Volkswagen Golf R

FORECOURT VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

The R’s 2.0-litre engine pumps out 316bhp and 420Nm of torque, giving a 0-60 mph of 4,5 seconds.

THE KNOWLEDGE

Volkswagen Golf R

Price (as tested): £42,300

Engine: 2.0-litre

turbocharged petrol

Power:

316bhp

Torque: 420Nm

Max speed:

155mph

O-60mph:

4.5 seconds

MPG (combined):

36.2

Emissions:

177g/km CO2

The new hatchback arrives on a wave of expectation – Jack Evans discovers if it’s still an all-weather warrior.

WHAT IS IT?

The previous VW Golf R earned itself a serious reputation with its all-weather ability, supercar-beating performance and everyday practicality. Underpinned by the latest eighthgeneration Golf platform, the new R has a crushing amount of expectation on its shoulders.

WHAT’S NEW?

There’ve been some serious reworkings of the fundamentals. It also has the latest Golf’s tech-heavy cabin, and its exterior boasts all the style touches of the new-gen hatchback. Added performance tweaks help differentiate it from the rest of the range as well.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is fundamentally the same unit that powered the older R but with more oomph, taking the new R from 0-60mph sooner.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The Golf R is now quicker than anyone reasonably needs a car to be on the public road.

It’ll outpace many far more flamboyant – and expensive – cars, with a level of performance that’s nothing short of revolutionary. It’s backed by an all-wheel-drive system that keeps you on the straight and narrow or clinging on through the bends.

The most notable addition is torque vectoring, which allows power to be split between the rear wheels for the first time, rather than just the front and back axle. It means the car will tighten its line far more easily than before when turning in. It’s properly impressive and wonderfully easy to exploit – this isn’t a car you need to ‘learn’ to get the best from.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

The previous Golf R was a masterclass in understated design and it’s the same here. Sure, you still have the quad exhaust pipes that have become a Volkswagen R hallmark, but apart from that there’s not an awful lot to show just how quickly this car will go.

It sits considerably lower than the regular car, while ‘our’ car’s 18-inch diamond-turned alloy wheels gave it a slightly more premium edge, but this is one under-the-radar car.

Dynamics

The R is fearsomely quick and both easy to live with and drive.

The cabin quality is generally good but feels a touch too ‘normal’ for a sporty car such as this.

Interior

heavy place. The R’s cabin is little different, albeit with the introduction of more sporty seats and a range of blue accents. It does, however, feel a touch too ‘normal’ for a car like this – we’d like to see just a little more excitement added to the mix, given just how exciting the powertrain running underneath the R is.

That said, the everyday fundamentals are done well. The material quality is largely on the money, while there’s a decent amount of space for those sitting in the back, too. Boot space is reasonable as well, offering 374 litres with the rear seats in place. You can increase it by folding those seats down, of course.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Sitting atop the Golf range means that the R benefits from an impressive level of standard equipment. Prices start at just over £39,000, and for that you get important performance aspects such as the torque vectoring system plus sport suspension.

‘Our’ car came with optional Dynamic Chassis Control – priced at £300 – and this is something we’d highly recommend if buying an R. It allows you to vary the amount of support giving by the suspension and when put in ‘Comfort’ mode makes the car pliable enough to deal with the UK’s roads.

Elsewhere, standard-fit highlights include Volkswagen’s digital cockpit with configurable dials, a 10-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus matrix LED headlights. You’re unlikely to feel shortchanged by the R’s level of standard equipment, that’s for sure.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Autocar called it the ‘most potent Golf to wear the R badge’ and ‘a deliciously powerful yet well-balanced hot hatchback’. Evo said: ‘The new Golf R is more refined and capable than ever, but driven hard exposes a genuinely wild side.’

WHAT DO WE THINK?

Volkswagen has hit the nail on the head again. This is a fearsomely quick car that is both easy to live with and easy to get the best from, too. It’s almost unnervingly easy to drive, in fact.

It might not be the last word in driver involvement, but the older Golf R never was either. No, this is a car that provides all the performance you could want in all weathers.

TARGET BUYERS:

Those who want fearsome performance from a practical and good-looking hatch.

THE RIVALS:

Mercedes-AMG A35S, Renault Megane R.S., BMW M135i.

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. All-weather capability. 2. Understated looks. 3. Brutal acceleration.

DEAL CLINCHER:

The Golf R is a supercarbeating hatchback that’ll manage the weekly shop just as easily as a B-road blast.

The Golf R is now quicker than anyone reasonably needs a car to be on the public road.