What is the Golf R?
The new Volkswagen Golf R arrives with a rather fearsome reputation to uphold. The older car made a name for itself as an all-weather monster, delivering huge performance no matter what the conditions. This latest car, based on the new eighth-generation Golf, looks to do the same, increasing both performance and in-car technology too.
But the question is, can it achieve this? We’ve been behind the wheel to find out.
In this review we cover:
- Updates for the Volkswagen Golf R?
- Performance for the Volkswagen Golf R
- How does the Volkswagen Golf R drive?
- Exterior for the Volkswagen Golf R
- Interior for Volkswagen Golf R
- Spec for the Volkswagen Golf R
- Verdict on the Volkswagen Golf R
What’s new?
Volkswagen has reworked many crucial aspects of the new Golf R while retaining some of the aspects which attracted people to the previous-generation car in the first place. For instance, the engine has received tweaks to boost power - though we’ll look at this in more detail shortly - yet the car’s useable, five-door bodystyle has been kept the same.
The interior is far more tech-heavy than before, too, while the exterior styling has a more futuristic look.
What’s under the bonnet?
The new Golf R uses fundamentally the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that you’d find in its predecessor, but some tweaks and revisions have increased power to 316bhp while torque stands at a healthy 420Nm. Power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Volkswagen claims that it’ll take just 4.5 seconds for the R to go from 0-60mph before hitting a top speed of 155mph. Meanwhile, when it comes to efficiency, the Golf R should return up to 36.2mpg and records CO2 emissions of 177g/km.
What’s it like to drive?
The Golf R’s acceleration is one of the things you notice first when driving the car. It feels far, far quicker than the official figures suggest and you’re able to put the power down even when it’s wet underfoot. The all-wheel-drive system also helps to give plenty of traction in the corners, while a new torque vectoring system takes this even further.
It’s a superbly easy car to drive, in fact, and means that anyone - regardless of experience - will be able to get the best from it.
How does it look?
The understated look of the previous Golf R has been carried over to this latest generation, with only the car’s now recognisable four-exit exhaust pipe showcasing this car’s performance. However, apart from this, it looks largely ‘normal’,
That said, if you’d like your R to look a little more flamboyant, then you can add the ‘Performance Pack’, which brings a larger wing and bigger alloys.
What’s it like inside?
We’ve already experienced the regular Golf’s technology-laden interior, so it’ll come as no surprise that the cabin in the R is much the same. There are a variety of blue accents applied throughout it, however, alongside more sporty, figure-hugging seats. We’d like there to be a little more flamboyance, in truth, but the general fit-and-finish is good while the material quality is excellent too.
When it comes to boot space, the R ticks the boxes again. With the rear seats in place, you’ve got 374 litres to play with, while the boot’s square opening will make loading larger items a little easier. You can, of course, extend the boot further by lowering the rear seats.
What’s the spec like?
The R, as the range-topping Golf model, boasts a comprehensive range of standard equipment. Highlights include Volkswagen’s digital cockpit with configurable dials, a 10-inch infotainment screen incorporating both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Matrix LED headlights.
We’d recommend choosing the Dynamic Chassis Control option, however. It allows you to soften off the car’s ride and makes it well-suited to the UK’s roads. At £300, it doesn’t break the bank either.
Verdict
Replacing an icon was never going to be easy, but it would appear that Volkswagen has done just that with its latest Golf R. It’s stupendously fast, but composed and easy to live with on a daily basis, making it the ideal performance hatchback.
It might not be a car that bristles with feedback, but as a car that’ll add a bit of sparkle to even the dreariest of drives, it’s hard to beat.