Why did everyone hate this Golf GTI? I drove it to find out

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is turning 50 years old in 2026, and over half a century and eight generations the recipe has remained basically the same; a car which is fast and fun to drive, while still being comfortable and practical enough to use everyday.

Almost every Golf GTI has nailed this brief and gone down a storm with journalists and buyers alike, but the third-generation was met with a fairly lukewarm reception, and many people think of it as the worst Golf GTI of the lot.

But does the Mk3 Golf deserve more love than it gets? I took one for a spin in Spain to find out.

Why did people hate the Mk3 Golf GTI?

Hate is probably a strong word, but the Mk3 Volkswagen Golf GTI certainly wasn’t met with the same enthusiasm as the first two generations.

It was the first GTI to ditch the squared-off styling and round headlights in favour of a more rounded, bubble-like design. The GTI styling cues were also more subtle, making it a bit harder to distinguish from a regular Golf. I happen to think it’s aged very well though, because I love the way this car looks.

The Mk3 also gained around 100kg compared to the Mk2, and it originally launched with a 113hp 2.0-litre engine. That’s just 3hp more than its predecessor, so it wasn’t exactly brisk. A revised engine was introduced a few years later with 150hp to remedy this, massively boosting the Mk3’s appeal.

The final criticism people had of the Mk3 GTI was the way it drove, because it was said to be a bit too soft and wallowy compared to the previous two cars. It was like VW leant too far towards the comfy end of the scale.

I drove the Mk3 Volkswagen Golf GTI, and it deserves more recognition

When I was presented with every version of the Golf GTI, the Mk3 was the first one I wanted to drive. I’d listened to everyone rave about the first two, but I was intrigued to experience the GTI which many people had forgotten about.

First impressions were good. It looks great in this bright red paint and sitting on split-rim wheels. These alloys are crucial for making the Mk3 stand out, because the standard rims are on the small side.

The interior has also held up to the test of time. It feels solid, and you get the trademark GTI tartan seats as well. It’s definitely a product of the ‘90s though, with the swathes of black and grey plastic making it feel a bit dark and dingy.

I set off and immediately headed for the nearest twisty road, and I was pleasantly surprised straight off the bat. This car has the more powerful 150hp engine, which feels really peppy and makes a nice noise when you rev it out. The five-speed manual gearbox is also nice and slick, although the throws between gears are quite long.

Compared to the Mk2, this car does feel heavier and softer through the corners. You get a fair amount of lean as you push it in, but it grips nicely and the steering is accurate and well weighted. It’s a very pleasant hot hatch to chuck around, it’s just not quite as nimble as the Mk2.

But here’s the thing: it may not be as fun as the Mk2, but the Mk3 Golf GTI represents a huge step up in comfort and refinement. It feels more solid on the motorway, and it’s quieter as well. It seems to me that this car isn’t worse than the one which came before it, instead it’s just more grown up.

As a big fan of a yobbish hot hatch, I can see why fans of the Mk2 GTI would’ve been disappointed by the Mk3’s maturity. The Mk4 had pretty much the same reputation for being a tad too sensible, and it wasn’t until the Mk5 came along in 2005 that the Golf GTI struck the right balance between everyday usability and juvenile handling.

My final verdict: The Mk3 Volkswagen Golf GTI deserves more attention

I was quite smitten with the Mk3 Golf GTI by the time I handed the keys back, partly because I love an underdog, but mostly because it’s a lovely hot hatch. It looks great, feels solid and it’s nice to drive, plus I’m a big fan of cars from this era for their simplicity.

And the best thing about the forgotten GTI is that you can pick them up quite cheap these days. Prices start from around £3,500 for a solid one, and with a few choice modifications you could easily make it handle as well as a GTI should.

Stick some decent coilover suspension on it and uprated bushes and you’d make it feel much more nimble, making it a properly cool hot hatch which is great fun to drive.

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