Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Ford Fiesta

2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2015 Ford Fiesta
2015 Ford Fiesta
$14,455MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2015 Ford Fiesta
$14,455MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced

1985-1992

Years produced

1976-2019

MSRP

$32,445

MSRP

$14,455

Listings

3900

Listings

1328

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.5 out of 10

Pros

  • Fun to drive

  • Improved technology

  • Impressive fuel economy

Cons

  • Price increase reduces overall value

  • Frustrated haptic slider controls remain

Reviews Summary

Rent a car while abroad, and there’s a decent chance the agent at the counter will ask if you’d like to upgrade to one equipped with an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions are just more common overseas, particularly in Europe. So, it’s interesting to learn that VW’s decision to drop the manual transmission from the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI was driven by a lack of demand in Germany, and despite increased demand in the United States. The loss of the stick shift is a big deal–this is one of the first ever hot hatchbacks, after all–but it’s only the headline among a short list of notable changes the car receives for this model year.

Verdict: The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still one of the best hatchbacks you can buy today. With a terrific powertrain and everyday practicality, it’s an ideal choice for anyone looking for a useful car that’s also extremely fun to drive.

Reviews Summary

The 2015 Ford Fiesta is just a year into a styling nip and tuck that gave the compact hatchback and sedan a trapezoidal grille and revised rear fascia, plus the arrival of an EcoBoost model. The Fiesta came to the U.S. for 2010, plucked from the global Ford lineup. The swept-back headlamps and cleanly creased bodysides are finally starting to fit in with the rest of the U.S. Ford lineup as other models get restyled with a new worldwide focus.
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.0L 241 hp I4

Engine

1.6L 120 hp I4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

241 hp @ 5000 rpm

Horsepower

120 hp @ 5000 rpm

MPG City

24

MPG City

28

MPG Highway

32

MPG Highway

36
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2015 Ford Fiesta
2015 Ford Fiesta
$14,455MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI
$32,445MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2015 Ford Fiesta
$14,455MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

Years produced
1985-1992
1976-2019
MSRP
$32,445
$14,455
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews

4.6

4.0

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Read full review

7.5 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons

Pros

  • Fun to drive

  • Improved technology

  • Impressive fuel economy

Cons

  • Price increase reduces overall value

  • Frustrated haptic slider controls remain

Summary

Rent a car while abroad, and there’s a decent chance the agent at the counter will ask if you’d like to upgrade to one equipped with an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions are just more common overseas, particularly in Europe. So, it’s interesting to learn that VW’s decision to drop the manual transmission from the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI was driven by a lack of demand in Germany, and despite increased demand in the United States. The loss of the stick shift is a big deal–this is one of the first ever hot hatchbacks, after all–but it’s only the headline among a short list of notable changes the car receives for this model year.

Verdict: The 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still one of the best hatchbacks you can buy today. With a terrific powertrain and everyday practicality, it’s an ideal choice for anyone looking for a useful car that’s also extremely fun to drive.

The 2015 Ford Fiesta is just a year into a styling nip and tuck that gave the compact hatchback and sedan a trapezoidal grille and revised rear fascia, plus the arrival of an EcoBoost model. The Fiesta came to the U.S. for 2010, plucked from the global Ford lineup. The swept-back headlamps and cleanly creased bodysides are finally starting to fit in with the rest of the U.S. Ford lineup as other models get restyled with a new worldwide focus.
Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.0L 241 hp I4
1.6L 120 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
241 hp @ 5000 rpm
120 hp @ 5000 rpm
MPG City
24
28
MPG Highway
32
36
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