Best economy car, hatchback 2011 Honda Fit *Est. $15100
Best economy car, sedan 2011 Hyundai Elantra *Est. $14830
Best sporty compact car 2011 Volkswagen GTI *Est. $23695
Best nonhybrid fuel economy 2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI *Est. $23225
Best cheap compact car 2011 Nissan Versa *Est. $9990

See All Economy Cars

2008 Volkswagen GTI

(*est. $22,800 to $32,990)

Pros

Precise steering and fluid handling
Well-engineered powertrain
Quick acceleration
Well-equipped

Cons

Fuel economy
Stiff suspension
Cramped rear seat
Reliability is questionable

Our Analysis

We found several useful comparative reviews for the 2008 Volkswagen GTI. Editors at Car and Driver magazine choose the GTI as one of their 10 Best Cars for 2008 in an informative feature article. Consumer Reports magazine uses the results of thorough road tests and owner surveys to compile a comprehensive, easy-to-understand review of the VW GTI. ConsumerGuide.com also evaluates the 2008 GTI on test performance; thorough performance analysis and value-based recommendations make this a helpful resource. Car and Driver magazine reports on a smaller-scale head-to-head test involving the GTI and four other sporty compact cars. Cars.com, US News & World Report magazine and ForbesAutos.com offer brief overviews of the 2008 Volkswagen GTI. CarCritic.com's concise review focuses on reliability and expected depreciation.

Volkswagen's most-expensive compact car is the 2008 Volkswagen GTI, a turbo-charged hatchback that shares some major components with several other VW models. The GTI competes with sporty compacts like the Honda Civic Si (*est. $21,110 to $29,500) and the Mazdaspeed3 (*est. $22,440 to $24,155), and many reviews say it's a worthy contender. The GTI offers VW's usual array of premium options, along with a characteristically long list of standard features. Reviewers say that EPA fuel-mileage estimates are not bad for a turbo-charged car, but that they're pretty paltry compared with the compact class as a whole. The 2008 Volkswagen GTI also draws some fire for its too-firm suspension tuning. All in all, critics say the GTI is a delight to pilot and is a bargain compared with Volkswagen's all-wheel drive R32 hatchback (*est. $32,990 and up).

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2008 Volkswagen GTI

Our Sources

1. Car and Driver Details/Subscribe

Car and Driver annually evaluates the year's new vehicles, along with prior best-car winners. The Volkswagen GTI is said to be a good value, offering a roomy cabin, a sporty ride and a quality build.

Review: 2008 10 Best Cars, Csaba Csere and Tony Swan, Jan. 2008

2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Editors at Consumer Reports evaluate most vehicles on the North American market, including the Volkswagen GTI. Along with road-test results, they include notes on safety and predicted reliability.

Review: 2008 Volkswagen GTI, Editors of Consumer Reports

3. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com's editors award the 2008 Volkswagen GTI their "Recommended" label, praising its handling, acceleration, control design and cargo room, but they also note that the ride can be rough and the rear seat unaccommodating.

Review: 2008 Volkswagen GTI, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Sept. 16, 2008

4. Car and Driver Details/Subscribe

In Car and Driver's comparison test of five bargain-minded performance cars, the 2007 Volkswagen GTI places a close second. Reviewers say that it's composed and confident on the road, but that the suspension is too stiff.

Review: Power Toys, Patrick Bedard, May 2007

5. CarCritic.comDetails/Subscribe

Lead editor Don Vorderman summarizes the 2008 Volkswagen GTI as inexpensive and fun to drive, but he hesitates to recommend this model because of its "consistent subpar reliability issues".

Review: 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI, Don Vorderman

6. Cars.com

Cars.com's annual compilation of Best Bets – which considers such issues as safety, practicality, comfort and performance – is a fairly long list. The 2008 Volkswagen GTI's pluses include excellent handling, drivetrain and interior.

Review: New Best Bets, Editors of Cars.com

7. U.S. News & World Report Details/Subscribe

The Volkswagen GTI has above-average ratings for affordability, long-term dependability and fuel efficiency, earning it a spot on this list of cars considered "a smart buy". Newman likes the GTI's performance, but not its styling.

Review: Hot Cars for Lean Times, Rick Newman, Nov. 28, 2007

8. ForbesAutos.com

The 2008 Volkswagen GTI is among seven cars listed here as leading a "resurgence" of hatchbacks. Very short reviews are visible under each model name; interested readers can follow links to slideshows containing more information.

Review: Hatchback Comeback, Phil Patton, Oct. 22, 2007

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