An MK6 GTI intake is one of the first modifications most Volkswagen MK6 GTI owners prefer to have before anything else. Many enthusiasts would prioritize them because it provides an instant boost in performance gains. Sure, the numbers aren’t sky high, but it’s enough to give a substantial performance improvement. Not only that, getting your hands on some high-quality air intake systems would change your car’s sound for the better. Not to mention how it adds more aesthetic appeal to your engine bay whenever you pop your car’s hood.
Volkswagen certainly did a great job with its stock intake. It permitted the OE turbo to function well, but it’s not satisfactory enough for most enthusiasts. Most of them want a better intake, something that can feed more cold air into the engine. Good thing a lot of aftermarket auto parts manufacturers took the initiative to produce some superb air intakes for hot hatch enthusiasts like you to enjoy.
If you’re on the hunt for some aftermarket air intake system, then it’s a no-brainer that you should look out for the best ones. The best intake for your Volkswagen MK6 GTI doesn’t have to be ultra-expensive. As long as you have the budget, an eye for detail, and a standard for what you think will serve you and your car better, then you’re all set.
Come check out the list we’ve made of the best Volkswagen MK6 GTI intake systems.
#1 K&N Typhoon Series Cold Air Intake Kit
- Manufacturer: K&N
- Part Number: 69-9504TTK
- Why It’s Great: Tried and tested reliability
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Base (2010-2013)
Most car enthusiasts consider K&N Engineering as one of the best manufacturers of aftermarket air intakes. Their products, particularly cold air intakes and filters, are famous for their quality builds and tested reliability. Such a product would definitely be helpful in a project car like the Volkswagen MK6 GTI. Getting your hands on an MK6 GTI K&N intake can set you and your vehicle up for a very long time.
For the Volkswagen MK6 GTI, K&N Engineering developed the Typhoon Series Cold Air Intake System. It features a mandrel-bent aluminum intake tubing responsible for providing a smooth path for the incoming air. An oiled cotton filter media, dubbed the High-Flow Air Filter, will let you drive for up to 100,000 miles before the need to clean it arises. The kit also comes with a handy heat shield to ensure that the cold air stays, well, cold. Because we all know that the engine doesn’t appreciate hot air, right?
The combination of K&N’s choices of intake pipes, air filter, and heat shield results in a performance gain of up to 9.19hp @4853RPM. Since K&N Engineering is widely popular for their product’s reliability, they’re even willing to give you a Million-Mile Warranty. They did this to show enthusiasts like you that they’re committed to producing the highest possible quality of air intakes, and they’re even willing to back it up with a Milion-Mile warranty!
K&N Typhoon Series Cold Air Intake Kit Features:
- Horsepower increase (9.19hp @4853RPM)
- Comes with a smooth mandrel-bent aluminum
- High-Flow Air Filter used only requires maintenance after 100,000 miles
- Easy installation
- Backed by K&N 10-Year/Million-Mile Warranty
#2 aFe Power Magnum FORCE Stage 2 Cold Air Intake System
- Manufacturer: aFe Power
- Part Number: 54-11892
- Why It’s Great: Dyno-tune intake tube
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Base (2010-2013)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Driver’s Edition (2014)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Wolfsburg Edition (2014)
Car enthusiasts would often grab an intake system because it can improve the air quality that’s being fed into their cars. They know that performance gains shouldn’t be a priority when looking for an intake system because it brings little to no difference to the car’s overall performance. But what if it can add as much as 14 hp and 15lb-ft of torque? The numbers may not be attractive at first, but once you match it with other performance modifications along with an ECU tune, you’ll see how powerful your MK6 GTI can be.
The intake system we’re talking about here is the Magnum FORCE Stage 2 by aFe Power. As mentioned earlier, it can deliver substantial gains to the engine. But the fun doesn’t stop there.
The beauty of this intake system lies with its construction. aFe Power equipped this intake system with dyno-tuned intake tubes designed to provide the smoothest possible pathway for the air. This intake tube also comes with the Pro-5R filter, a washable and reusable air filter meant for long-term use. The intake tube and the Pro 5R filter are inside an open-element housing that makes inspection a breeze. It also adds extra style points on your engine bay, judging from how good it looks.
aFe Power Magnum FORCE Stage 2 Cold Air Intake System Features:
- Performance gains (14hp and 15lb-ft of torque)
- Dyno-tuned intake tube
- Comes with a Pro-5R air filter
- Components are inside an open-element housing for easy inspection and cleaning
- Backed by aFe Power 2-Year Warranty
#3 APR Cold Air Intake System – Carbon Fiber Front Air Box
- Manufacturer: APR
- Part Number: CI100035
- Why It’s Great: Carbon Fiber components
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Base (2010-2013)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Driver’s Edition (2014)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Wolfsburg Edition (2014)
If you frequently visit MK6 GTI forums, then there’s a slight chance that you’ve seen the name APR. APR intakes hold an excellent reputation amongst enthusiasts because they give what GTI owners want from a proper cold air intake. They let your car breathe better, and they certainly make your engine bay look way cooler than it previously was.
So what’s with the APR Carbon Fiber Intake System? First, let’s pay attention to the elephant in the room: the term carbon fiber. APR made this intake system from carbon fiber to make it look good and as well as to repel the power-robbing heat that tampers with the quality of the incoming ambient air. Inside the carbon fiber airbox lies a pleated cotton gauze filter that can efficiently sift small debris in the incoming air.
The APR Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake System can offer impressive filtrations while keeping your engine clean and optimizing power delivery. What’s more, this carbon fiber intake system dramatically outflows your OE intake. It’s also capable of making the throttle response much sharper while lessening the amount of strain the turbocharger experiences.
This intake system can support over 500 horsepower, so it’s pretty safe to say that the APR Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake System can do wonders for your car – even if it’s a mere intake system.
Note:This is just a front airbox, and it would require your own intake pipe before you can install it. Or better yet, you can useAPR’s intake pipetogether with this front airbox.
APR Cold Air Intake System – Carbon Fiber Front Air Box Features:
- Aggressive engine sound
- Closed carbon fiber system
- Uses a pleated cotton gauze filter media
- Can support over 500 horsepower
- Backed by APR Limited Warranty
#4 Injen SP Short Ram Intake System
- Manufacturer: Injen
- Part Number: SP3075P
- Why It’s Great: Short Ram
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Base (2010-2013)
If you fancy short ram intakes more than cold air intake systems, then you should check out the Injen SP Short Ram Intake System. Enthusiasts know Injen primarily for their intake, such as the EVO intakes, making some pretty rad short rams. For the Volkswagen MK6 GTI, they have the SP Short Ram, a quick but effective solution for your car’s breathing problems.
This MK6 GTI Injen Intake can help your car breathe a whole lot better with its short ram construction. Unlike the traditional aftermarket cold air intake, short rams only require a small distance of travel for the air to reach the engine. A short ram, particularly the Injen SP, does the same thing. Add to that the fact that it’s riddled with many Injen patented technologies like MegaRam, Air Fusion, and many more.
By installing this intake on your car, you’re guaranteed to get much better airflow compared to stock. The Injen SP Short Ram Intake’s tube is made from 6061-T6 aluminum and serves as a free-flowing pathway for the air to travel into. After traveling through the tubing, it goes through the SuperNano-Web dry air filter for a ‘quality check.’This innovative air filter will filter the smallest of debris, ensuring that your engine only gets the cleanest air possible.
And in case it fails for some reason, you can contact Injen Technology for a warranty. They can help you with the damaged intake, as long as the circumstances fit according to their warranty standards.
Injen SP Short Ram Air Intake System Features:
- Performance gains (7hp and 6lb-ft of torque)
- Short ram intake construction
- Uses a 6061-T6 aluminum tubing
- Uses SuperNano-Web dry air filter
- Emits aggressive tone under full throttle
#5 CTS Turbo Air Intake System
- Manufacturer: CTS Turbo
- Part Number: CTS-IT-220R
- Why It’s Great: Aggressive race-like sound
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Base (2010-2013)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Driver’s Edition (2014)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Wolfsburg Edition (2014)
If you fancy short ram intakes more than cold air intake systems, then you should check out the Injen SP Short Ram Intake System. Enthusiasts know Injen primarily for their intake, such as the EVO intakes, making some pretty rad short rams. For the Volkswagen MK6 GTI, they have the SP Short Ram, a quick but effective solution for your car’s breathing problems.
This MK6 GTI Injen Intake can help your car breathe a whole lot better with its short ram construction. Unlike the traditional aftermarket cold air intake, short rams only require a small distance of travel for the air to reach the engine. A short ram, particularly the Injen SP, does the same thing. Add to that the fact that it’s riddled with many Injen patented technologies like MegaRam, Air Fusion, and many more.
By installing this intake on your car, you’re guaranteed to get much better airflow compared to stock. The Injen SP Short Ram Intake’s tube is made from 6061-T6 aluminum and serves as a free-flowing pathway for the air to travel into. After traveling through the tubing, it goes through the SuperNano-Web dry air filter for a ‘quality check.’This innovative air filter will filter the smallest of debris, ensuring that your engine only gets the cleanest air possible.
And in case it fails for some reason, you can contact Injen Technology for a warranty. They can help you with the damaged intake, as long as the circumstances fit according to their warranty standards.
CTS Turbo Air Intake System Features:
- Performance gains (9-15hp)
- 3.0” black powder-coated aluminum tubing
- Uses a high flow air filter with an inverted cone design
- Features a sealed airbox that works in conjunction with an air scoop
- Backed by CTS Turbo 1-Year Warranty
#6 Neuspeed P-Flo Air Intake Kit
- Manufacturer: Neuspeed
- Part Number: 65.10.91D
- Why It’s Great: Affordable but decent enough
- Vehicle Fitment:
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Base (2010-2013)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Driver’s Edition (2014)
- Volkswagen MK6 GTI Wolfsburg Edition (2014)
We have another top-tier air intake system that won’t break the bank for the last one on our list. The Neuspeed P-Flo Air Intake Kit would give GTI fanatics like you a decent improvement in airflow, a perfect fitment, and smooth operation at higher rev ranges. In addition to that, it’s the cheapest MK6 GTI intake on this list. Only a handful of manufacturers can provide proven and tested improvements like Neuspeed and their intake system.
The Neuspeed P-Flo Air Intake System Kit gives you two filter options: an oiled cotton gauze air filter (washable and reusable) or a dry paper media filter. The dry air filter media is disposable, but it’s decent enough to provide the kind of performance that you want from an air intake system. What’s more, the kit fits like a champ. Installation is a breeze, too, since Neuspeed throws in an easy-to-understand manual along with the kit.
The only caveat with this intake system, however, is their choice of filter.
The airflow it provides is excellent, but it would serve you better if you opt for other air filters instead.
Neuspeed P-Flo Air Intake Kit Features:
- Affordable air intake option
- Available with two filter options
- Impressive fitment
- Easy installation
- Backed by Neuspeed 1-Year Warranty