2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in familiar trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring, with prices starting at $21,700 and reaching up to $28,300, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was set to return, but the two-door coupe was discontinued. The Civic Touring model, priced at $29,690 with destination charges, featured an extra-cost Morning Mist Blue paint. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development package, was estimated at $25,880. The redesigned Civic resembled the larger Accord sedan, adopting a more conservative and plain appearance. Its interior embraced simplicity, with a minimalistic control layout and improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a mature and tailored look.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, although claiming all-new body panels, maintained a similar appearance to its predecessor. It was longer and lower, with unchanged wheelbase dimensions, contributing to a stable silhouette. The GTI's styling included a cascading hood, a subtle honeycomb-patterned air intake, and a signature red accent line across the front. Aerodynamic enhancements included redesigned side-view mirrors and underbody paneling. The GTI featured red brake calipers, with wheel sizes varying by trim. It was available in staple colors like silver, black, and white, with additional options like Atlantic Blue Metallic and Kings Red Metallic. The interior boasted plaid cloth seats, with Vienna leather available on higher trims, and retained the classic golf-ball shifter knob.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVT), featuring Step Shift programming for a traditional automatic feel. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's improved structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel contributed to its enjoyable ride and handling. Despite its capable performance, the Civic Touring's fuel economy fell short of the EPA estimate, returning 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The engine's exhaust headers were integrated into the cylinder heads, improving heat management. The GTI offered a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG) with paddle shifters. The GTI's retuned suspension, with lighter front assembly and stiffer rear springs, enhanced handling. Various drive modes allowed customization for Eco, Comfort, or Sport settings. The GTI's electronic torque-sensing limited-slip differential and electronic stability control reduced understeer. The Autobahn trim featured the DCC adaptive damping system, providing 200 adjustments per second for improved handling.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined, heated power driver's seats, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Civic's low ground clearance made entry and exit challenging, but rear legroom was generous. The Civic's interior redesign included a new center console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim, accommodating full-size suitcases and offering a split-folding backseat for added utility.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI balanced performance and practicality with 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 34.5 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The GTI's driver-centric interior featured a center stack angled toward the driver and a "light and sight" panel for headlight and defogging adjustments. Rear legroom was ample, providing comfort for passengers. The GTI's maneuverability and rear-seat comfort made it suitable for family use.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with a 10-inch display in the Touring trim offering customization and driving environment data. The Vehicle Activity display indicated headlight and taillight status, enhancing safety. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim offered a 9-inch display with wireless connectivity and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The system's voice recognition technology was a significant improvement over the previous generation.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI boasted a fully digital driver information display with customizable gauge layouts and ambient lighting profiles. The infotainment system featured an 8.25-inch touchscreen in the S trim and a 10-inch display with navigation in higher trims. The system included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a 9-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system. Volkswagen's Car-Net system offered remote access, emergency assistance, and WiFi capability, with additional options available at low costs.

The 2022 Honda Civic's Honda Sensing suite included Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic replaced its LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert in higher trims. The Civic's architecture was strengthened for improved collision protection, and new airbag designs enhanced safety. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI's IQ.Drive offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear traffic alert. However, IQ.Drive was only available on automatic GTIs. Park Distance Control was standard, with Park Assist available on the Autobahn trim. The GTI had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.