2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan was offered in familiar trim levels: LX, EX, Sport, and Touring. In Canada, the pricing started at an MSRP of $24,465 for the LX and went up to $30,265 for the Touring, excluding a $1,700 destination charge. The Civic Touring, evaluated in the new Morning Mist Blue, had a total cost of $32,396, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development package, was estimated at $31,467. The redesigned 11th-generation Civic had a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor, resembling the larger Accord sedan. The interior featured a minimalistic design with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a mature and tailored look.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI, although boasting all-new body panels, maintained a familiar silhouette that was longer and lower than its predecessor. The GTI's styling included a smooth hood, a subtle honeycomb-patterned air intake, and a signature red accent line across the front. Aerodynamic enhancements were made, including redesigned side-view mirrors and underbody paneling. The GTI came with red brake calipers and varying wheel sizes depending on the trim. It was available in staple colours like silver, black, and white, with additional options like Atlantic Blue Metallic and King’s Red Metallic. The interior featured plaid cloth seats as standard, with Vienna leather in the Performance trim, and retained the classic golf-ball shifter knob.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options. The LX, EX, and Sport trims featured a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim came with a turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Step Shift programming. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's handling was improved with structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel. However, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, returning 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres on a test loop.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The engine featured integrated exhaust headers for better heat management. The GTI offered a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DSG). The GTI's fuel consumption was estimated at 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.0 on the highway with the automatic transmission. The GTI's handling was enhanced with a retuned suspension, electronic torque-sensing limited-slip differential, and various drive modes. The Performance trim featured the DCC adaptive damping system, allowing for precise adjustments.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined, power-adjustable front seats with heating but no ventilation. The rear seats provided ample legroom, though the backrest angle might have been too reclined for some. The Civic's interior redesign included a new centre console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 419 litres, or 408 litres with the Touring trim due to premium sound system components.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI balanced performance and practicality with 564 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 977 litres with the rear seats folded. The GTI's driver-centric interior featured a centre stack angled toward the driver and a "light and sight" panel for adjusting headlights and defogging settings. Rear legroom was surprisingly spacious, making the GTI suitable for family use.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. The Vehicle Activity display provided information on headlight and taillight status. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and navigation. The system's voice recognition technology was notably improved.

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-inch touchscreen in the base trim and a 10-inch display with navigation in higher trims. Standard features included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Performance trim offered a 9-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system. However, the touch-capacitive controls for volume and climate were less user-friendly.

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. The vehicle's architecture was strengthened for better collision protection, and new airbag designs improved head protection. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured IQ.Drive, offering 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 on all trims, with Park Assist available on the Performance trim. The GTI had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.