2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI S

The Golf GTI is Volkswagen's hot hatch, the one that practically invented the segment and still sets the standard for everyday sportiness. It's quick and eager, with a punchy engine that pulls hard from low revs, and the manual gearbox is a joy to row through the gates. Inside, you get a clean, upscale cabin with supportive front seats and a hatchback that swallows a surprising amount of cargo for its size. The S is the GTI that gives up the SE's sunroof and power driver seat, but keeps the same eager engine and chassis tuning for a lower starting price. Its 2.0L I4 makes 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, and with the seven-speed automatic it's quick off the line and still returns 27 mpg combined. The S rides on 18-inch wheels with all-season tires, which soak up bumps a little better than the Autobahn's larger set.