Item: Volkswagen Golf R
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Abarth 595

Audi RS3

Audi S3

BMW M135i

Cupra Leon

Ford Fiesta ST

Ford Focus ST

Honda Civic Type R

Hyundai i20N

Hyundai i30N

Mercedes A35 AMG

Mercedes A45 AMG

Peugeot 308 GTi

Renault Megane RS

Skoda Octavia vRS

Suzuki Swift Sport

Toyota GR Yaris

Vauxhall Corsa VXR

Volkswagen Golf GTD

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen Up GTI

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Golf R costs roughly the same to buy as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n17152">Audi S3</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a>, and this might lead you to raise an eyebrow. After all, each of those rivals wear a premium badge, and it’s usually the case that an equivalent Volkswagen costs less.

There are some mitigating circumstances, however. Firstly, as we’ve already mentioned, the Golf R does have a more powerful engine than its rivals. It also comes with more standard equipment; as well as those Matrix LED headlights and the infotainment gadgetry we mentioned earlier, you also get adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and three-zone climate control with separate controls for those sitting in the back.

Mind you, the only standard paint colour is white, and you have to pay extra for heated seats. There are plenty of other options worth considering, too, including adaptive suspension (DCC). The R Performance Pack adds larger 19in alloy wheels (you get 18s as standard), raises the top speed to 168mph and adds a gimmicky drift mode, but it's pricey so we'd think carefully about adding.

The Golf R comes with a three-year warranty, but Volkswagen didn’t perform brilliantly in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">2020 What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, finishing in 20th place (out of 31 brands). That’s above Audi but below BMW, Ford and Honda.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">Automatic emergency braking (AEB)</a>, lane-keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition and something called Car-to-X comes as standard. The latter allows all cars fitted with the same feature – not just Volkswagens – to share information on the traffic conditions and any hazards within a radius of 800m, so you can get an early warning of the dangers that lie ahead.&nbsp;

The Golf also achieved a five-star (out of five) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a> safety rating, with excellent category scores that all but matched the best cars in the class. For even better protection should the worst happen, you can add front side and rear curtain airbags for a reasonable price.

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So, just how fast is the Volkswagen Golf R? Well, in our tests it managed to sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.3sec – faster than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n17152">Audi S3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a> managed on the same day.

To help it achieve that time, a launch control system is standard. This is essentially a computer that makes it super easy to get the perfect getaway every time, no matter what your skill level. And because the Golf R has four-wheel drive, there’s plenty of traction in the sort of slippery conditions that the cheaper front-wheel-drive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf-gti/hatchback/review/n149">Golf GTI</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> would struggle in.

It’s a shame the engine doesn’t sound a bit more tuneful; the noise it makes isn’t unpleasant but is very obviously synthesized. The optional Akrapovic titanium sports exhaust might remedy this (we haven’t tried it yet), but it doesn’t come cheap.

Some four-wheel-drive hot hatches feel rather sterile through corners, gripping the road well but without any sort of playfulness to their handling. The Golf R is different because, particularly when you select Race mode, you can feel power being sent to the rear wheels to help the car rotate on the way out of corners – in much the same way as happens in the brilliant <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gr-yaris/hatchback/review/n22315">Toyota GR Yaris</a>.

If that sounds scary or intimidating, it really isn’t; it just adds another layer to the driving experience. Mind you, the GR Yaris and Civic Type R offer a rawer and altogether more thrilling drive, and both have steering that gives you a more natural sense of connection with the road.&nbsp;

The Golf R can carry a similar amount of speed through corners as the mechanically similar S3, and noticeably more than the M135i. That’s partly down to the latter being shod with less sticky tyres, but also because the Golf R’s body control is better when making really quick changes of direction.

So far, we’ve only sampled a Golf R equipped with optional adaptive suspension (DCC in Volkswagen speak). With this switched to its most comfortable setting, the ride is surprisingly agreeable – certainly compared to that of an S3. This really is a car you can use every day without fear of ending your journey feeling bruised and battered, and it’s even a reasonably hushed cruiser on the motorway.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

The Golf’s R 2.0-litre turbocharged engine packs 316bhp – more than the S3 and M135i can muster – and that power is transferred to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. In our tests, 0-60mph took just 4.3 seconds.


http://example.com

2.0 TSI 320

20-tsi-320

Is the Volkswagen Golf R a hot hatch, or is it actually a proper performance car that just happens to be wrapped up in a practical hatchback body?

It’s a genuine question with no right or wrong answer, because the latest Golf R is indecently powerful and savagely quick. Indeed, it can out-accelerate V8-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a> from just a decade ago.

But if you think hot hatches are supposed to be about cheap thrills, you might raise an eyebrow when you see the price. Sure, the Golf R costs considerably less than the mighty <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n17170">Mercedes-AMG A45</a>, but it’s priced roughly in line with similarly fast and arguably more premium alternatives, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n17152">Audi S3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a>.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe>

Your money goes towards some serious kit, though. The Golf’s R 2.0-litre turbocharged engine packs 316bhp – more than the S3 and M135i can muster – and that power is transferred to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Officially, that combination can hurl this range-topping Golf to 62mph in just 4.7sec, but in our own tests it comfortably beat that time.

So, the Volkswagen Golf R is clearly fast – but how much fun is it to drive? Is it as easy to live with as a common or garden Golf? And is it a better buy than its closest rivals, namely the S3 and M135i?

We’ll be answering all of those questions and more in this VW Golf R review, so just click through to the next page to start reading. And when you’ve decided which hot hatch you want to buy, head over to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> service for big savings on the Golf R and hundreds of other models, without having to lift a finger.

The driver’s seat in the Volkswagen Golf R is figure-huggingly bolstered and holds you in place well during quick changes of direction. It also has adjustable lumbar support as standard and there’s plenty of reach adjustment in the steering wheel. We also love that the pedals are placed neatly in line with the wheel and seat, helping you to feel right at home.

Visibility isn't a problem; the Golf’s large windows and relatively slim windscreen pillars make it easy to see straight ahead and to the sides. The rear pillars are fairly chunky, but given that front and rear parking sensors are fitted as standard, you shouldn’t find slotting into a tight parking space an overly stressful experience.&nbsp;

A rear-view camera is optional, and to help you see where you’re going at night, Adaptive Matrix LED headlights that you can keep on main beam without fear of dazzling other drivers, are also included.

So far so good, then&nbsp;– until we come to the Golf R’s dashboard. It has no physical buttons, just silly touch-sensitive controls for the lights and a few other features, plus touch-sensitive sliders to adjust the interior temperature and volume. This makes everything needlessly distracting to operate on the move, because a touch-sensitive button is impossible to find unless you take your eyes off the road.&nbsp;

Because even the controls on the steering wheel are part touch-sensitive, it’s all too easy to accidentally trigger a driving mode change by brushing the wrong part of the wheel when steering around a corner. Overall, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n17152">Audi S3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a> have much more user-friendly interiors.

What isn’t controlled with touch-sensitive buttons is operated via the touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard – and that's no better. The software is clearly designed to look good, but Volkswagen forgot to make it intuitive, so you find features buried in locations that make absolutely no sense – for example, the traction control switch is hidden in a sub-menu for the brakes. Overall, we much prefer the infotainment systems in the S3 and M135i.

On the plus side, the screen is mounted high up, is a decent size (10.0in) and is of fairly high definition, while <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone integration are included in the price, along with wireless phone charging and a DAB radio. A more powerful Harman Kardon sound system is a reasonably priced option.

Interior quality isn’t bad by any means but, as we’ve already explained, the Golf R is priced in line with premium-badged rivals, such as the S3 and M135i. Those cars, particularly the BMW, feel more upmarket inside, with fewer hard plastics and more lavish materials on show.

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

There’s only one trim level and it gives you plenty of standard goodies, including adaptive cruise control, Matrix LED headlights, three-zone climate control and wireless phone charging. You will have to pay extra if you want any colour other than white, though.


Fast and more fun than its direct rivals, but doesn't thrill like the best.

There's loads of space in the front of the Volkswagen Golf R. The interior is broad, so you sit with breathing room between you and your passenger, and there's more than enough head and leg room to accommodate anyone tall – assuming they're not a contender to play Jaws in the next James Bond film.&nbsp;

In the rear, things are a little less generous. The latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Golf</a> has dropped behind the leaders for rear seat space, so both the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n141">Ford Focus ST</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> will offer your rear passengers more room to lounge about in. Mind you, the R is fractionally roomier in the back than its closest rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n17152">Audi S3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n20208">BMW M135i</a>; two tall adults will fit just fine, even though they won’t exactly have space to stretch out in.

There's more than enough storage space, though, with compartments and cupholders in the front for pretty much every need, plus a decent-sized glovebox and door bins to boot.&nbsp;

Speaking of which, the boot is okay but, like the rear seats, isn’t mammoth by the standards of the class. It'll fit a buggy but will struggle to swallow a set of golf clubs lengthways. In our suitcase test, the Golf R swallowed five carry-on-sized cases beneath its parcel shelf – the same number as the S3 and M135i managed, but two fewer than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a>.&nbsp;

You do get a height-adjustable boot floor, for added flexibility, plus 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks and a ski hatch.

Fast and more fun than its direct rivals, but the Golf R doesn’t come cheap and won’t thrill you quite like a Toyota GR Yaris or Honda Civic Type R.


<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;

Volkswagen Golf R review

Introduction

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