I needed a family car, but one that I could enjoy. A hot hatch seemed like the right answer. After some time with my new 2022 VW GTI, I can confirm it was.
After a long and drawn-out nightmare of a car buying process, which started with buying a sight-unseen Porsche Cayenne GTS across the country that ended up becoming the financial bane of my existence, I decided to get over my desire to own a beater and buy a respectable car to haul my kids and dog.
Though I didn’t lose money on the Porsche, I lost a ton of time, so I wasn’t in the mood for an extended search. A few hours later, I’d found my car — and without a markup, no less. That weekend, I drove home a new 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI SE with a DSG and leather upholstery package.
![Front End 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Front-End-700x467.jpg)
Hatchback Life
I am now a hatchback owner, for better or worse, but I’m confident this car will meet my family’s needs without too much hassle. The idea with a hatchback — hot or otherwise — is that it will offer a car-like driving experience with reasonable handling and fuel economy, while also swallowing up much larger chunks of cargo and gear than looks possible.
![Rear End 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Rear-End-700x467.jpg)
The hot hatchback, a name that the GTI pioneered, takes things a little further for people like me, who need the utility of a hatchback but who want at least a few thrills to go with the experience.
The Golf and its performance variants are the quintessential hatchbacks. It’s the one most people in the U.S. think of when the word is uttered. And though it’s far from ubiquitous, the VW is one of this nation’s longest-running hatchbacks. Volkswagen thinned the Golf line in the U.S. for 2022, leaving only the high-performance GTI and Golf R on sale.
Golf R Out of Reach
![2022 VW Golf R 2022 VW Golf R](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/11/2022-VW-Golf-R-700x467.jpg)
Family Car Shopping
2022 VW GTI Review
![Side 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Side-700x467.jpg)
GTI Performance
![Engine Bay 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Engine-Bay-700x467.jpg)
People & Gear Hauler
![Back Seat-Car Seat 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Back-Seat-Car-Seat-700x467.jpg)
![2C37DB88-FA86-487A-A5E8-C2F91F2B3BEE 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/2C37DB88-FA86-487A-A5E8-C2F91F2B3BEE-700x525.jpg)
![Dog-GTI 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Dog-GTI-700x467.jpg)
Tech & Safety
![Infotainment Screen 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Infotainment-Screen-700x467.jpg)
![Gauge Cluster 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Gauge-Cluster-700x467.jpg)
Right Choice for Me, But …
![Rear 3_4 2022 VW Golf GTI](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/07/Rear-3_4-700x467.jpg)