2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a continuation of the iconic hot hatch lineage that began with the 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI, was a testament to subtle yet impactful design enhancements. The GTI shared its basic structure with the regular Golf but featured distinctive red GTI badges, a red horizontal strip across the grille, and red-painted brake calipers visible through its 18-inch alloy wheels. The exterior was further accentuated by LED fog lamps, gloss black side mirrors, and a small rear lip spoiler. Inside, the GTI boasted red ambient lighting, a race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching, and heated front sport seats available in Clark plaid cloth or leather, depending on the trim level. The overall quality of materials and paintwork was top-notch, providing a premium feel.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid, while mostly a carryover from the previous year, impressed with its futuristic and expressive design. The front end featured a sneering face and muscular lines, with wheel options ranging from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy wheels on higher trims. Inside, the Camry Hybrid continued the futuristic theme with a sweeping dashboard design, a large infotainment touchscreen, and a spacious second row. The interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with ample storage options and a roomy second row that even made the middle seat comfortable. The fit and finish were of high quality, with smooth, glossy paint and well-selected materials.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI was all about performance, featuring a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The GTI's handling was a standout feature, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and variable-ratio steering. The top-of-the-line Autobahn model came with DCC adaptive damping, enhancing its already impressive handling. However, this performance-oriented setup resulted in a rough ride on ordinary roads. The GTI offered a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, with the latter being an $800 option. Fuel economy was respectable, with the manual transmission achieving 23 mpg city/30 mpg highway/26 mpg combined, and the dual-clutch automatic slightly better at 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/27 mpg combined.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid focused on fuel efficiency and practicality. The hybrid system combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 208 horsepower. The electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters available on SE and XSE models to simulate a six-speed transmission. The Camry Hybrid excelled in fuel economy, with the LE model achieving an impressive 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway/52 mpg combined, while other trims managed 44 mpg city/47 mpg highway/46 mpg combined. Handling was good, aided by the low-mounted lithium-ion battery pack, which lowered the center of gravity. However, the focus on fuel economy sometimes came at the cost of responsiveness, and the EV mode was challenging to maintain.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI excelled in form and function, thanks to its compact hatchback design. With a 103.6-inch wheelbase and dimensions of 168.0 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 57.8 inches tall, the GTI was incredibly practical for carrying passengers and cargo. It offered 17.4 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, expandable to 24.8 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. The GTI's tight turning circle of 35.8 feet and sharp steering made it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Inside, the GTI featured clever storage options, including large front door pockets and well-sized cupholders, although the mechanical handbrake slightly interfered with access to the cupholders.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid provided a comfortable and practical driving experience. The seating position was reasonable and comfortable, with ample headroom and multiple storage options, including a spacious glove compartment and various nooks and crannies throughout the dash. The second row was easy to access and offered generous space, with bottle holders in the doors and map pockets in the front seatbacks. The Camry Hybrid's trunk space was 15.1 cubic feet, the same as the standard Camry, thanks to the low-mounted battery pack. A passthrough allowed for long items to extend into the cabin, and the second row could fold down for additional cargo space. Toyota's warranty coverage was comprehensive, including a 10-year/100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured a mix of traditional and modern technology. It retained analog gauges with a configurable driver information screen and a mechanical handbrake. The VW MIB touchscreen infotainment system was standard, with the S model using a 6.5-inch screen and the SE and Autobahn models getting an 8-inch screen with navigation. The system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink, with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio. Volkswagen Car-Net offered additional features like Remote Access and a mobile app, with options for Verizon or T-Mobile data plans. Standard smart technology included LED daytime running lights, fog lights, and taillights, with adaptive front lighting and dynamic cornering lights on higher trims.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was equipped with Toyota's latest technology features. The premium JBL audio system, available on XLE and XSE models, offered nine speakers and sophisticated algorithms for high-quality sound. Embedded navigation was also available on these trims, while Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot were standard across all models. The LE, SE, and SE Nightshade had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE featured a 9-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Toyota's smart key system, push-button start, automatic LED headlights, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 10-inch color head-up display was available on XSE models, along with a bird’s-eye view camera and other advanced features.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores from the IIHS in most crash-test categories. It came with a range of standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and multiple airbags. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, park distance control, park assist, and high-beam control. The GTI's sharp handling also contributed to its safety by potentially helping drivers avoid collisions.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ as standard, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Camry Hybrid also featured Toyota's Star safety system, with stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and more. It had 10 airbags, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, and LATCH lower anchors for child safety seats. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was available on lower trims and standard on higher trims. The 2021 model received the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model was expected to receive the same rating. The NHTSA gave the 2022 Camry Hybrid a five-star overall safety rating.