The 2023 VW Golf GTI: Fun to Drive, Tough to Endure
Our long-term 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI has given us a year of thrilling drives, from cross-country road trips to local excursions. It lives up to its reputation as a zippy, charismatic hot hatch. But after countless miles, one recurring complaint overshadows its many strengths: the ride quality.
Despite its adaptive dampers and even after switching to softer-riding tires, the GTI’s ride remains unforgiving for everyday use. The main culprit? The 19-inch wheels that come with our model.
This isn’t just my take as the GTI’s primary driver. Multiple colleagues have echoed the sentiment. SEO manager Tom Rosquin noted that the oversized wheels “totally kill the ride quality and add massive road noise,” while associate editor Billy Rehbock observed that it “delivers a harsher ride over rough surfaces” compared to the base model on 18-inch wheels.
A Legacy of Sportiness—With a Trade-Off
The GTI has always been known for its sporty handling, and we love that about it. But there’s a fine line between “sporty” and “stiff,” and this eighth-generation Mk VIII GTI crosses it. Volkswagen’s decision to stiffen the spring rates (5% in the front and 15% in the rear) compared to the Mk VII, combined with the larger wheels, amplifies the issue.
While the GTI rides fine on smooth roads, navigating broken pavement, potholes, or uneven surfaces—common in cities like Los Angeles—becomes uncomfortable. Even with adaptive dampers set to the most comfortable mode, the harshness persists. Swapping the original Hankook Ventus tires for Bridgestone Potenzas slightly improved the situation, but the fundamental problem lies with the short sidewalls of the summer performance tires and the large wheel diameter.
How Does the GTI Compare to Rivals?
Competitors like the 2025 Honda Civic Si and the 2024 Subaru WRX TR offer insight into how Volkswagen might improve. The Civic Si, with its standard 18-inch wheels, delivers a smoother, more comfortable ride without sacrificing its sporty nature. Meanwhile, the WRX TR’s 19-inch wheels and track-tuned suspension excel on smoother roads and tracks but share some of the GTI’s rough-road discomfort.
Volkswagen could learn from Honda’s balanced approach. The Civic Si demonstrates that practicality and performance don’t have to come at the cost of comfort.
A Call for Change: Smaller Wheels, Bigger Comfort
Volkswagen’s decision to reserve 18-inch wheels for the GTI’s lower S and SE trims feels like a missed opportunity. While the 19-inch wheels might appeal to customers prioritizing aesthetics, the penalties in ride quality far outweigh their visual appeal for daily drivers.
If the GTI were exclusively a track car, we’d have fewer complaints. But for those of us who rely on it as a daily driver, the desire for a smoother, quieter commute is hard to ignore. We hope Volkswagen rethinks its approach to wheel options in future iterations. Until then, we’ll keep wincing every time we hit a bump.