A motoring icon will reach a landmark birthday in 2026 when the Volkswagen Golf GTI hits 50, with the manufacturer set to conduct a range of events across the globe to mark the occasion.
Volkswagen has already announced the launch of a special, limited edition version of the model – the Golf GTI Edition 50 – to celebrate half a century of the hot hatch, with the first versions of the car set to arrive with owners in the first quarter of 2026.
The new year will also mark the start of a new era for the model as the first ever all-electric Golf GTI is revealed – with Volkswagen joining the likes of Hyundai, Renault/Alpine and MG in developing a high-performance, electric hot hatch.
The Golf has been offered in a range of different variants since being launched, and the arguments over which one is best have raged from the moment the Mk2 first hit the road.
With that in mind, here’s a quick guide to the Volkswagen Golf GTI at 50.
Mk1 GTI – 1976 to 1983:
Although the Golf itself was first launched in 1974, it would be two years before the GTI appeared on sale – and even then it wasn’t something that was planned.
The GTI was born as a secret project carried out by a small team led by Head of PR Anton Konrad, who developed the car themselves before it was presented to the Volkswagen board and given the green light to enter production.
Revealed at the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show, the first cars went on sale the following year featuring more aggressive – albeit still somewhat subdued – styling and a more powerful 1.6 litre engine developing 108hp.
Given the low weight of the car, the Mk1 had a top speed of 113mph and a 0-60 time of under ten seconds and is widely viewed as the original hot hatch.
Getting hold of a good one now, particularly an early model with the four-speed gearbox, is becoming increasingly difficult, with prices north of the £20,000 mark.
Mk2 GTI – 1984 to 1991:
Given the huge success of the Mk1 GTI - which registered more than 400,000 sales despite initial plans for a production run of around 5,000 – it was no shock that the high-performance version was always part of the plan for the Mk2 Golf.
Originally offered with the same engine as later Mk1 models, the Mk2 Golf would eventually be offered with a more powerful 1.8 litre unit with 129hp that powered the car to 130mph.
Being larger than the model it replaced meant the Mk2 was more practical but was still relatively lightweight; providing drivers with an engaging experience when they climbed behind the wheel.
As with the Mk1, prices for an original, unmodified Mk2 GTI are on the rise, largely because of the fact that many enthusiasts still see this as the best version of the car.
Mk3 GTI – 1991 to 1997:
Whilst the first two incarnations of the Golf GTI were widely praised, the Mk3 failed to hit the mark in the same way, with an increase in weight meaning it was actually slower than the car it replaced.
An upgraded engine raised the top speed and reduced the 0-60 time, but it was still only a slight improvement on the Mk2 whilst the driving experience also failed to match earlier versions of the car.
Although not the most popular variant with enthusiasts by any means, the Mk3 wasn’t a bad car – it just didn’t hit the heights of its ancestors.
What that means now however is that a good condition Mk3 is one of the most cost-effective ways to get behind the wheel of a Golf GTI, with used prices under £10,000.
Mk4 GTI – 1998 to 2003:
The Mk4 GTI should have been an upgrade on the Mk3 but is arguably the most unloved version that rolled off production lines.
Early models were more warm than hot as the manufacturer provided a car that was comfortable but which didn’t hit the sweet spot when it came to outright performance.
It meant buyers were left with a car that was a step forwards in terms of quality and safety, but which lacked the extra zip that would be expected from a GTI model.
Anyone looking for a high-performance Golf Mk4 is unlikely to go for the GTI but instead invest in the R32, which provided drivers with nearly 240hp from a 3.2 litre engine and could hit 60mph in little over six seconds.
That made it the performance Golf of its time.
Mk5 GTI – 2004 to 2008:
The arrival of the Mk5 GTI marked a return to form for performance Golf, maintaining the high-quality interior of the previous car but with a vastly improved chassis and engine package.
A 2.0 litre turbo-charged engine pumped out nearly 200hp and pushed the car to a top speed of more than 140mph, with a special edition launched to celebrate 30 years of the Golf being even quicker – breaking the 150mph barrier.
The design of the Mk5 GTI was understated but that was part of the appeal for some, with the car being something of a ‘sleeper’ that went under the radar in terms of appearance but still delivered blistering performance.
Combining a high quality engine and strong handing with the usability of the everyday Golf, it’s easy to see why the Mk5 remains well-regarded on the used market.
If only a slightly bonkers version featuring a 6.0 litre bi-turbo engine had progressed beyond the concept stage…
Mk6 GTI – 2009 to 2012:
The Mk6 GTI was only around for three years and didn’t mark a huge step forwards from the Mk5 – aside from a slight boost in performance that moved power beyond 200hp.
The Edition 3 variant, which celebrated 35 years of the Golf, saw power boosted to 232hp and saw the top speed rise to 152mph but in reality the Mk6 didn’t move things on a great deal from the model it replaced.
Like the Mk5, it was a solid all-rounder but then again, it was basically a reworked and slightly upgraded version of the car it replaced.
That meant it was facing ever-increasing levels of competition in the marketplace by the time it went off sale.
Mk7 GTI – 2013 to 2019:
The Mk7 Golf took the best bits from both the Mk5 and the Mk6 and moved things on to create a usable hot hatch that was hugely popular, and which is regarded as one of the best versions of the GTI there is.
First launched with the same engine as the Mk6 GTI with 217hp, there would be the option of adding extra power with a Performance Package before the introduction of the GTI Clubsport and Clubsport S models made the Golf even more potent.
The latter was only available in strictly limited numbers but packed more than 300hp and broke records with its pace at the Nurburgring.
The Mk7 GTI wasn’t just quick, but also offered fantastic handling which makes it just as popular now as a used option as it was when new.
Mk8 GTI – Present day:
And so to the present day, with the Mk8 GTI having now been on sale since 2020.
Originally launched with the same engine as the Mk7 model, an upgrade in 2024 boosted power to more than 260hp and reduced the 0-60 time down to under six seconds – but also saw the removal of a manual gearbox.
The loss of a manual gearbox means some of the magic is lost for true enthusiasts but shouldn’t detract too much from what remains a fantastic car that can be used as a daily driver during the week before having some fun on a weekend.
That will be particularly true when the Golf GTI 50 Edition arrives on sale as the most powerful Golf GTI ever built, with more than 320hp.
- Volkswagen