Used Volkswagen Golf R 2016-2020 review

Human nature being what it is, there’s always a temptation to try to improve on even the very best of things. Evidence of this is rife in the car world, and nowhere more so than in the case of the Volkswagen Golf R.

You see, it’s basically an even more finely honed version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI – and those in the know understand that the GTI is already an excellent all-round hot hatch.

For starters, VW made the R more powerful and equipped it with four-wheel drive. The result of this fettling is an improvement on what's already a great car.

Outside, the styling tweaks are subtle – this is based on a Mk7 VW Golf, a family car, first and foremost. However, to add a bit of sparkle, the R has its own special front bumper, air intakes, grille, sills, wheels and tailpipes.

Engine: The magic really starts under the bonnet, though. Power from VW’s 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine has been boosted up to 296bhp, and the Golf R can sprint from 0 to 62mph in under five seconds in automatic DSG form (considerably quicker than the GTI).

The engine was upgraded in 2017, upping power to 306bhp. However, tougher emissions tests introduced the following year meant the model soon found itself back at its original 296bhp. Despite its quick demise, used examples possessing the higher power output are fairly common.

Performance in either form is seriously impressive – you’ll never want for power, in almost any situation. The top speed is limited to 155mph, but new buyers could spec an R Performance Pack that derestricts the top speed and adds bigger wheels and bigger brakes.

Ride and handling: The standard versions will be plenty for most people, and the Golf R goes, stops and handles with considerable aplomb. One or two of its stiffer rivals – the Honda Civic Type R and 2018-2022 Renault Megane RS, for example – handle in a more eager fashion, but few are as comfortable over rough roads, where it smooths over lumps and bumps with ease.

Interior and practicality: The R has a typical VW Golf interior, with solid quality and an excellent choice of high-class materials. It’s classy, and the comfortable heated front seats, finished in Alcantara and leather, grip and support you.

The driving position is first class, with lots of adjustability to the steering wheel and seat. Visibility is excellent, and there’s plenty of space up front. Rear-seat passengers get plenty of head and leg room, and the boot is an excellent size and shape.

The dashboard and surrounding areas are all logically laid out, too. There's an 8.0in high-definition, glass-fronted, colour touchscreen as standard, with sat-nav, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a DAB radio and smartphone integration.

Either side of it are touch-sensitive shortcut buttons (so you can flit between the main functions) and two knobs: one for volume control and the other for scrolling through lists or zooming in and out of maps on the sat-nav.

Buyers had the option of upgrading to a 9.2in touchscreen, but either way, the menus are easy to figure out – you won't need to resort to the handbook to connect your phone or create radio station presets.

You can also view sat-nav maps on the excellent 12.3in digital driver display. It replaces regular dials and, as well as maps, shows lots of useful information right in front of your eyes.

Standard kit on the Golf R also includes dual-zone climate control, LED headlights and rear lights, front and rear parking sensors, LED foglights, electric heated folding door mirrors, tinted rear windows, adaptive cruise control, and automatic lights and wipers.

If you're interested in finding a used Volkswagen Golf R or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Used prices for the Volkswagen Golf R begin at around £12,000, but beware that the cheapest examples are likely to have high mileages or previous damage.

We'd recommend having a budget of around £15,000 at least, because then you'll get to pick from a range of early cars that are in better condition and have lower (though still quite high) mileage.

If you're interested in a 2015/'16 example with less than 50,000 miles on the clock, it's best to have around £18,000 to spend. Cars from 2017 with this mileage tend to demand close to £20,000. A 2018 model should set you back around £22,000, and a 2019 one lists for around £24,000. At the top end, you'll find late 2020 Golf Rs, and in most cases, expect to pay upwards of £25,000 for one of those.

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MPG

There’s no economy penalty for choosing either the three or five-door variants of the R. They both claim an average figure of 37.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 180g/km, according to the older NEDC tests, and 32.8mpg under the later, more realistic WLTP test.

Road tax

Annual tax for cars registered before the changes of April 2017 came into force are based on CO2 emissions and, by a neat coincidence, will cost roughly the same as cars registered after that date – the current annual flat rate is £180 per year. Be warned that if the Golf R you’re looking at cost more than £40,000 (when new) it could fall into the luxury car tax supplement sector, which could cost an additional £390 per year for years two to five of the car's life.

Insurance and servicing

As hot hatches go, insurance groupings have been kept low for the Golf R and it sits in group 39. Servicing costs are moderate next to some high-performance cars, but perhaps more than you’d pay for the average Ford or Vauxhall. VW offers a number of differing servicing plans that help you plan for and spread the cost of the next two services.

As well as three or five-door hatchback versions you can also choose a five-door estate. You can also choose between six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes. We like them all, but if pushed we’d go for a five-door hatchback with a DSG automatic gearbox.

Our favourite Volkswagen Golf R: 2.0 TSI R DSG

The Honda Civic Type R is a fantastic machine. It handles brilliantly, yet is surprisingly comfortable and easy to live with. It’s practical, and fantastically enjoyable to drive.

The BMW M140i offers staggering performance, its engine sounds great and the infotainment system is first class. You can have it in three or five-door forms, and its eight-speed auto and rear-wheel drive handling add to the pleasure of driving this car.

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If you're interested in finding a used Volkswagen Golf R or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.