2003 Volkswagen GTI

Minor upgrades were made to the Volkswagen GTI models for 2003. The steering wheel, hand brake, and shift knob were wrapped in leather, for instance, and the side-curtain airbags got extra padding.

The GTI lineup consisted of two trim packages. The base model was the 1.8T, which was equipped with a turbocharged 180-horsepower, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that was linked to a five-speed manual transmission (a five-speed automatic was optional). Kicking things up a notch was the GTI VR6, which came with a 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine that generated 200 horsepower. It was linked to a six-speed manual transmission.

Standard features included anti-lock brakes, a CD player, air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, cruise control, a tilt/telescopic steering column, keyless remote entry, and an anti-trap device in the trunk. Options included a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a CD changer. The 1.8T also came with traction control, while the VR6 was equipped with a stability control system with electronic brake assistance. A power sunroof, heated front seats, and a CD changer were among the options.

The GTI's acceleration, handling, styling, and safety features were cited as positive points by drivers. However, reliability issues were noted by a few drivers.