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.