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Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)

The Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) reaches 60 mph in 5.44 s and covers a standing quarter mile in 13.94 s, tripping the lights at 101.6 mph. It clears the first 60 ft in 2.27 s and the eighth mile in 9.06 s, reaching 100 mph in 13.45 s.

Simulated, not measured — computed from published kerb mass, rated power, gearing and drivetrain, then fitted to this car’s own published acceleration figures. Dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) Audi TT 3.2 quattro Mk II

Pick who it runs against, then watch it happen — and change the surface, the weather or the distance and run it again.

Down the strip

Standing start Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)
0–60 mph5.44 s
0–100 mph13.45 s
60 ft2.27 s
1/8 mile9.06 s
1/4 mile13.94 s
Trap speed101.6 mph

About the Golf GTI (Mk8)

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) is a front-drive turbocharged car of 1,408 kg with 241 bhp, which works out at 171 bhp per tonne. Front drive caps what it can put down off the line — 60 ft takes 2.27 s — so most of what it has to give arrives once it is already moving. Against the 2,929 cars in the set it is the 1,635th quickest to 60 mph, and the 2nd quickest of the 16 Volkswagens here. Its 101.6 mph trap speed sits about where its 0-60 puts it, so it launches and pulls in roughly equal measure. The simulation is trimmed to 9 of 10 published acceleration figures for this car.

On paper

Specification Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)
Year2021
Power241 bhp
Kerb mass1,408 kg
Power to weight171 bhp/t
DrivetrainFront drive
Gears7
EngineTurbocharged
Top speed253 km/h

Similar cars

CarYear 0–601/4 mileTrapPower
Audi TT 3.2 quattro Mk II20065.37 s13.91 s101.2 mph247 bhp
SEAT Leon Cupra R20095.42 s13.91 s101.4 mph261 bhp
Nissan Maxima SV20095.35 s14.00 s99.7 mph290 bhp

Picked for a fair race, not just a matching 0-60: pace, power-to-weight and body shape all count, and at most one is from the same maker.

Head to head

Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) vs Volkswagen Golf R (Mk8)Full comparisonVolkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) vs BMW 330i E90 272 PSFull comparisonVolkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) vs Audi S3 SportbackFull comparisonVolkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) vs Subaru WRX Mk IVFull comparisonSEAT Leon Cupra 290 vs Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)Full comparisonVolkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) vs Hyundai I30N Performance Mk IIIFull comparisonVolkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) vs MINI Cooper S 184 PSFull comparisonMINI Cooper JCW F66 Pre-Facelift vs Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)Full comparison

Questions

What is the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) 0-60 time?
The Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) reaches 60 mph in 5.44 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. That makes it the 1,635th quickest of the 2,929 cars in the set.
What is the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) quarter mile time?
13.94 s at 101.6 mph. It reaches the eighth mile in 9.06 s and clears the first 60 ft in 2.27 s.
How much power does the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) have?
241 bhp and 1,408 kg, which is 171 bhp per tonne. It is front-drive, turbocharged, with 7 gears and a quoted top speed of 253 km/h.
What cars are comparable to the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)?
Closest here on pace: Audi TT 3.2 quattro Mk II (5.37 s), SEAT Leon Cupra R (5.42 s), Nissan Maxima SV (5.35 s). Each one can be raced against the Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) in the panel at the top of this page.
Are these real measured times?
No. Every figure on this page is produced by a physics simulation, not by a stopwatch at a drag strip. The Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8) is modelled from its published kerb mass, rated power, drivetrain and gearing, then trimmed until it reproduces 9 of its 10 published acceleration figures. Conditions are the same for every car in the set: dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Figures regenerated 2026-09-01. Every number on this page is computed by the simulator at build time, so the page and the app can never disagree.