Volkswagen Stacked the Deck for 2022 and the Competition Should Be Worried

The 2022 Volkswagen lineup is poised to disrupt the industry like never before, and as a Washington Volkswagen dealer, we are in the position to know. Always a category and industry innovator, the engineers and designers at Volkswagen have stacked this model year with a diverse assortment of cars and SUVs in just about every size and with powertrains that suit everyone from speed demons to efficiency seekers.

Are you looking for a classic sedan body style or maybe an economical entry-level compact? You’ll find it at VW showrooms. If it’s time for a family SUV, then Volkswagen offers a staggering five different options, including the ID.4 Electric Vehicle, an electric vehicle with a forward-thinking crossover body style designed for mass appeal and utility. Familiar names like the Jetta and the Tiguan still draw buyers looking for the highest levels of quality.

Enjoyable cars like the Jetta and Golf also remain a part of the lineup, poised to dominate their segments with next-generation technology, German engineering, and advanced safety features designed to keep occupants out of harm’s way. It’s an exciting time at Volkswagen, and new vehicle buyers are the big winners.

The Redesigned 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Set to enter its eighth generation, the 2022 Golf GTI reinforces Volkswagen’s longstanding commitment to the hatchback body style and to its sports car heritage. It features a low center of gravity and chiseled lines accented by LED exterior lighting and strategically placed air intakes. Even with its substantial redesign, the Golf GTI unapologetically stays true to its roots.

German engineering and high performance take center stage on the Golf GTI in its latest iteration, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a standard six-speed manual shifter topped with a signature golf-ball dimpled knob. You can opt for an automatic dual-clutch transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for added convenience without losing the option to control shifting behavior.

Inside the cabin, Volkswagen puts entertainment and connectivity front-and-center, with a large 8.25-inch or 10-inch infotainment touchscreen (depending on the trim selected) featuring available wireless smartphone connectivity for easy access to app playlists. An available Fender audio system increases sound output and maximizes cabin acoustics, and the playful plaid seating surfaces go long on style.

We put the spotlight on the Golf GTI Autobahn trim, priced at just over $35,000 and featuring DCC adaptive chassis control, red brake calipers, and a limited-slip front differential for added traction. Inside, the Autobahn envelops passengers in plush leather seating surfaces and adds dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, and heated front seats.

Volkswagen is known for its advancements in occupant safety, and those characteristics are prominent on the Golf GTI. Standard and available safety systems include Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, Lane Assist with Active Blind Spot Monitor, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Park Distance Control with Park Assist. The systems alert the driver to potential hazards and even provide gentle corrections to keep everyone safe.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R Redefines the Hot Hatch

If next-level performance and handling are high on your list, Volkswagen designed the 2022 Golf R for you. This sporty hatchback delivers a turbocharged 315 horses of excitement combined with all-wheel drive and a category exclusive drift mode that will leave you wanting for nothing once you slip behind the wheel.

It’s no wonder that Car and Driver rates the new Golf R a 9.5/10 – its comprehensive package of exterior good looks, dynamic performance, and interior luxury appointments rival those of even more expensive imports. Buyers only need to decide whether they want a manual or automatic transmission; after that, everything else is standard.

Standard performance equipment includes 4Motion all-wheel drive and a selectable drive mode switch that lets drivers toggle between six different settings: Comfort, Sport, Race, Special, Drift, and Individual. Drift mode mimics the road handling behavior of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. When engaged, the back end slides effortlessly, especially on wet surfaces.

The prominent 10.2-inch driver gauge cluster is fully digital and includes the option for customization. Nappa leather seating is soft and comfortable, but the Golf R’s seat design is all business and reinforced with bolsters for optimal comfort during performance driving. The seats are blue and feature the “R” logo, which plays off the Golf R’s 30-color ambient lighting system, authentic stainless steel pedals, and 10-inch infotainment touchscreen.

A stylized two-piece rear spoiler differentiates the Golf R from its slightly less aggressive cousin, the GTI, as well as the more aggressive bumpers in the front and rear and quad-tipped exhaust appearance. Those aggressive exterior styling additions match the Golf R’s insane performance capabilities, including its ability to send 100 percent of available power to a single rear wheel.

The All-New Compact 2022 Volkswagen Taos SUV

Volkswagen is poised to take over the highly competitive compact SUV category with the launch of an all-new contender, the 2022 Taos. Priced at just under $23,000, this affordable dynamo offers a turbocharged engine and modern styling that bests all the others in its class.

Buyers can choose from several different powertrain configurations, including adding 4Motion all-wheel drive for the ultimate in driving confidence. Every Taos SUV comes equipped with a peppy 158 horsepower 1.5-liter engine that’s capable of producing 184 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive models receive an 8-speed automatic transmission, but 4Motion all-wheel drive versions get a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Choose from four trims – the S, SE, SE R-Line, and SEL R-Line – and outfit the cabin with as many comforts as you desire. The base S features two-tone cloth seats, a push button start, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity via a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. All trims feature the dynamic Volkswagen Digital Cockpit system, 8 inches on the S and SE and 10.25 inches on the SEL.

Taos SE and SEL trims include a larger 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with a wireless charger. The top-of-the-line SEL trim also features a unique BeatsAudio premium sound system with eight speakers, a 400-watt amplifier, and a subwoofer, as well as standard navigation. Volkswagen’s Car-Net connected services system lets drivers pair their smartphones for use as a remote key. Sound the horn, start your Taos, and even monitor fuel levels right from the VW app.

Safety is at the forefront of Volkswagen’s Taos design, as evidenced by the IQ.DRIVE system, a series of driver-assist safety technologies that utilize sensors, radar, and cameras to monitor the area around the vehicle and communicate potential hazards to the driver. IQ.DRIVE is standard on SEL Taos trims and available on the S and SE.

Volkswagen Is Ready to Dominate!

Between its relentless commitment to safety and the refinements incorporated into its diverse vehicle lineup, Volkswagen enters the 2022 model year armed for category dominance. Whether you’re looking for an affordable compact SUV but don’t want to compromise on style and capability, or you’ve got your sights set on one of the world’s most powerful hatchbacks, the team at Volkswagen has a vehicle for you.

Familiar models return with small changes for 2022, including the iconic Jetta, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Tiguan. Earlier this year, Volkswagen announced the launch of the all-new, all-electric ID.4 Electric Vehicle SUV, a vehicle capable of 250 miles of driving range without compromising performance or all the passenger and cargo volume SUV buyers expect.

Volkswagen stokes driver confidence and backs up its quality claims with an excellent 4-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and 2-year/20,000-mile included maintenance coverage plan, standard on every new VW. Which 2022 Volkswagen vehicle belongs in your driveway? The hardest part is deciding on just one.