2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI Yearlong Test: The Long Way Home
From Los Angeles to Texas, we took the road less traveled.
Most times when I'm driving, I want to get to my destination as quickly as possible, taking short cuts and avoiding traffic. But for my last solo road trip from Los Angeles to Houston in our long-term 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI, I decided to do something different: take the long, scenic way to my hometown. It's almost impossible to avoid Interstate 10 on the journey, so my plan was to make it from L.A. to El Paso in one day on the quick and boring route, and then spend the next two days driving across Texas' back roads, meandering through border towns, and looking at some of the spectacular vistas the Rio Grande Valley offers.
0:00 / 0:00
Having done this drive three other times before in a 2019 Volvo S60, 2021 Toyota Venza, and 2022 Genesis GV70 yearlong test cars, I was initially skeptical that the GTI would be the right car for this road trip. Its stiff suspension, sporty driving manners, and loud cabin are more at home on curvy back roads than on the interstate. It didn't take long for the VW to prove me wrong. I set the chassis to comfort and the steering and throttle mapping to sport, and soon enough the GTI and I were zipping through the Cleveland National Forest mountains on I-8, chuckling along to podcasts. Despite the steep climb, the GTI felt engaging, delivering power and downshifting quickly when I needed more oomph. Passing slow-moving cars on I-10 between Tucson and New Mexico was a breeze, and this VW's hot-hatch spirit came alive when the left lane was taken by Sunday drivers.
After driving a couple hours east of El Paso, where I-10 and Highway 90 meet, the GTI's summer performance tires wouldn't touch the interstate again until my arrival in Houston. While Highway 90 is far from the best driving road in Texas, its scenic views and absence of traffic make up for it—not to mention the Prada store in the middle of nowhere and the hipster town of Marfa are on the way, both of which were must-stops for me. Once I arrived in Eagle Pass, I deviated north and spent the night just outside San Antonio. The next day I spent most of the time driving on farm-to-market roads (two-lane roads that connect small towns) that had speed limits of 80 mph. God bless Texas. A stop at a BBQ joint for lunch about two hours outside of Houston was a perfect way to finish the road trip.
Despite my initial misgivings, I ultimately really enjoyed driving the GTI across the country—it's fun, quick, and is always capable of making the most of breaks in traffic. Still, though, it's not a perfect car. The center console, for example, doesn't have a lot of space to place belongings, and although I didn't have trouble connecting to Apple CarPlay, the car's microphone didn't work when I tried to make phone calls. Also annoying: The sun visor doesn't cover the entire window when extended laterally. The sport seats, meant to hold you on twisty roads, could also use more cushioning. I'm nitpicking, but these are things that make a good experience even better on long road trips like this one.
If you're the owner of a Mark VIII Golf GTI or have questions about our car, tell us in the comments below, and we'll answer them in future stories.
For More On Our Long-Term 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI 40th Anniversary Edition:
Miguel Cortina is Mexico Editor at MotorTrend, covering the auto industry in the U.S. and south of the border. He joined MotorTrend in January 2015 and is an avid automotive enthusiast who enjoys playing golf, surfing, and running in his free time.
Read More
