going the route of adding unnecessary scoops, vents or an overly large front grille. The Golf GTI is true to itself as a compact hatchback that delivers a pure joy of driving. Clean Fleet Report’s test car, was painted in a very attractive Atlantic Blue Metallic with a black roof.
The sleek LED head and daytime running lights squint from the far edges of the fenders, sitting above the five LED fog light pattern on the lower fascia. The sculpted and gently sloped hood leads to a strong but subtle body line, the line that runs the side of the car from front to back. The flat roof has a color-keyed shark fin antenna that sits just before the small hatch window visor. Horizontal LED tail lamps, a VW badge that flips-up to reveal the rear view camera, and the bold “GTI” badge in red all reside above the twin chrome-tipped exhaust pipes peaking-out from under the rear fascia.
Driver Assistance and Safety
In addition to six airbags, all 2024 Volkswagen Golf models come with IQ Drive that uses front and rear radar, a front camera and several ultrasound sensors to collect data enabling semi-automated driving assistance. Other Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) are Travel Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitor, rear traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. Travel Assist also allows for brief amounts of time where the driver’s hands are not touching the steering wheel. Emergency Assist will bring the Golf to a stop if no driver activity is monitored.
The Intelligent Crash Response System turns off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors and switches on the hazard lights in case of an accident. If there is an accident, the brakes are automatically applied by the automatic post-collision braking system so the car does not continue moving, resulting in a secondary accident. This technology’s value helps insure an incapacitated driver is not injured further by their car striking another object.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2024 Golf GTI 380 S comes in three trims with these base prices, including the mandatory $1,225 destination fee.
380 S $33,910
380 SE $38,710
380 Autobahn $42,050
The Golf comes with these warranties:
- New Vehicle (Fully transferable) – Four years/50,000 miles
- Scheduled Maintenance – Two years/20,000 miles
- Roadside Assistance – Three years/36,000 mile
- Corrosion Perforation – Seven years/100,000 miles
Observations: 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 S
Volkswagen’s former marketing slogan of Farfegnugen, or “driving enjoyment,” perfectly embodies the 2024 Golf GTI 380 S.
It is okay to shed a tear, play taps, doff your hat, place hand-on-heart or maybe even lament a bit knowing the 6-speed manual will no longer be offered in future Volkswagen Golf GTIs.
If your left leg needs a workout, or enough-is-enough of sitting back and not being an active participant in the performance of a car, get down to your local Volkswagen dealer and checkout the Golf GTI 380 S.
The base 2024 Golf GTI, with the 7-speed automatic, is only $720 less than the GTI 380 S with the 6-speed manual transmission. The savings don’t equal the fun being lost. Assuming you actually enjoy driving.
Dollar-for-dollar the GTI 380 S is an absolute blast to drive as it does more than expected. The Golf GTI holds its own against competing rivals like the Hyundai Veloster N, Toyota GR Corolla, and the Honda Civic Type Si.
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Story and photos by John Faulkner.
Some of our rare manual adventures:
Flash Drive: MPG Drive Day
Road Test: 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback
Flash Drive: 2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost & Coyote 5.0 V8
Road Test: 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI S
Road Test: 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited
News: 2023 Honda Civic Type R
Road Test: 2021 Chevrolet Camaro TS 2.0L Turbo
Road Test: 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE
Road Test: 2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec
Disclosure:
Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements.
Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.
