2026 Volkswagen GTI · Trim vs trim
2026 Volkswagen GTI S vs SE: what's the difference?
The SE costs $4,490 more. It starts at $39,080, and the S at $34,590. The SE adds a , a name-brand sound system and . It also changes the wheels and seats.
Our GTI data has all three US 2026 Golf GTI S, SE and Autobahn DSG hatchbacks, plus the $1,300 SE Leather Seating Package. It doesn't have Golf R, earlier GTI 380 manual cars, non-US Clubsport and Edition 50 models, paint/interior color combinations, and subscriptions yet, so something missing from this page may still be offered.
What changes, as they come
| What | S | SE |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | S18-inch two-tone machined C0Z alloy wheels | SE18-inch two-tone diamond-turned CB0 alloy wheels |
| Seats | SScalepaper Plaid cloth · manual adjustment / power recline | SEGTI Clubsport ArtVelours · manual adjustment / power recline |
| Roof glass | SNone | SEPower tilting/sliding panoramic sunroof |
| Audio | SSeven-speaker audio | SEHarman Kardon · nine speakers / 480 watts |
| What | S | SE |
|---|---|---|
| KESSY keyless access | SNot included | SEYes |
The same on both: horsepower (241 hp), combined mpg (27 mpg), city mpg (24 mpg), highway mpg (32 mpg) and cargo behind the rear seats (19.9 cu ft).
More GTI answers
- S vs SE
- SE vs Autobahn
- S vs Autobahn
- All-wheel drive
- A manual transmission
- The VAQ front limited-slip differential
- DCC adaptive dampers
- A panoramic tilt/slide sunroof
- Heated front seats
- Ventilated front seats
- Vienna leather seating surfaces
- GTI Clubsport ArtVelours seats
- A heated steering wheel
- Heated rear outboard seats
- Harman Kardon audio
- Wireless phone charging
- A head-up display
- Park Assist Plus
- Summer performance tires
Build your own
Switch to the S in the list to see what goes away, or add to either and watch the drawing change.
The SE, as it comes
↑ The answerSE
SE
Hover or tap a part, or use the arrow keys, to see what this build has there.
- MPG
- mpg
- ·
- Power
- hp
- ·
- Wheels
- ″
- ·
- Screen
- ″
- ·
- Combined mpg
- mpg
- 24 city · 32 highway
- Horsepower
- hp
- 2.0L turbo · 273 lb-ft
- Wheel size
- ″
- 225/40R18
- Touchscreen
- ″
- Discover Pro · navigation
- Curb weight
- lb
- Published base reference; options add weight
- Has Heated seats
- No Ventilated seats
- Has Panoramic sunroof
- Has Heated wheel
- Has Premium audio
Choose a trim
Packages & options
Comfort & tech
What your options change
This is a stock SE. Pick a package and every part it swaps shows up here, and in orange on the car.
- Has Heated seats
- No Ventilated seats
- Has Panoramic sunroof
- Has Heated wheel
- Has Premium audio
- Engine
- 2.0L EA888 evo4 turbo four-cylinder
- Transmission
- 7-speed DSG · no manual
- Drive
- Front-wheel drive only
- Torque
- 273 lb-ft
- Front differential
- VAQ multi-plate clutch limited slip
- Suspension
- MacPherson front / multi-link rear
- Dampers
- Conventional passive sport dampers
- Tires
- 225/40 R18 all-season tires
- Seats
- GTI Clubsport ArtVelours · manual adjustment / power recline
- Audio
- Harman Kardon · nine speakers / 480 watts
- Cargo
- 19.9 cu ft · behind rear seats
- Rear seats down
- 34.5 cu ft · VW published volume
- Rear legroom
- 35.0″
- Fuel
- Regular unleaded · 87 AKI minimum
- Driver assistance
- IQ.DRIVE · hands-on supervision required
