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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie Car2022 Volkswagen GTI Review
The 2022 Volkswagen GTI is all new and kicks off the eighth generation of the historically impressive and inexpensive hot hatch.
What’s New for the 2022 Volkswagen GTI?
In a word, everything. Well, the engine and transmission are carried over, but with a bit more power now. Everything else though has been thoroughly upgraded including the exterior and interior styling, technology, and performance.
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI – media.vw.com | Shop 2022 Volkswagen GTI on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Three pedals for the win
Excellent build quality
Fun to drive hard
Understeer for days
Cheaper interior materials
Rough infotainment interface
Where’s the AWD option?
2022 GTI Specs
- 241 horsepower from base engine
- 273 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 19.9 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 34.5 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Adjustable dampers are outstanding
- Standard lane-keep assist
- 2 years or 20,000 miles of free maintenance
2022 Volkswagen GTI Powertrain
241 horsepower isn’t all that much in today’s world of Hellcats, Raptors, and Weissach packages. Nevertheless, Volkswagen has found a way to make it highly engaging when paired with the GTI. The powertrain is punchy and fun to play with. Both the six-speed manual and the dual-clutch seven-speed are engaging and enjoyable. Overall, the 2022 Volkswagen GTI is very nicely balanced and revs out happily.
In everyday traffic or the city, it’s an admirable performer with simple easy feedback from the steering wheel and pedals. The GTI is easy to place and visibility is well above average for the segment. Volkswagen knows how to make an economical commuter car and that’s on display here again.
If there’s an issue, it has to be that this thing still understeers like it’s going out of style. In fact, we find it important to point out that despite VWs grand and almost sneaky efforts to say that this thing doesn’t understeer, buyers who actually push the car will find otherwise. Back off of it a little though and it’s still a good driver. Just don’t expect to take it to track days and feel the backend letting loose at all.
2022 Volkswagen GTI Fuel Economy & MPG
Volkswagen has kept things simple with the GTI as they’ll all get around 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. That equates to a 28 mpg combined rating from the EPA. While some competitors will beat those numbers, the 2022 Volkswagen GTI is more than average enough to not lose many points here.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
One specific area where the 2022 Volkswagen GTI has taken a step backward is the interior. It’s not bad by any means, but the previous generation feels much nicer to sit in, look at, and live with. That’s down to a handful of cheaper materials that get used throughout the interior. Hard plastics are littered throughout and the change from physical switchgear to haptic feedback-based touch controls doesn’t come away with the luxurious feeling VW might have hoped for.
The seating is a real high-spot though. It’s comfortable, supportive, and feels way nicer than it looks. The ergonomic layout in the front seats is great too. Controls are all easily within reach and intuitively located. We like the ambient lighting in the cabin as well. It’s a small but noticeable touch that makes this car feel just a touch more lavish.
Cargo space is a big win here. With nearly 20 cubic feet of space before dropping the back seats down, the GTI is as capable as ever. The low load floor is nice too and buyers will love the spacious door card pockets and interior storage options. This is the part of the GTI that probably sells it more than any other. It’s sincerely practical while also being fun.
Entertainment & Technology
Some of the technology inside of the 2022 Volkswagen GTI is truly next level. For example, the voice recognition system feels like it’s straight out of an Audi e-tron model. It can adjust climate control, media, and more quickly and accurately without ever having to physically touch anything. We also love the heads-up display and the premium Harmon Kardon sound system. Both features add significant value to the GTI and offer options that other rival brands can’t really match.
If there’s something to complain about, it has to be the infotainment system in general which is slow to respond and overfull with controls. For example, many climate control functions exist only within the touchscreen. That means you’ll need to pull your eyes off of the road to change those settings. Many other vehicles do this too, but most offer physical controls in addition to settings that can only be found in the system here.
Safety Features
Volkswagen sells every 2022 Volkswagen GTI with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. It hasn’t yet been scored by either the NHTSA or the IIHS and since it’s an all-new generation, last year’s scores won’t apply. We’ll keep an eye that point as the year goes on.
2022 Volkswagen GTI Trims & Pricing
S – $30,540
The base 2022 Volkswagen GTI comes with 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, customizable ambient lighting, an 8.25-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and seven speakers. Safety equipment includes forward collision mitigation, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot intervention. Every GTI regardless of trim comes with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 241-horsepower and front-wheel drive. A six-speed manual is standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is available.
SE – $35,290
The SE adds a 10-inch infotainment system with integrated navigation and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. It also gets a sunroof, adaptive headlights, and proximity keyless entry.
Autobahn – $38,990
Go for the top-of-the-line VW GTI Autobahn trim and you’ll get 19-inch wheels, heated rear seats, a heads-up display, rear-seat climate controls, and most importantly, adaptive dampers.
Warranties
Volkswagen offers a strong set of warranty coverage that only falls short of rivals like Hyundai or Kia. It provides 4 years or 50,000 miles of both limited and powertrain coverage as well as 2 years or 20,000-miles of complimentary maintenance on the 2022 Volkswagen GTI.
What we think
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI – media.vw.com | Shop 2022 Volkswagen GTI on Carsforsale.com
It’s very hard to beat the package that the 2022 Volkswagen GTI is in its base form. It’s quick, it’s spacious, and it’s well built. For the cash, the SE and Autobahn aren’t nearly as value-oriented considering how hotly contested the hot hatch market is right now.
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