The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI is Still the King of Hot Hatchbacks (In-Depth Review)

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Price (as tested) 💲: 48,075 EUR
Powertrain ⚙️: 2.0-liter Turbocharged 4-cylinder
Output 💪: 241 hp/273 lb-ft of torque
Transmission 🕹: 7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automatic
0-60 MPH 🚦: 5.1 seconds
Top Speed 💥: 155 mph
MPG (as tested) ⛽️: 24 city/32 hwy/28 combined
Curb weight ⚖️: 3,154 lbs
Since its inception in 1976, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has defined the hot hatchback segment. With its practical shape, front-drive dynamics, and accessible agility, the GTI built an enthusiastic fanbase through seven generations to date. As a previous GTI owner, Miles has a particular interest in this new model. Fond memories of flogging his DSG-equipped (MkV) GTI are as clear in his mind as the powerslide-gone-wrong that one rain-drenched evening.
Redesigned for the 2022 model year, the GTI is more accommodating, more powerful, and more sophisticated than ever before - but can these improvements keep the GTI on top of its competitive segment? Rivals like the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Veloster N are more powerful, while sport sedans like the Subaru WRX and Honda Civic Si are more affordable. This eighth generation GTI will need more than fond memories to earn new and repeat customers. Find out if the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI is still the hot hatch king in this in-depth review.
Options Equipped:
- DSG Dual-Clutch ($800 USD)
- 19-inch Golf R Wheels (1,480 EUR)
- DCC/Dynamic Chassis Control (1,045 EUR)
- Comfort Package (1,620 EUR)
- LED Matrix IQ Light (1,125 EUR)
- Navigation (710 EUR)
- Winter Package (450 EUR)
- Head-up Display (720 EUR)
- Harman Kardon 9-Speaker, 480-watt Sound System (680 EUR)
#2022VolkswagenGolfGTIDSG #VolkswagenGolfGTIDSG #2022GolfGTIDSG #GolfGTIDSG #review
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Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
Exterior Impressions: 00:52
Interior Impressions: 05:57
Exhaust: 24:15
Driving Impressions: 24:24

[@emiliodaloisio3312]

great review! had a MK7 loved it but this is SO much nicer in every aspect inside and out, sure the tech is a little strange without buttons but should be easy to learn. Thumps WAY up on the MK8!

[@MilesPerHr]

Thanks for your feedback as an owner!

[@roddyperry5606]

One of the best reviews I’ve watched. Well done sir! Looked at a MK 8 at my local SC dealership yesterday. They look much better in person and I’m a fan. I’m test driving one in the next week. My issue is that I want the bells and whistles on the autobahn trim but at that price I may go with the R..but my dealer can’t even put in orders for those yet. The touch screens at first I was not a fan of but you can adapt to them. Will see how I feel about them once I get to test the car out.

[@MilesPerHr]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I hope to drive the R sometime soon, but I've heard great things from my journalist peers. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

[@cambodiaauto9956]

@@MilesPerHr ln

[@dlndavidlife]

Great videos keep the great work 👍🏾

[@karav2879]

I really appreciate all the specific info in this video! Many thanks.

[@Hot-1LE]

Looks like your in my neck of the woods. Santiago Canyon. Nice driving and video. Love these cars.

[@moldog1000]

Best review yet on the GTI. And always funny to see it driven in your own neck of the woods.

[@sophiawoods6748]

Good video, really enjoy your videos.

[@hkurata8404]

Hi, thanks for detail review with clear visual and comments.

[@MilesPerHr]

Thanks for watching!

[@eanhalt1]

By far the best review of the Mk8 on the internet. I own one and you are right on point with everything you discussed. It truly is a great car. Thanks for the great review.

[@deanmarr785]

Cannon and Serrano. I'm just over the hill on Blue Sky and Cannon. Great review. My current car is an 2017 GTI sport. is38 turbo swap. My favorite car that I have ever owned.

[@edwardcapistranovw3792]

Great video. Are those nice twisty roads in Silverado Canyon ?

[@phumlanidollar9748]

I've been waiting for a review !!!!!🤟🚶

[@berg8427]

The design of the Car looks awesome

[@reshadstv5419]

Great video milesperhr

[@cryptokuvvy]

You should do a POV of the LFA ‘cause that would be SICK!

[@joanaherreryana9]

Thank you for the in depth review 👍

[@MilesPerHr]

You bet! Thanks for watching.

[@FANO562]

Awesome car great video!

[@gati54uri094]

That damping stiffness is very hard incredible!!! Amazing 8th gen of the GTI the iconic and best HB ever!!! Nice POV

[@gtiguy9629]

I hated this design but it’s growing on me. If they come out with a non-capacitive button trim version! They will have me & other buyers lol

[@johnaspaul]

Agreed

[@emilyleininger6648]

I personally think you would get over the buttons and become accustomed to as you drive. Dynamically it's a superior car to the mk7. I'm tempted, was going to get an R but the price is steeeep

[@kdog18ful]

I wouldn’t. I’m not a fan of cheap capacitive buttons. I don’t forgive it on a VW OR FERRARI

[@troysong33]

Shame we don’t get the IQ taillight in US (again the non dynamic led with a white block at the bottom)…..those fade in effect looks great

[@pierre-richardromain6708]

This will be my 2nd car in a few years. I currently drive a 2021 Toyota 4Runner and want a sporty car to have fun with during the weekend.

[@jeffsiemens4485]

Engine / exhaust sounds gooooood

[@arendlouw8178]

I have seen a number of reviews on the GTi M8 and this is really very detailed. I wonder if you can perhaps get your hands on the Golf-R derivative? I am not quite ready for the new VW yet because I am still enjoying my 2018 GTi which is incidentally only having 36000km on the clock from new.

[@MilesPerHr]

I'm hoping to get the R early next year!

[@FallenArtemie]

This looks really cool. I had the mk7.5 and this feels very similar but with more refinement. Looks like performance and stability is increased, but the interior quality has taken a dip...or rather it looks like it's premium but the materials don't match. Tbh, the mk7.5 was the same thing too, looked great but it had a lot of piano black and hard plastics in the cabin. Infotainment would need getting used to but doesn't seem that bad once your settings are locked in. Love the steering wheel and gauge cluster - but the new Golfs are missing a sense of heritage.

[@bucknut2000]

the 7.5 I think was just the start of downward trend of the interiors. I noticed that they deleted the storage trays under the driver seat, battery insulation, hood insulation, they went from honeycomb to plain black piano and the glovebox came unlined. and than in the 8 they took away the sunglass and coinpurse.

[@santi8751]

If the gti's turbo is pushing 4.3 bars wouldn't that mean over 60psi? Or how's that work because on Google 1 bar equals 14.5 psi? I'm confused

[@richardhaas9519]

Great review.

[@MilesPerHr]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@AndrewAviles]

Great review, I think I am going to shoot for a 2023 when they bring some of the tactile buttons back and hopefully inventory/market is more stable then. I like that it looks sharp and modern while still has a bit of a timeless feel from the silhouette being mostly unchanged.

[@blackcatsarenopussies]

I think Mk7 will go down in history as one of the best GTI

[@RAaaa777]

Mk4 one of the worst and 7.5 probably the best. But that is just my opinion

[@Tom-zp1rp]

Agreed and the mk4. This mk8 looks cheap, is hideous

[@Tom-zp1rp]

@@z.g.26 because you’re boring. Hence you like the boring 8. Soulless, uninspiring, loaded with lots of blinking lights and make pretend noises. Typical of people today. No soul, just like to “look” the part 🫠🥴

[@Denileism]

Do you have to break in the engine for the first 1000mi still?

[@AutosconIvanChavez]

Great!

[@blakee9690]

As a mountain biker who rides a trail right there all the time, it terrifies me to see you driving up Modjeska Grade at almost 60mph. It also makes me want to buy a GTI and drive Modjeska Grade at almost 60mph….I’m torn.

[@MilesPerHr]

Hey, totally legitimate concern, so I'm going to give a proper answer: I ALWAYS do a pre-drive lap up/down to make sure there aren't any cyclists I might encounter before doing a real run. Safety is a priority.

[@johnaspaul]

As long as the buttons are all digital /touch based, the interior makes this car still a big no. One can use nobs blindly, but touch on my steering wheel has caused many to accidentally change volume or heating up/down. I want to hold the steering wheel firmly without worrying about accidentally activating an action.

[@audieconrad8995]

Seems it will be difficult to adjust the air conditioning because you've driven off a cliff trying to do so... Or...worse(?) 2 minutes later still trying to get to Sport mode as the WRX that passed you is now 3 miles up the road...

[@hoodieboy1515]

Shopping the market rn for a Golf GTI pre-owned. Finding 2019-2021 ones. But, I feel like it might be better to just get a brand new 2022 golf gti. I’d love a stage 1 tune asap lol.. ooh I just searched it & the 2022 Unitronic Stage 1 tune is still under development

[@Itsdjsigi]

You end up snagging a deal on anything?

[@martindunne5085]

Collecting exactly same colour and spec in 3 weeks. Can’t wait.

[@MilesPerHr]

Right on - enjoy!

[@Ballsack44]

How has your car been?

[@loyscgodlike]

@@Ballsack44 He traded his golf and bought a Honda civic

[@Ballsack44]

@@loyscgodlike why

[@AutosconIvanChavez]

nice!

[@hitmanhart6275]

With those 19 inches wheels , do you consider the DCC essential

[@MilesPerHr]

Probably, yes.

[@audieconrad8995]

Maybe I missed it...what tires are on this tester?

[@khettabiyasser8155]

Wow ❤❤

[@shashankskshiteesh4941]

Does the Golf come with Autofolding mirrors?

[@kevs2good133]

It’s a golf not an SEL Premium atlas lol

[@nurmuhammadrasulov4502]

Would you buy this or the Elantra N

[@16odysseyexl]

Beautiful Golf!!

[@edgarhenrique4262]

Golf gti 2022 Fantástico...✌ eu vou ter um em nome de Jesus🙏🚘

[@lovebeatles]

진짜 이쁘네 빨리 한국에도 출시해라

[@billybodgit6281]

How many Miles can you get out of a full tank???

[@bitcoinman2048]

The car has the latest gadgets which is nicel

[@micaiahreese]

I don't understand why car manufacturers thought it was a good idea to make anything touch/capacitive in cars.

[@MilesPerHr]

If they aren't distracting to the driver, they do de-clutter the dashboard, but if they're distracting, it's a bad move.

[@wylierudhman1603]

Too bad those folding rear view mirrors are not available on US spec cars.

[@sophiawoods6748]

Perfection car.

[@haze1123]

VW needs to bring back the REAL knobs, buttons, and switches. The capacitive slider for volume is always a mistake. The interior user interface decisions here are just terrible.

[@MilesPerHr]

A mix of essential physical controls and haptic touch non-essentials would at least be a nice progression

[@kevs2good133]

@@MilesPerHr this exists on the S trim with knobs for volume and tuning and no sliders for the AC and volume below the screen

[@Jiucy]

Can you see the tire pressures?

[@MilesPerHr]

Yes, it's within the gauge cluster information

[@MarkEnriquez1971]

So it doesn’t have an actual manual mode? As in my 7.5 gti u kick the gear selector to right and it will hold whatever gear you choose with the paddle shifter.

[@MilesPerHr]

You can only engage Manual with the paddle shifters, but it will stay in manual until you select normal Drive again.

[@MarkEnriquez1971]

@@MilesPerHr got it. But i believe if I heard correctly it will still auto shift up at redline even in paddle mode unless you get the R with performance package. Not a huge deal but just a nit pick as a former mk6 GTI owner and now a mk7.5 GTI owner.

[@davidvilchez2209]

Yeah you gotta add on 10k to that after financing so I would get an se in a year or 2

[@donjohnson2428]

Do you feel that the DCC is a must-have on the GTI?

[@jhondiick4202]

U come bit late on Yt with this video😂YT is already full of it xd

[@pierre-richardromain6708]

Is this the S trim?

[@MilesPerHr]

It’s a European model, so it isn’t in S/SE/Autobahn trim

[@caffeineisking8132]

Crazy amount of software issues on these cars vw can't even fix them its absolutely ruined this car. What's even better is I have one on order 😬. Join the mk8 owners on Facebook and see how bad these really are

[@jopetti]

I refuse to believe this even how many people state this. I have nada problems on my mk8 despite of We Connect issues earlier. It seems to be working now also.

[@jopetti]

That being said gimme a few examples of these "software issues" ?

[@caffeineisking8132]

@@jopetti the cruise control is constantly coming up with error and slamming the breaks on even on motorways which is dangerous. The boot won't open. There's an sos warning that comes up and crashes the screen and won't let you operate it any further. There's 3 loud pops from all speakers randomly while using it. Vw connect which let's you use an app to check the car is absolutely useless and absolutely never works or connects. Vw take the car off you for 2 days to update the software and you drive 10 minutes down the road and the problem is still there they can't even fix them

[@jopetti]

@@caffeineisking8132 Heard those pops maybe twice on my 8500km of mk8 experience. I don't call it even an issue taken account quite massive bunch of driving hours. Connect is a mess, or at least was, probably only thing I can relate to. Honestly, I've never had that Cruise control issue, only time it has "emergency" braked for me was to prevent me hitting threshold when parking. Crash caution has beeped many times but I think it has always sensed it correctly and notified the driver (me) from other cars slowing down fast etc. Now thinking further, I have two crashes for driver's screen, but it booted back up in the matter of seconds and did not affect driving anyhow. That should "never" happen though.

[@MilesPerHr]

Yikes! I wasn't aware of the software issues.

[@cliffpeterson8430]

You spoke of sedans and left out VW's GLI.

[@yes8032]

I need a manual of this golf

[@MarkEnriquez1971]

Manual is outdated, time to let go, lol jk, if you like manual all good. I am 50 yrs old and when I bought a 2012 GTI new, I said to the salesman "automatic with paddle shifters no way" but I test drove it in paddle shift mode and I was sold.

[@fabrice3892]

Hi, 0-60 MPH 🚦: 5.1 seconds... Never with 241 Hp.

[@tylerkeilman5999]

Manual 100%

[@Itsdjsigi]

This or mk7.5 is the real question

[@nickzimmer3476]

Those air vents look like they point right at the back of the steering wheel, and they are way too low.

[@benwells2338]

All I can see in this new GTI front end is a legit Fu Manchu situation going on and I can’t unsee it. The R model looks a bit better thankfully, just not sure why VW felt a need to line the grill area with plastic bits resembling facial hair.

[@MilesPerHr]

Wow, I hadn't pictured that, but now it's hard to unsee

[@willstokes7266]

A nice car buuuut the electronic "dials" are a huge no for me in these new cars

[@ismailkhan9698]

Manual seats at 48keur no thanks.

[@vMaxHeadroom]

Car & driver must be wrong as VW say 6.1 seconds 0-60MPH and pretty much every test on YT is in the high 5's to low 6's...Not a chance it does 5.1 secs unless it was running slicks with some sticky track as well. That would make it faster than a Type R, i30n/elantra, RS300 Trophy et all with 280 to 300+BHP, heck it would be faster than the 296BHP Golf Cubsport which is lighter than the MK8 GTI with near on 50BHP more and the same 50+ foot pounds on the torque side...heck it would be just fractionally of a Golf R which does it at 4.8 seconds and thats with 4 wheel drive!!!!

[@bucknut2000]

car and driver I believe uses launch control or launch a manual to get faster times.

[@Aikynbreusov]

$39,000?????? Thar Nissan Z price territory.... or a slightly used BMW 3 series or Lexus IS series price range..... not sure if the GTI is worthy anymore when compared to these vehicles...... they are built with better quality of materials, exceptional craftsmanship with outstanding fit-and-finish along with ride quality.....

[@Domce133]

GTI stage 1 is more fun to drive than 3 series. It's family sedan....

[@stephenagnew670]

Definitely not the king the Honda an renault are better your aggrevating your Frankfurt mate

[@seanpoore500]

Why did Volkswagen implement the lady shaver design gear shifter in this!? I hope they don't bring that spec over into the states because that's a deal breaker.

[@HOTPLATEGAMING]

Get a 6MT then

[@Aikynbreusov]

Wow.....those are nice Scottish legs......

[@Aikynbreusov]

Jeeze, those are seriously hairy Scottish arms....legs too.... I think they pluck hair at your local oriental massage parlor....try it out.....

[@mrsilentgamer7438]

Do you talk so much just drive

[@jayczyzyk9707]

46years ago till today horrid reliability

[@bucknut2000]

my 2015 has 230K miles and its still doing well.

[@LiLgPnoy15]

MK VII is better

[@tonyga5]

Terrible terrible interior Way too much touch.

[@bobpants1469]

This thing is hideous

[@Tom-zp1rp]

The most hideous VW ever. The legacy is destroyed 🤮🤢🤢🤢🤢