One of the first things I learned in business is, “It’s better to be everything to someone, than something to everyone.” The VW Golf R has spent the past two decades doing just that. This is a car for enthusiasts, for fanatics, for drivers. It’s for people who like performance that can be enjoyed in the real world and not just on the track.
No, it’s not a supercar, and as hatchbacks go, it’s a little on the expensive side, but for about half the price of a Mustang Dark Horse, you get a car that’s just two tenths slower 0-60 and will provide all the thrills you can handle on any twisty back road.
Based on the MQB platform that was thoroughly updated in 2022, the Golf R is the top-of-the-line performance version of the eighth generation Golf, taking everything that’s good about the GTI and making it even better. It starts with the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that’s amped up to 315 horsepower. It’s smooth and powerful, delivering its full 310 pound-feet of torque at just 1,900 RPM and stays relatively flat up to 4,500. This means the power is there off the line and as you apply the throttle after hitting the apex of any corner as I discovered on a spirited early morning drive. This is where I also learned that the upgraded 14.1-inch front and 12.2-inch rear cross drilled disc brakes with dual-piston front calipers are up to the extra power after a deer decided to provide a real world test by leaping into the road a few hundred feet in front of me.
Golf R’s handling is aided by more than the lightweight aluminum subframe for the front suspension, stiffer springs, beefed up roll bars, revised bushings, and adaptive dampers. The all-wheel drive system provides added traction off the line and does magical things around the corners thanks to its advanced torque vectoring at the rear axle. This means what was originally a front drive platform corners with a much more neutral feel. Additionally, when you toggle into drift mode, the fun really begins thanks to thanks to its multi-plate clutch rear differential. Essentially, this puts all the torque to the outside rear wheel which makes it easier to hang the rear end out – as VW points out, on closed road or race track, or in our case, an empty parking lot.
There are really four vehicles in this class right now, Civic Type R, GR Corolla, and WRX GT. They all offer manual transmissions, are similarly priced, and except for the WRX, make around 300 horsepower. That’s where the similarities end, however. From a styling, ride quality, and fit and finishing of the interior, the Golf R is really the adult in the room. There’s a subtle spoiler at the top of the hatch, but no wing, no tacked on cladding, and an exhaust note that’s It’s more sophisticated, more polished, and more premium, without being any less fun.
My test car featured the 6-speed manual transmission – a 7-speed DSG Automatic is available and provides the quickest 0-60 times. Pedal placement is excellent, allowing for heel and toe downshifting which is important since there is no rev matching. Clutch feel is right on the money with just enough resistance and a definitive friction point. The shifter is well placed, nicely shaped, and moves between the gears cleanly with a satisfying snick. I know the DCT is quicker, but this is the set up I prefer. It’s much more engaging and takes me back to my days driving a Mk 1 GTI back in the early 1980s. Unfortunately, if you want one with a manual, you’ll have to get this year or next as VW recently announced it will be discontinued after 2024.
The interior is both a hit and a miss. The hit is in the physical details like the seats, surfaces and analog controls. The miss is in the over-deployment of digital technology. What at first looks clean and elegant, ends up making the most common operations like changing the radio station, adjusting the temperature, and entering a destination into the GPS, an exercise in frustration because everything is operates via the touch screen or haptic sliders on the dash. The interface on the steering wheel isn’t much better. And why are the the defrost functions to the left of the steering wheel? It all looks sleek and modern, but in practice buttons and knobs are more intuitive and are more appropriate for a driver’s car.
On the plus side, the seats are firm and supportive while still offering plenty of comfort for longer drives. Visibility is excellent and all the surfaces feel premium which it ought to at this price.
The Golf R 20th Anniversary model has only one option, manual or automatic, so it has only two prices: $45,390 and $46,190 respectively. That’s $750 more than the base model. In addition to high perceived value standard features like the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitor, and rear cross traffic alert, the 20th Anniversary Edition offers special badging, extended rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and quad tipped exhaust. Color options are limited to blue, black, and white.
If you’re looking for a top of the line hot hatch, it’s hard to beat the Golf R when it comes to performance, exterior styling, and driving satisfaction. Deduct a few points for the frustrating, confounding, and confusing electronic controls. And there’s also that quality issue that continues to plague VW vehicles which rank near the bottom of the J.D. Power Initial Quality rankings. If you’re serious about a small car with big performance, we’d recommend you drive the new GR Corolla, Civic Type-R, and Subaru WRX which offer similar driving enjoyment with better user interfaces and quality before making a decision. That’s the beauty of the market right now. There are great options in every category. It all depends on which trade-offs you’re willing to make.
