Volkswagen’s GTI hatchback is the perennial hot hatch. Now, the new eighth-generation 2022 Volkswagen GTI is almost here. Options are plentiful, but only some are worth it. Since the dawn of time, the Volkswagen GTI has offered performance and practicality at a competitive price point. Now, it’s time to make sure the options you choose keep it at that competitive price point.

Get the most out of the hot hatch experience

The 2022 Volkswagen GTI is nearly all-new, reusing very few parts from the last generation. Happily, some of the old aspects of the GTI that make it great remain. Power still sits right around 200 hp. The current model gets a bit of a bump, coming in at 240 hp according to VW. Happily, Volkswagen also opted to keep one of the things that makes the GTI special.

For 2022, you can still order your GTI with a six-speed manual transmission. Also available will be Volkswagen’s dual-clutch automatic transmission. The auto will offer slightly better daily drivability and fuel economy but only by a few tenths of a gallon. For a more connected experience, opt for the manual. Even better, the stick is a no-cost option.

Spec your 2022 Volkswagen GTI with practicality in mind

Before we get into practicality, let’s talk about color for a moment. As of right now, only eight color options are available. Some will be harder to maintain than others. There’s a variety of blues, reds, whites, grays, and blacks on offer. However, the brand’s “Oryx White Mother-of-Pearl” will run you an extra $1,000 bucks or so. That isn’t the only color you’ll have to pay extra, with some of the more fun colors running anywhere from $753-$913.

Now, a big part of what makes the 2022 Volkswagen GTI so practical is its hatchback layout. Thankfully, that’s included in the price. What isn’t however, is the German brand’s dynamic chassis control. For that, you’ll need to spec the larger 19-inch “Adelaide” or “Estoril” diamond wheels at $860 or $978 each. Frankly, this is a must, as the dynamic chassis control ($931) allows you to soften the ride for the daily commute.

Don’t forget to have a little fun

Finally, this brings us to optional extras. This is where your relatively cheap hot hatch can turn into a huge expense very quickly. Unfortunately, the $350 rearview camera isn’t standard. Neither is a heads-up display ($750). A leather interior will run you north of an extra $2,000 and frankly, the plaid seats are cooler. They’ll also breathe better.

I’d also recommend the optional Harmon Kardon sound system, as a nice stereo will certainly help with resale value. Europeans will be fortunate enough to option a factory dash camera, but no word on whether this will make it stateside. If it does, that’s another must-have. In total, mine came out to $46,000. Not cheap by any means, but the 2022 Volkswagen GTI can certainly be a forever car, and worth the investment.