If the thought of modifying your Volkswagen MK7 GTI ever crossed your mind, then we’re pretty sure that you’ve considered getting your hands on some MK7 GTI intakes. You may also want your VW to get involved in some crazy street racing or some serious track duty. Whatever the case may be, the addition of an aftermarket intake system can sure do you a lot of good. Considering how tuner-friendly the car is and how intakes work flawlessly with other performance modifications, we’re confident that adding it into your arsenal is a good idea.
The aftermarket support for your seventh-generation VW performance hot hatch is enormous, so it’s no surprise if choosing the proper intake can be challenging. With aftermarket intake systems, you’re definitely spoiled for choice, and there’s a lot of them claiming to be the best bang-for-the-buck and all that hocus pocus. While those claims may be valid, it can still be challenging to choose what intake system is really the best for your car.
To help you decide on what intake to get for your car, we’ve made a list of the best intake systems to get for your vehicle. They all vary in price, features, and design, but all of them can give you better airflow, and more importantly, extra performance gains. These intake systems may not transform your Volkswagen MK7 GTI close to the likes of cheap sports cars, but they sure do make a difference.
Check them down below!
#1 K&N 69 Series Typhoon Air Intake System
- Manufacturer: K&N Engineering
- Part Number: 69-9506TTK
- Performance Gains: 12.85hp
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
If you’re familiar with aftermarket MK7 GTI intakes, then it should be no surprise for you to see K&N on this list. Enthusiasts love their products not only because their reliability is off the charts, but also because they’re pretty affordable. The same sentiment is applicable with the 69 Series Typhoon Air Intake System, made for almost all of the trims of the Volkswagen MK7 GTI.
Once you have it installed, you can expect as much as a 12.85hp increase. This is because of the intake’s free-flowing aluminum intake pipe that can far outflow the stock. Attached to the pipe is a high-quality sizable conical air filter with some exceptional filtration level K&N Engineering is known for. And oh, these filters are washable and reusable. No need to throw them out and get new ones!
Installation is relatively simple too. More so, K&N Engineering included a 10-Year/Million-Mile Warranty to ensure that even if the intake gets damaged, they’ve got your back. Customer support like that is pretty hard to beat, considering how some manufacturers out there won’t even care about their customers.
#2 Injen SP Short Ram Intake System
- Manufacturer: Injen Technology
- Part Number: SP3078BLK
- Performance Gains: 13hp and 17lb-ft of torque
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
One of the prevailing reasons why enthusiasts dislike aftermarket air intake systems is the price. Whether we like it or not, not every hot hatch owner can afford one of those fancy MK7 GTI intakes you’d see in the forums. For budget-oriented MK7 GTI owners who want their cars to experience a slight bump in power and hear a whoosh whenever they drive spiritedly, we present to you the Injen SP Short Ram Intake System.
To say that this intake is a bang for the buck is an understatement. It doesn’t cost as much, but it can provide you with better airflow than what the stock can offer. With the combined power of its 6061-T6 smooth aluminum intake tubing and SuperNanoWeb dry air filter, you can obtain as much as 13hp and 17lb-ft of torque. It even comes with a heat shield!
Note: This intake system doesn’t fit MK7 GTIs with a MAF Sensor.
#3 Injen EVOLUTION Cold Air Intake System
- Manufacturer: Injen Technology
- Part Number: EVO3003
- Performance Gains: 19hp and 24lb-ft of torque
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
Many enthusiasts would see Injen Technology as a reliable source of aftermarket intake systems. Aside from the cheap SP Short Ram we’ve mentioned above, they have something better for hot hatch enthusiasts looking for something better; the EVOLUTION Cold Air Intake System. It’s slightly more costly than the SP Short Ram, but the power gains you’d get from it are sure as hell worth it.
The Injen EVOLUTION is a close-element intake system, meaning the protection it offers from the heat of the engine bay is far more superior than what an open-element intake could provide. Its rotomolded housing is equipped with a Ram Air Scoop to get as much cold air to feed your hungry turbocharger. The air goes into a rotomolded intake tube, a seamless one. This dyno-tuned intake tube provides an OE fit while putting up a smooth path for the air to go into.
In addition, a massive SuperNanoWeb dry air filter uses its large volume to keep the air free from contaminants. Such a huge air filter is necessary to keep the air clean and ensure that your engine receives as much cold air as possible.
#4 aFe Magnum FORCE Pro 5R Stage-2 Intake System
- Manufacturer: aFe Power
- Part Number: 54-12672
- Performance Gains: 18hp and 19lb-ft of torque
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
Another affordable open-element intake waiting to be bought is the aFe Magnum FORCE Pro 5R Stage-2 Intake System. Those who’ve used aFe Power’s MK7 GTI intakes would know that the money they’ve spent on it is worth it. You can get max gains of about 18 hp and 19lb-ft of torque; numbers that are handy when you match it with other performance modifications like aftermarket intercoolers.
So what does this intake have to offer? For starters, it’s got a large Pro 5R filter with 5-layers of progressively porous material. There’s no way that air contaminants can enter the engine with such a level of clearance, no matter how small they are. Another component to look out for is the intake pipe attached to this filter. It’s a 3” mandrel-bent aluminum pipe that can provide unrestricted airflow for your engine to enjoy.
Installation is pretty easy too; no need for any drilling or cutting. And since it’s an open-element intake, aFe Power included a heat shield to keep IATs desirable. Just in case you want to keep it veiled, they offer an intake cover for this particular intake system too.
#5 aFe Power Momentum GT Cold Air Intake System
- Manufacturer: aFe Power
- Part Number: 54-76403
- Performance Gains: 16hp and 16lb-ft of torque
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
In case you prefer a close-element intake system over an open one, then aFe Power has another option for you. Come check out their Momentum GT Cold Air Intake System. It offers a clean and stealthy look for your engine bay while pumping out 16hp and 16lb-ft of torque for you to enjoy. Just by taking a look at it, you’d see how much it can improve how your engine bay.
So what’s with the Momentum GT? Let’s first discuss its close-element construction. A custom-designed one-piece housing can protect the incoming air from any excess heat from the engine bay. Inspecting the innards of the intake is easy, too; just take a peek at its clear sight window, and you can see whether its Pro 5R filter is due for maintenance or not.
Additionally, the Momentum GT includes a billet aluminum adaptor for the OE smog pump and crankcase fitting, all for a reasonably affordable price.
#6 APR Carbon Fiber Intake
- Manufacturer: APR
- Part Number: CI100033
- Performance Gains: N/A
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
Now we all know for a fact how well a close-element intake looks. It’s pretty impressive, right? But what if you use carbon fiber instead of the usual XLPE? Not only will it look great when you pop the hood, but it can also protect the air from unwanted engine bay heat a lot better.
Luckily for you, we have just that intake.
The APR Carbon Fiber Intake is an intake system made of, well, carbon fiber. Compared to other carbon fiber intakes however, this one made by APR is relatively cheaper. It can provide you with an increased mass airflow while providing a decent amount of filtration. You can expect a bump in both horsepower and torque once you’ve installed this on your car.
MK7 GTI intakes such as this are a banger of a mod, no doubt about that. A carbon fiber intake that doesn’t cost as much? Where can you get that? With the APR Carbon Fiber Intake, you can achieve good performance gains and sound and fuel economy improvements. All of that for an affordable price.
#7 AWE Tuning S-Flo Intake
- Manufacturer: AWE Tuning
- Part Number: 2660-11018
- Performance Gains: 10hp and 9lb-ft of torque
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
At this point, we’re pretty sure that you’ve scoured your way into MK7 GTI forums, looking for what MK7 GTI intakes would best fit not only your car but your standards as well. Suffice to say, we’re confident that you’ve seen how many hot hatch enthusiasts recommend the AWE Tuning S-Flo intake. We can’t really blame them; this performance upgrade does actually look terrific.
The AWE Tuning S-Flo Intake is a close-element carbon fiber intake system that can add style points to your engine bay. Its carbon fiber weaves look phenomenal, and just by looking at them, you can already imagine how good it looks whenever you pop the hood. Aside from a stealthy appearance, this intake system also offers some practical components that can give you as much as 10 hp and 9lb-ft of torque when combined.
AWE Tuning made this carbon fiber exhaust system perfectly fit the OE inlet ducting more desirable. It also retains the factory mounts, making installation quick and hassle-free.
#8 Mishimoto Performance Intake
- Manufacturer: Mishimoto
- Part Number: MMAI-MK7-15P
- Performance Gains: 10hp
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
Mishimoto is widely popular for its reliable intercoolers, but did you know that they offer performance intakes as well? Well, now you know! Come take a look at their intake system setup made for the Volkswagen MK7 GTI. On its own, it can provide around 10hp on stock tune and can opt for either SAI or non-SAI systems.
What would you get if you chose the Mishimoto Performance Intake? First is the bump in horsepower, as mentioned above. The second is a neat-looking airbox with a Mishimoto High-Flow air filter and a free-flowing intake pipe. The third is a highly aggressive whoosh sound whenever you put the pedal to the metal. These benefits are not that bad if you think about them.
We all know that by themselves, intake systems are pretty useless, aside from a slight power increase and an excellent sound under WOT. So if you want to achieve the best results, you might as well partner it with a Mishimoto Intercooler.
#9 AEM Induction Cold Air Intake System
- Manufacturer: AEM Induction
- Part Number: 21-802C
- Performance Gains: 14hp
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2017)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Rabbit Edition (2019)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI S (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI SE (2015-2020)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
Some enthusiasts would opt for an MK7 GTI intake just for the sound that it makes. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. If you belong to such a group of people who enjoy whoosh-ing around at full throttle, then you can get some value from this AEM Induction Cold Air Intake System. Many previous users claimed that this intake further amplified what the turbo and the blowoff valves created, and we’re pretty stoked just by knowing that.
The AEM Induction Cold Air Intake System uses a low-restriction aluminum pipe to direct the engine. It uses a low-maintenance washable and reusable air filter that only needs cleaning after 100,000 miles. And as for installation? According to reviews, the fitment of this intake system is perfect, and installation is a breeze.
#10 Eventuri Black Carbon Intake System
- Manufacturer: Eventuri
- Part Number: EVE-2TFSI-CF-INT
- Performance Gains: 16-25hp, 15-22lb-ft of torque
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Autobahn (2015-2017)
- Volkswagen MK7 GTI Sport (2017)
We know that you find carbon-fiber intake systems incredibly desirable, so to indulge you more, we’ll present one as the last intake system on this list. Check out the Eventuri Black Carbon Fiber Intake. Eventuri is well-known for its intake systems that provide real and noticeable power gains topped with premium-quality construction. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with Eventuri, especially once you discover what it has to offer.
The Eventuri Black Carbon Fiber Intake replaces the stock in favor of a patent-pending venturi housing. Coupling this with a smooth airflow duct can ensure a laminar airflow. The carbon fiber housing provides a more aerodynamically efficient path for the air, from the filter down to the turbo. It’s just not another run-of-the-mill massive conical air filter with a heat shield that you’d often see out there. It actually makes a difference; the Eventuri Difference.
Furthermore, this intake system can garner around 16-25hp and 15-22lb-ft of torque, The level of R&D Eventuri integrated into this intake is phenomenal. There’s no doubt that MK7 GTI intakes such as this can transform your car into something far more sinister, especially when equipped with other supplementary performance mods.