The Volkswagen Golf is one of the longest-standing names in the hatchback market. It combines practicality, refinement and performance like none other. But hatchbacks are losing ground to small crossovers in the U.S., and even though the Golf is newly redesigned in other parts of the world, there's little business case for bringing the standard model stateside. However, its sporty variants have a strong following here, which is why we'll be getting the new 2022 Golf GTI (along with the more performance-minded Golf R) at the tail end of 2021. Due to the low take rate, a two-door GTI will not be offered; a four-door will remain the sole body style.
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI





Total MSRP | $30,540 |
---|---|
What others are paying | $31,067 |
- 6 Colors
- 3 Trims
- 2 Packages
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review

- Sporty and fun handling
- Roomy hatchback design for passengers and cargo
- Sophisticated ride quality with the optional adaptive suspension
- High-quality interior materials look and feel great
- Infotainment system can be frustrating to use
- Not as much power as some rival hot hatches
- Redesigned for 2022
- Overhauled interior with new tech
- More power from the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
- Kicks off the eighth Golf GTI generation
More than 40 years ago, the GTI essentially created the hot hatch segment, combining practicality and performance in an attractive package at an affordable price. Over several decades and seven generations, Volkswagen has built on the original GTI's success. The new eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI makes its debut for 2022, with a fresh, aggressive new face, an all-new interior, new tech and a slight bump in performance.
Powering the GTI is a new version of the car's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that has appeared in VW products for more than a decade. In the 2022 GTI, it produces 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque — a bump up from the previous engine's 228 hp and 258 lb-ft. You can still get it with a manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. A revised suspension tuning and a standard limited-slip differential mean the GTI drives better than ever, and the interior benefits from a fresh design and a new infotainment system.
Overall, we're impressed with the new GTI's combination of speed, practicality and technology. But the 2022 model year is shaping up to be a good one for driving enthusiasts, with new versions of the Honda Civic and Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 twins also making their debuts. There's also the 275-hp Hyundai Veloster N to consider. What to get? Check out our Expert Rating of the 2022 GTI below to help you decide.
Performance
With the available dual-clutch automatic transmission, our test GTI covered 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. That's about half a second off the more powerful Hyundai Elantra N with the dual-clutch. The manual transmission car was a bit slower at 6.5 seconds to 60, a tenth off the Elantra N manual and half a second off the Subaru WRX. Both transmissions are excellent. The manual transmission has a precise shifter and light clutch with an easy engagement point, so it's easy to drive either around town or on a winding road.
Our summer-tire-shod GTI stopped from 60 mph in just 103 feet, which is impressively short for an affordably priced performance car like this. Steering feel and overall handling have been improved too. Overall, this one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars on the road.
Comfort
Not everything has been improved. While we appreciate the available three-zone climate control, the capacitive touch controls for the temperature are cumbersome and occasionally infuriating to use. Rather than buttons or knobs, the GTI uses touch points on the dash. They're difficult to see and use without taking your eyes off the road.
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI pricing
in Ashburn, VA


Interior
It's not all grand. The capacitive touch controls that plague the climate control system are present everywhere, from the headlight switch to the steering wheel controls. They're all too sensitive and provide too little feedback. We accidently turned on the heated steering wheel on multiple occasions when a palm grazed the button on a tight turn. It's frustrating and one of the few areas in which the new GTI is worse than its predecessor. We really don't get what Volkswagen was going for here.
Technology
The GTI's advanced driver aids are equally impressive. The adaptive cruise control works smoothly, maintaining a tight gap in traffic and holding speed up- and downhill. It's even available with the GTI's manual transmission. Blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and other aids all work about as well as we expect from a car at this price.
Storage
There's a reasonable amount of space in the rear for child safety seats. Isofix anchors are easily located, though the front seats may need to be scooted up a hair to accommodate larger rear-facing seats.
Fuel Economy
Value
Volkswagen includes a four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty, which is average for the class. The GTI's three years/36,000 miles of roadside assistance is better than most, as is the scheduled maintenance coverage of two years/24,000 miles.
Wildcard
And that's all before you get behind the wheel. The GTI is fun at any speed. The turbocharged engine offers lots of low-end power, so you can zip through traffic without having to work too hard. Then, when you escape the city and head out to a twisty road, the GTI rewards you with predictable handling and an engaging character.
Which Golf GTI does Edmunds recommend?
Volkswagen Golf GTI models
The 2022 Golf GTI is available as a four-door hatchback and comes in three trim levels: S, SE and Autobahn. Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (241 hp, 273 lb-ft of torque) that drives the front wheels through either a six-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Standard feature highlights include:
S
Starts you off with:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- Heated mirrors
- Push-button start
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Heated front sport seats
- Customizable interior ambient lighting
- Front and rear parking sensors
The S also comes with tech features such as:
- 8.25-inch touchscreen
- Digital instrument panel
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Seven-speaker sound system
- Wireless smartphone charging pad
Standard advanced driver aids include:
- Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Lane keeping assist (steers the GTI back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
- Blind-spot intervention (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot and can help steer the GTI back into its lane if you try to change lanes)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the GTI and the car in front)
SE
Has all of the above plus:
- Sunroof
- Adaptive headlights
- Proximity keyless entry
- 10-inch touchscreen
- Integrated navigation system
- Nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
Optional for the SE is a package that bundles leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, ventilated front seats and driver's seat memory settings.
Autobahn
Has all of the above features plus:
- 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires
- Adaptive suspension dampers (enhance ride comfort and handling)
- Heated rear seats
- Rear-seat climate controls
- Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
- Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)




Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI.
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2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI videos
Subaru WRX vs. VW Golf GTI vs. Hyundai Elantra N | Sport Sedan Comparison Test | Price, 0-60 & More
Features & Specs
- Total MSRP
- $30,540
- MPG & Fuel
- 24 City / 34 Hwy / 28 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.2 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: front wheel drive
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Engine
- Inline 4 cylinder
- Horsepower: 241 hp @ 5000 rpm
- Torque: 273 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
- Basic Warranty
- 4 yr./ 50000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 168.8 in. / Height: 57.6 in.
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 70.4 in.
- Curb Weight: 3113 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 19.9 cu.ft.

- 6 Colors
- 3 Trims

Safety
Our experts’ favorite Golf GTI safety features:
- Forward Collision Warning
- Warns the driver if a front collision, including with a pedestrian, seems imminent. If needed, it can apply automatic emergency braking.
- High-Beam Controls
- Automatically switches the GTI's high-beam headlights on or off depending on oncoming traffic.
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Uses a flashing light to warn the driver of vehicles in blind spots. Can also apply steering to nudge the vehicle back into its lane.
Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. the competition

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

2021 Honda Civic
Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. Honda Civic
It might be nearing the end of its life, but the 2021 Honda Civic Type R is still one fine car. It essentially reset the performance benchmark for front-wheel-drive hot hatches. You do pay for that performance since a base Civic Type R is about as much as a loaded GTI. Honda doesn't offer an automatic transmission in the Type R, and we found some driver aids are overly sensitive.
Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. Hyundai Veloster N
The Veloster N is one of the newest hot hatches on the market. It's quicker and sharper to drive than the GTI, and Hyundai now offers the Veloster N with both automatic and manual transmissions. It doesn't offer as much passenger or cargo space as the Volkswagen GTI, however.
Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. Subaru WRX
The Subaru WRX has been around for a while, but it's one of the most affordable performance cars you can buy. It's quicker than the GTI thanks to all-wheel drive and a more powerful engine. It lacks the GTI's polish, with excessive road noise and an interior that feels comparatively cheap. A refreshed WRX for 2022 should address some of these issues, however.
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI First Impressions
Under the hood of the Golf GTI is the newest version of the EA888 turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that has appeared in VW products for more than a decade. In the 2022 GTI, it produces 242 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque — a bump up from the previous engine's 228 hp and 258 lb-ft. A six-speed manual is standard (rejoice!) and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is optional.
Adaptive suspension dampers will once again be available so drivers can select their ideal blend of ride plushness and performance. While the current GTI offers just a few settings for the dampers, the new model will have a total of 15 steps between ultimate comfort and sportiness. Volkswagen has also retuned the suspension to reduce understeer. Combined with the fully defeatable stability control system, the new GTI appears to be much more performance-oriented than its predecessor.

On the inside, this modern Golf offers a sleek new dashboard design punctuated by two large display screens. The first is the central touchscreen, which features a 8.25-inch display on most models, or a new 10-inch screen on models equipped with navigation. The other is the eye-catching Digital Cockpit instrument panel already implemented in some newer Volkswagens. While it's often optional in other Vee-Dubs, the Digital Cockpit is standard equipment on the Golf GTI.
The new Golf GTI is equipped with plaid cloth seats, which have been a staple of the GTI since its inception. Optional leather seats are now perforated and offer front-seat ventilation — another first for the new GTI. The cabin also features 30-color adjustable ambient lighting for matching your mood and a heated steering wheel. Both are standard. On the options list is a head-up display that projects directly onto the windshield and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

Volkswagen is mum on which advanced driving aids will be standard and which will be optional for the new Golf GTI. That said, we know for sure that all models will come with lane keeping assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The current GTI offers other features, such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors and an automated parking system. These are likely to return for the new GTI.
The current Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of our favorite hatchbacks on the market. Even with an aging interior and average power numbers, it's able to hold its own against more recently redesigned rivals. A redesigned Golf GTI should do very well against modern competitors, and a new focus on driver engagement can only improve its outlook.

FAQ
Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI a good car?
What's new in the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI:
- Redesigned for 2022
- Overhauled interior with new tech
- More power from the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
- Kicks off the eighth Golf GTI generation
Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI reliable?
Is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
The least-expensive 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $29,545.
Other versions include:
- S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) which starts at $29,545
- S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) which starts at $30,345
- SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) which starts at $34,295
- SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) which starts at $35,095
- Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) which starts at $37,995
- Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) which starts at $38,795
What are the different models of Volkswagen Golf GTI?
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Overview
The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI is offered in the following submodels: Golf GTI Hatchback. Available styles include S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM), S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM), SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM), and Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). Volkswagen Golf GTI models are available with a 2.0 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 241 hp, depending on engine type. The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed manual, 7-speed automated manual. The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI comes with a 4 yr./ 50000 mi. basic warranty, a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 4 yr./ 50000 mi. powertrain warranty.
What do people think of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2022 Golf GTI 4.3 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2022 Golf GTI.
Pros
- Sporty and fun handling
- Roomy hatchback design for passengers and cargo
- Sophisticated ride quality with the optional adaptive suspension
- High-quality interior materials look and feel great
Cons
- Infotainment system can be frustrating to use
- Not as much power as some rival hot hatches
Edmunds Expert Reviews
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2022 Golf GTI featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What's a good price for a New 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Available Inventory:We are showing 12 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) vehicle(s) available in the in the Ashburn area.
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Available Inventory:We are showing 15 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) vehicle(s) available in the in the Ashburn area.
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
Available Inventory:We are showing 3 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) vehicle(s) available in the in the Ashburn area.
Which 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTIS are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI for sale near. There are currently 19 new 2022 Golf GTIS listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $31,255 and mileage as low as 0 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a car from our massive database to find cheap vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to $300 on a used or CPO 2022 Golf GTI available from a dealership near you.
Can't find a new 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTIs you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
Find a new Volkswagen for sale.
Why trust Edmunds?
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color.
What is the MPG of a 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M), 6-speed manual, premium unleaded (recommended)
28 MPG compined MPG,
24 city MPG/34 highway MPG
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM), 7-speed automated manual, premium unleaded (recommended)
28 MPG compined MPG,
25 city MPG/34 highway MPG
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI S 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM), 7-speed automated manual, premium unleaded (recommended)
28 MPG compined MPG,
25 city MPG/34 highway MPG
EPA Est. MPG | 28 |
Transmission | 6-speed manual |
Drive Train | front wheel drive |
Displacement | 2.0 L |
Passenger Volume | 111.8 cu.ft. |
Wheelbase | 103.6 in. |
Length | 168.8 in. |
Width | N/A |
Height | 57.6 in. |
Curb Weight | 3113 lbs. |
Should I lease or buy a 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Volkswagen lease specials
Related 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI info
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