2012 Volkswagen GTI | Read Owner Reviews, Prices, Specs

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

24 City / 33 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

200

Seats

5

Positive Owner Reviews

Edw M

The modern style sport feel fast. Impressive for car people

This car is amazing! It is has outstanding pick up on the highway systems. The car is sacedull yet elegant

Emma N

The handling and speed is awesome.

This car is great in all seasons, it is very comfortable and has lots of power. The 4-door hatchback is very roomy. It is nice on the road in which it handles very well around turns and corners. I would recommend this car to someone who is looking for a daily driver.

Kay T

I enjoy having a smaller car, it makes it easier to park.

There are not any problems with the car. Performance is very well, the car is on the sporty side and it is great when wanting to go fast. It is a bit of a smaller car but perfect for when you do not have kids just yet. There's a very reliable back up camera and the speakers in the car are very good and loud.

Quin L

Great car, good on gas. Very comfortable.

Great car. Drives very well. Gets me from place to place. I love how fast it is. It is very comfortable and reliable. Great car. Drives very well. Gets me from place to place. I love how fast it is. It is very comfortable and reliable. It is great on gas.

Lauren F

My car is super fun and super sporty.

My vehicle rarely has problems. The most maintenance that my car requires is filling air in the tires but my car always lets me know when that needs to be done. My car is super smooth especially on the freeway and it is always very fast. I love that it is a six speed manual. It is also very comfortable and easy to get around in.

Samantha I

Great ride, comfortable for short trips or long road trips. Has low mpg though.

Great little zippy car. It is runs great, I haven't had any issues with it. I am looking forward to modifying it. Has so many options available for modifications. Great for driving around town or long trips. I do wish mpg was a little higher for in town but it is a zippy car it uses a lot to get up and go.

Sonya F

The best front wheel drive car you can buy.

It is probably the best front wheel drive car you can buy. It handles well, has lots of power for what it is, and is very responsive. The interior also possesses nice fit and finish. Very nice car. The dual clutch automatic transmission is probably one of the best transmissions ever made. The radio interface works pretty well. Insane amount of trunk and storage space.

Elizabeth H

Small 4 door hatchback, handles great, happy to be part of the Volkswagen family.

The performance is wonderful. The car seems to eat through batteries though, since I have owned it, it is gone through three separate batteries. It is very comfortable for such a small car, and parking is never a problem. Does not have as many features as I'd like, but I never find myself wanting when I am actually driving.

Negative Owner Reviews

Brita F

Volkswagen gti has good handling and is fun to drive.

This vehicle drives well, has good handling and a good size. It is comfortable, and has a nice amount of space with the hatchback. Unfortunately has not been very reliable, and has required a lot of unforeseen maintenance during the 4 years I have owned it.

Brytney D

A car of many opportunities.

My car is a very nice car. It handles very well. It only has 200 horsepower but it picks up very quickly and feels very light for a hatchback. I love the hatchback feature since I need it as a family car. It gets great gas mileage which I really love because I am constantly driving everywhere. The car also has some nice features such as heated seats, Bluetooth, and sensor lights for tire pressure, windshield wiper fluid, and many more. For being a manual car, I find it very forgiving and easy to drive. The clutch is very forgiving and smooth and when shifting, the gears just slide into place. Optimal for someone wanting to learn how to drive stick. Do not be discouraged by the 200 hp either, they are well manufactured cars as well as easily modified if you wish. Can be made into a sports car, a family car, or even an outdoor adventurous car since it is a hatchback. The possibilities are endless.

Kirsten F

Fun, fast and cute. Cost of ownership is the only drawback.

Expensive to own. Repairs are difficult and usually require dealership or European auto specialist. However, it is a fun car to drive and is very comfortable. The back seat is roomier than you might think and the 4 door model I have can comfortable fit 4 adults.

Volkswagen GTI Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

Base

200 HP 27 MPG 5 Seats

w/Conv & Sunroof

200 HP 27 MPG 5 Seats

w/Sunroof & Navi

200 HP 27 MPG 5 Seats

Autobahn

200 HP 27 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2012 Volkswagen GTI Owner Reviews

4.53

34 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

62%

4 stars

29%

3 stars

9%

2 stars

0%

1 star

0%

Elizabeth H on June 19, 2021

Small 4 door hatchback, handles great, happy to be part of the Volkswagen family.

The performance is wonderful. The car seems to eat through batteries though, since I have owned it, it is gone through three separate batteries. It is very comfortable for such a small car, and parking is never a problem. Does not have as many features as I'd like, but I never find myself wanting when I am actually driving.

Quin L on April 14, 2021

Great car, good on gas. Very comfortable.

Great car. Drives very well. Gets me from place to place. I love how fast it is. It is very comfortable and reliable. Great car. Drives very well. Gets me from place to place. I love how fast it is. It is very comfortable and reliable. It is great on gas.

View All Reviews (34)

Pros from Owners

Niko G.

The pros are the driving experience, comfort features, such as heated leather seats, sunroof, climate control, touch radio, Bluetooth. The reliability, and performance of the car. The seats are comfortable, and the steering wheel is amazing.

Cons from Owners

Niko G.

There are not any cons I can think of, the electronics are sometimes weird, like the push start occasionally does not work the first press, otherwise there really are very few cons. There perhaps could be more cargo space, but the car is small and that is to be expected.

Ranks #7 Small Cars by Owners

The 2012 Volkswagen GTI has an average owner rating of 4.52 out of 5 which ranks it #7 of 36 other Small Cars.

1

2012 Volkswagen GLI

4.8

2

2012 Volkswagen Eos

4.76

7

2012 Volkswagen GTI

4.49

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2012 Volkswagen GTI has a combined MPG of 38 which ranks it #9 of 36 other Small Cars.

1

Tie

2012 Volkswagen Golf

42 MPG

1

Tie

2012 Volkswagen Jetta

42 MPG

9

Tie

2012 Volkswagen GTI

33 MPG

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 2012 VW GTI have a timing belt or chain?

Answer: The 2012 Volkswagen GTI uses a timing chain rather than a timing belt. Because it uses a timing chain, it usually doesn't need to be replaced unlike the belt. The only reason why it would ever need to be...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Not Rated

Rollover

Side

Not Rated

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

2012 Volkswagen GTI Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

Positive Owner Reviews

Negative Owner Reviews

Volkswagen GTI Models

2012 Volkswagen GTI Owner Reviews

Pros from Owners

Cons from Owners

Ranks #7 Small Cars by Owners

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

Is The 2012 Volkswagen GTI A Good Car?

How Reliable Is The 2012 Volkswagen GTI?

Is The 2012 Volkswagen GTI A Good Value?

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Safety & Reliability