Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit / GTI Photo Gallery

Fascia strakes, perhaps the new GTI's most controversial design element, add some visual interest.

Still obviously a Golf, but now with more aggressive proportions and more sophisticated surfacing.

The Golf TDI doesn't look as sporty as the GTI, but arguably appears more upscale in SEL trim.

Opinions differ on the Focus ST's styling: sleeker and more exciting, or a bit much?

e-Golf has distinctive LEDs in the fascia, blue highlights through the headlights, and aero alloys.

No lens trickery here. The new GTI is longer and lower than the old one.

The new GTI looks especially athletic from the rear quarter.

Black leather is more upscale (and feels more upscale than it looks) but plaid cloth is more fun.

The e-Golf interior has a less serious ambiance. Console trim satin rather than black.

Focus ST has a more dramatic interior, but many people feel cramped by the bulging center stack.

Compact, simply designed instrument panel enhances perceived roominess. Two-tone leatherette in TDI.

GTI gets sportier flat-bottomed steering wheel. Controls generally easy to reach and operate.

Though more aggressively bolstered than the seats in the Golf, GTI's buckets not overly tight.

More rear seat room than Americans expect in cars this size. Dark with red-stiched black leather.

Thanks to intelligent packaging of its battery pack, the e-Golf can carry as much cargo as the GTI.

The new, slightly longer Golf can carry about 15 percent more stuff than the old one or the Focus.

As is now usually the case, open the hood, see a plastic cover.

New 2.0-liter turbo four is slightly more powerful but much torquier than the old one. And more mpg.

Fuel line pressure in the new diesel engine can reach 30,000 psi.

The e-Golf motor. It's probably not a good idea to touch the orange bits with the power on.

Looks like a VW Golf with different wheels.

I'm not a fan of the blue-white combo. Otherwise, though, the Soul EV looks like any other Soul.

This is different.

The e-Golf's face gains a blue line and unique LED DRLs. On the SEL the headlights are also LEDs.

The charge port takes the place of the fuel filler--in the right rear fender.

Charger won't release? Why don't you give it a good yank...

The seventh-generation Golf is the most attractive to date. But not exciting to look at.

I prefer the Soul EV in all white.

For 2015 light gray was the only interior color opion. For 2016 you can get beige or black.

Kia did more to dress up its EV's interior. I'm not in love, but at least they tried.

BMW loves to reinvent the automotive interior. The salesman had to show me how to put it in D.

Not especially stylish, but tasteful and solid.

Clear, logical controls--except for the antiquated nav.

Kia made more of an effort to appear high-tech than VW, if less than BMW.

Comfortable and supportive. If only the vinyl looks more like leather...

Adult-friendly back seat, with vents.

As much cargo capacity as a regular Golf--quite an achievement.

Aside from the Tesla Model X, about as much cargo volume as you'll find in an EV.

There's little noise to suppress, but the e-Golf's EV bits get some garnishing anyway.

The thing that looks like a cylinder head? Probably the inverter. The motor is under the beam.

Little about the Golf R's face suggests its performance potential.

To distinguish a Golf R from a GTI, look for these wheels. OR a little R in the grille.

The standard 18-inch wheels fill their openings plenty well. But 19s are optional.

The latest Golf is the most attractive yet. My favorite angle. Quad tips on the Golf R.

If you've seen the inside of a GTI, you know what to expect. Standard leather, so no plaid cloth.

As with the exterior, nothing flashy inside the car, just good, clean design.

Well-designed controls. This is a 2015. 2016s have much-improved infotainment systems.

Comfortable, supportive front seats. The driver seat has standard 4-way power lumbar adjustment.

Not obvious in this photo owing to the position of the front seat, but adult-friendly back seat.

Folding rear seat includes a pass-through.

High-performance cars don't come much more versatile than the Golf R.

After seeing the exterior and interior, were you expecting a special fancy engine cover?

No eye candy under the engine cover, either, but everything is neatly assembled.

Big turbo behind the engine.

If you want a big grille, get an Audi. Optional LED headlamps.

Red box.

The Mazda's curves wear its red paint better. Larger, sportier wheels also don't hurt.

Same sheetmetal, sportier trimmings. I'd love to see Volkswagen offer a GTI SportWagen in NA.

A functional roof line.

Styling to like, but not lust after, even in red.

Much less boxy than the VW.

Volvo demonstrates how to do a sexy wagon.

Good, clean design inside as well. Very good materials for the price, very solid.

VW can make this interior less boring. Witness the GTI.

No shortage of unadorned silver plastic. It is high quality silver plastic.

The Mazda's interior appears more artful and sportier. Infotainment knob on console.

Simple, easy to reach center stack controls. But overly complicated steering wheel controls.

Should I have been surprised? Google knows where I'm going.

Comfortable and supportive, an excellent driver seat.

VW measures rear legroom very conservatively. There's more here than the spec suggests.

An extra foot of floor compared to the regular Golf.

Six feet of floor with the seats folded, a couple inches more than in the CX-5.

Efficient, fairly powerful turbocharged 1.8-liter engine.

The cover hides a swarm of vacuum lines. Future sources of engine lights? Turbo behind the engine.