The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the most popular cars on the market for folks looking for a fun car that will not break the bank. So, while the 2022 VW Golf GTI does live up to that reputation, it’s by no means a flawless machine. Here’s a look at the 2022 VW Golf GTi and how its frustrating issues hurt the car overall. 

How the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI scored

If you have ever driven a Volkswagen GTI, it should come as no surprise that the editors at Edmunds regarded the 2022 model highly. The publication gave the car an 8.5 out of 10 for performance and an 8.0 out of 10 for comfort. Some of the key performance highlights included a short stopping distance of 103 feet and a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds in automatic guise. The manual transmission version was a bit slower, with a 6.5-second time.

Regardless, the VW Golf GTI did very well with its tried-and-true turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. Volkswagen has used this engine in many of its platforms for years, but it works excitingly well in the GTI body style. So much so that it’s even quicker than a Subaru WRX.

In terms of comfort, the editors at Edmunds noted the GTI’s comfortable ride thanks to its adaptive suspension. The ride feels compliant in Comfort mode and firm in the Sport setting. “There’s a notable difference, but the GTI never feels too soft or overly harsh.”

How reliable is the 2022 VW Golf GTI?

The Volkswagen Golf GTI’s great marks shouldn’t be a surprise, as it’s equipped with a powerful engine that makes 241 horsepower. That represents a 13-hp upgrade from the prior model year. To top it off, despite its impressive performance characteristics, this Volkswagen is quite fuel-efficient for its class, at 28 mpg combined.

Unfortunately for the Volkswagen GTI, its reliability scores are a bit of a letdown. The editors at iSeeCars gave it a three out of five for reliability, which is considered mediocre at best. That’s a shame, but it’s not a far cry from some of the GTI models in the past, some of which have proven to be not-so-reliable. 

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI was very unreliable, especially true in terms of the car’s engine. Over the next few model years, Volkswagen did improve the Golf GTI’s reliability somewhat. However, even in the 2019 model year, the Golf GTI still suffered from engine reliability issues. VW may have since fixed those issues, but it’s also possible that those issues have persisted into the 2022 model year.

Reliability isn’t the Volkswagen hot hatch’s only issue

While the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s reliability issues are its biggest drawback, it does have another significant issue. The Golf GTI comes equipped with a 10-inch touchscreen display, but this may be a downgrade. Compared to the Golf GTI’s older infotainment systems, the 2022 Golf GTI has some confusing controls.

One of the reasons the infotainment system is so confusing is its home screen button. According to Consumer Reports, this is a critical button, but VW didn’t label it, which may make it confusing for some drivers. On top of that, the button can change color, making it difficult for some people to see where the button is.