Used 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Price: The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI starts at $29,545.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf represents a new generation of this special compact hatchback. The Golf, one of Volkswagen’s most successful cars, now enters its eighth iteration. It should be a time of celebration, paying tribute to a vehicle that has transcended mere transportation and become part of the automotive culture.

Instead, we’re seeing compact cars like this lose out in the popularity stakes to SUV/crossovers. Some companies are discontinuing or cutting back on anything that isn’t a crossover. Volkswagen is one of them. For this eighth generation, the United States won’t be getting the entire 2022 Golf range. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that the two VW Golf models on sale stateside are the brilliant GTI, an iconic variant of an iconic car, and the even more awesome Golf R. It’s like having Batman and Superman, but not the rest of the Justice League. Hey, we’ll get by.

The 2022 GTI achieves a fine balance between civility and sportiness, practicality, and poise. For those who enjoy their time behind the wheel yet also need a daily driver, a GTI is pretty much perfect.

The 2022 Golf R pushes that envelope. It’s still completely practical and comes with all-wheel drive as standard, but amps up the driving thrills.

Where is the 2022 Golf built? In Volkswagen’s home — Wolfsburg, Germany.

KBB’s Andy Bornhop recently sampled the new 2022 VW GTI. Reports Andy:

I spent a long weekend in the new Mk 8 GTI, driving a Moonstone Gray SE model on the winding roads of western North Carolina. In short, I’m impressed. It’s refined, quiet, powerful, and practical, yet totally sporty, but not to the point of beating you up.

It’s also quick enough to be loads of fun, aided by a light-effort, easy-to-modulate clutch, and a 6-speed manual transmission with precise linkage. Acceleration between 30 and 65 mph is particularly outstanding, the GTI planting you firmly in the comfortably supportive driver’s seat, which in GTI tradition is upholstered in plaid.

While 241 horsepower doesn’t seem like much these days, the GTI makes great use of it. Still more noteworthy is the abundant torque. With 258 lb-ft on tap at only 1,750 rpm, the GTI delivers a satisfying low-end pull, and the standard electronic limited-slip differential translates that torque into desired forward momentum, not wheelspin. And when you reach that next turn, the GTI responds with accurate steering and composure that few other competitors can match.

In addition to an Eco mode, the new GTI offers Comfort, Sport, or Custom drive modes. While you can feel the difference in ride quality between Comfort and Sport, the GTI’s adaptive suspension keeps the chassis in good control, regardless of mode.

Complaints? One. While the digital gauges are excellent (and allow multiple styles of presentation with an abundance of information), the large central touchscreen on the center stack doesn’t offer volume or station knobs for the outstanding Harman Kardon audio system. Yes, there are controls for both on the GTI’s steering wheel, but we found the touch-sensitive slides and small buttons to be finicky and distracting while driving.

A small issue on a refined new 2022 GTI that’s proving to Americans that the Golf (and internal combustion engines) aren’t dead at VW just yet.

Further underscoring this point is the new Volkswagen Golf R, the only other Golf sold in the U.S. for the 2022 model year. With 315 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, this special all-wheel-drive (AWD) Golf flat-out scoots, whether equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Of note, VW officials in the U.S. successfully lobbied for the U.S.-spec Golf R to be available with a 6-speed manual in addition to DSG, the only transmission currently offered in Europe.

KBB sampled a Golf R with the 6-speed manual. Naturally, the new VW Golf R felt noticeably quicker than the new GTI, and the all-wheel-drive system meant there were no strange tugs on the steering wheel during hard acceleration.

VW has swapped out the Haldex AWD system of the previous R in favor of a new arrangement that sends more power rearward, with torque-vectoring that can deliver all the power to an individual rear wheel if needed. In addition to larger front brakes, the all-new 2022 Golf R also has a drift mode that lets you play hooligan should the need arise.

The result of all these Golf R upgrades? A GTI that does everything a little better, from acceleration and braking to cornering and transitions. And it sounds great in the process, thanks to dual exhaust outlets on each side. The new 2022 VW Golf R is available only one way, as a fully loaded model with Nappa leather upholstery, a head-up display, and VW’s full safety suite.

Certain Golf GTI design elements have endured over the years, to the point where it would be wrong for Volkswagen to omit them. We’re talking about the plaid patterns in the cloth upholstery and the golf-ball look of the manual transmission’s shift knob.

They’ve made it through to the Golf’s eighth generation, along with the usual sensible ergonomics and soft-touch plastics. Fresh technology comes in the form of a standard digital driver information display, and Volkswagen has produced a cleanly modern dashboard.

This new Golf also has the same wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear axles) as the previous model and no one ever complained of insufficient cabin space in that one.

While we’re on the subject of space, something needs clearing up. Volkswagen claims the luggage area behind the rear seats measures 19.9 cubic feet, increasing to 34.5 cubic feet when they’re folded. That sounds good, but the outgoing model had a maximum of 52.7 cubic feet.
Or did it?

It turns out that there was a different method of measuring. This new figure is from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). A description of “plentiful” still applies.

A new generation brings new styling, but it’s still recognizable as a Golf. That’s a good thing as far as we’re concerned. The Golf R deserves a special mention in this respect. Not because it’s overtly sporty. Instead, there’s an approach that’s more mature and classy than, say, the Honda Civic Type R. And the Y-spoked 19-inch alloy wheels are arguably beautiful.

Even the humblest GTI S trim still has cool X-shaped fog lights, though. There will be no mistaking a new VW Golf in other drivers’ rearview mirrors. The next-up SE trim takes things further with an illuminated grille. It also adds a sunroof as standard, while bringing the option of a gloss black finish for the 18-inch alloy wheels.

DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATED TRANSMISSION
Not that there’s anything particularly wrong with the purists’ preference of a stick shift, but the VW/Audi group was offering this kind of automatic option before anyone else. Drivers can still change gears using paddles and the whole operation is completed faster than any human can match with a manual lever.

GOLF R SPECIAL MODE
The North Loop of Germany’s Nürburgring has more than 150 corners and is probably the most demanding race track in the world. If a car works here, it’ll work anywhere, Which is why several car companies use it for testing. Among the Golf R’s driving modes is a Special setting where the suspension and other systems are optimized for this particular track.

It might seem extravagant for an entry level model to have multi-colored ambient lighting as standard. But this is the GTI, not a basic Golf.

On a less frivolous note, the 2022 Golf GTI S also comes with LED exterior lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors with puddle lamps, rain-sensing wipers, heated washer nozzles, 10.25-inch digital driver information display, heated front seats, heated steering wheel wrapped in perforated leather, stainless steel pedal caps, and single-zone automatic climate control.

This model’s infotainment setup is based around an 8.25-inch touchscreen and has Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth, four USB ports, wireless charging, plus a 7-speaker sound system.

Safety features include forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front/rear parking sensors, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The main choice for every version of the 2022 Golf is whether to stay with the 6-speed manual transmission or choose the 7-speed automatic. If a buyer decides to purchase a better-equipped new VW Golf, the possibilities open up even more.

The SE version of the GTI adds adaptive front lighting, keyless entry/ignition, wireless smartphone integration, Wi-Fi, navigation (with information shown on the driver information cluster), satellite radio, 9-speaker/480-watt Harman Kardon audio system, and a 10-inch touchscreen.

This model also offers real leather seating surfaces, ventilated front seats, 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory settings, and 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black.

The top GTI Autobahn version has those extras as standard, but swaps in 19-inch alloy wheels wearing super-grippy summer tires, while adding an adaptive suspension, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated rear seats, head-up display, and a self-parking feature.

Throw everything the GTI Autobahn has into the 2022 Golf R, then add all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, stronger brakes with blue-painted calipers, front sport seats with integrated headrests covered in Nappa leather, self-dimming rearview mirror, and that gutsier engine.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine propels both versions of the 2022 Golf. In the GTI, it develops 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.

In the new Golf R, output is boosted to 315 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Both cars comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and offer the option of a 7-speed automatic. It’s an automated dual-clutch unit bringing shift paddles mounted beneath the steering wheel, so drivers can make their own gear changes whenever they like.

When fitted with this automatic transmission, the Golf R raises torque to 295 lb-ft. The GTI deploys front-wheel drive only. The Golf R has an all-wheel-drive system as standard.

Automatic-equipped models have an engine stop/restart function that saves a little fuel while idling. Premium gasoline is recommended for both cars.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (GTI)
241 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24 mpg/34 mpg (manual), 25 mpg/34 mpg (automatic)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Golf R)
315 horsepower @ 5,900 rpm (manual)
315 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm (automatic)
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,900 (manual)
295 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm (automatic)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 mpg (manual), 23/30 mpg (automatic)