Item: Used Volkswagen Golf R 2016-2020
Rating: 4
Author: Steve Huntingford

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n17153">BMW M140i</a> 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.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

If you're interested in finding a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/golf?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;technical.0_to_62_mph_secsTo=5">used Volkswagen Golf R</a>&nbsp;or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Hatchback

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF R

With superb performance and four-wheel drive, the VW Golf R is one of the quickest hot hatches&nbsp;and an excellent used buy.

Used Volkswagen Golf R 2016-2020

<h3 dir="ltr">MPG</h3>

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.

<h3 dir="ltr">Road tax</h3>

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 £155&nbsp;per&nbsp;year. Be warned that if the Golf R you’re looking at cost more than £40,000 new it could fall into the luxury car tax supplement sector, which could cost an additional £335&nbsp;per&nbsp;year for years two to five of the car's life. Find out more about current road tax costs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2021-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">here</a>.

<h3 dir="ltr">Insurance and servicing</h3>

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.

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With superb performance and four-wheel drive, the VW Golf R is one of the quickest hot hatches in a straight line, and an excellent used buy.


Used prices for the Volkswagen Golf R begin at around £14,000, but beware that the cheapest examples are likely to have high mileages or previous&nbsp;damage.

We'd recommend having a budget of around £16,000 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.&nbsp;

If you're interested in a 2015 example with under 50,000 miles on the clock, it's best to have around £18,000 to spend. Cars from 2016 and 2017 with this mileage tend to demand close to £20,000 at least. A 2018 model should set you back around £24,000, and a 2019 one&nbsp;lists for around £26,000. At the top end, you'll find&nbsp;late&nbsp;2020 Golf Rs, and in most cases, expect to pay upwards of £26,000 for one of those.

Check the value of a used Volkswagen Golf R with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">What Car? Valuations</a>

Find a used Volkswagen Golf R for sale <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/golf?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;technical.0_to_62_mph_secsTo=5">here</a>

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. &nbsp;

Our favourite Volkswagen Golf R: 2.0 TSI R DSG

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Engaging handling </li> <li>Thrilling performance </li> <li>A characterful engine with an enticing soundtrack </li> <li>Reasonable running costs </li> <li>Not hard to live with day to day</li></ul>

A popular choice with UK buyers since the days of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the hot hatchback mixes everyday practicality with higher performance and the sort of handling and agility that’s ideally suited to British roads. A good hot hatch should be fun and, since it’s likely to be your daily drive, it should also deliver respectable running costs.

The Golf GTI remains one of the best hot hatches on the market, along with its main competitor,&nbsp;the&nbsp;equally as responsive and cheaper to buy Hyundai i30 N. But there are some terrific options for even less money than both of these cars. We're big fans of the Ford Fiesta ST, which is definitely one of the best hot hatches ever and certainly one of the most fun to drive. It's full of character and its engaging handling makes it a bit of a hoot at all speeds.&nbsp;

If you’ve got a bit more money to spare, there are even faster cars available, such as the Honda Civic Type R. This latest version is sublime to drive, either on road or on a track, as it's so sweetly balanced. It's also incredibly quick in a straight line&nbsp;and round a corner, and yet it's as practical as a regular Civic.&nbsp;

Hot hatch

Although the Golf R is a hoot on open roads, it will of course have been subjected to the ravages of supermarket car parks and school runs, so check the extremities of the car for any scuffs or dents. Look at those handsome alloy wheels for any kerb damage – they are susceptible to scraps and repair can be expensive.

VW had largely sorted out the most expensive of its DSG automatic gearbox problems before this generation of Golf was launched, but there are still some early cars for which problems have been reported. Make sure the gearbox changes smoothly and there are no signs of temperamental behaviour.

Timing chains fitted to petrol engines have been known to snap prematurely, which can cause significant engine damage but is often prevented by having the car serviced on time. This means a full service history is critical. Golf Rs can also suffer from high oil consumption, so it’s important to keep checking the oil level, even between services. If the level gets too low, it can cause damage to the engine or timing chain.

Faults with the navigation and entertainment system, as well as other electrical niggles, have been reported on some models, so it’s worth checking that all the electrics work as they should.

On the whole, owners report favourably on the Golf R. In our most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, the standard Golf, in petrol form, finished 12th out of 24 cars in the family car category with a respectable rating of 94.6%. Volkswagen as a brand finished in 20th&nbsp;place out of 30&nbsp;manufacturers.

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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 Mk7 Volkswagen Golf R.

You see, it’s basically an even more finely honed&nbsp;version of the old <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/sports/used-review/n17575">Mk 7 Golf GTI</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;and those in the know understand that the GTI is already an excellent all-round hot hatch.

For starters,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> has made the R more powerful and equipped it with four-wheel drive. The result of this fettling is an&nbsp;improvement on what's already a great car.

Outside, the styling tweaks are subtle – this is a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a>&nbsp;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.

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&nbsp;an R Performance Pack that derestricts the top speed and adds bigger wheels and bigger brakes.

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-rs/hatchback/used-review/n20105">Renault Megane RS</a>&nbsp;for example – handle in a more eager fashion, but few are as comfortable over rough roads, where it&nbsp;smooths over lumps and bumps with ease.

The R has a&nbsp;typical <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a> interior, with&nbsp;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&nbsp;an&nbsp;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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/golf?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;technical.0_to_62_mph_secsTo=5">used Volkswagen Golf R</a>&nbsp;or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Volkswagen Golf R 2016-2020 review

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Looking for alternatives to the used Volkswagen Golf R 2016 - 2020? The expert What Car? review team guide you through some great options.

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.,For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter hereIf 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.Page 5 of 5

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Used Volkswagen Golf R 2016-2020 review

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