After taking two years off, Volkswagen's hottest hatch returns to the U.S. market. The Golf R and its GTI sibling are the sole eighth-generation Golf variants to make it across the pond since the standard Golf has been discontinued for the U.S. Just as before, the Golf R is a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive version of VW's iconic hatchback. For 2022, its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine now makes 315 horsepower, up 27 hp from the previous generation. The extra power and torque are immediately noticeable, and the R rushes to its 7,000-rpm redline from anything above 4,000 rpm quicker and with far more gusto than the GTI.
The Golf R also has a new all-wheel-drive system. In addition to the expected weather-beating and traction-enhancing abilities, the Golf R's new system has torque-vectoring capability at the rear wheels. It automatically shifts more engine torque to the outside rear wheel when turning to make the car more agile. There's even a special Drift mode that sends all of the available rear power to one wheel to let you do some nifty tail-out power slides (when you're on a racetrack, of course).
We like the Golf R's standard Driver Cockpit digital instrument panel, but the rest of the new interior lacks the more upscale feel of previous R models. The center stack's streamlined interface looks cool, but every physical control has been replaced with either a wonky touch-sensitive pad or a menu in the infotainment display. These changes are initially maddening, and the frustration is only mildly toned down once you get used to everything. We get that touch controls represent a neat leap forward, but fussing with a touch-sensitive temperature slider while trying to keep your eyes on the road simply isn't intuitive or safe enough.
As with previous incarnations, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is a bit of a niche choice. It offers superior performance and utility compared to the Honda Civic Si and Subaru WRX, but at a higher price. Alternatively, you might cross-shop it with luxury picks such as the related Audi S3 or the Mercedes-Benz CLA AMG 35. Either way we think the Golf R is a solid choice if you want a fun-to-drive compact that's also a great all-arounder.
The 2022 Golf R comes in one fully loaded trim. The only choice you need to make is between the standard six-speed manual transmission and the optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Feature highlights include:
2022 Volkswagen Golf R
2022 Hyundai Veloster
The Hyundai Veloster N is an exceptional performance value. The quirky three-door hatchback has 275 horsepower on tap, and while that's limited to just the front wheels, the Veloster N still manages to impress with its lively handling. The Golf R is more powerful and has the advantage of all-wheel drive, but you'll be paying a lot more to get it.
The Audi S3 is related to the Golf R and shares the same turbocharged engine. The biggest difference is with the interior. The Audi has nicer-feeling materials and easier-to-use controls. But, of course, the Audi is a sedan, so you lose out on the Golf R's hatchback utility. Audi also doesn't give it the trick torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system — that's reserved for the top-shelf RS 3.
The GTI might be front-wheel-drive only and have a mere 241 horsepower at its disposal, but it's one of the best-handling front-drive cars on the road. Naturally, the Golf R has higher limits with its 315 horsepower and all-wheel-drive system, but it's tough to say if that makes it more fun — especially when the GTI is more than $13,000 cheaper.
After spending 2020 and 2021 on hiatus, Volkswagen's über Golf finally returns to our shores. The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is based on the newest eighth-generation Golf, though curiously VW has decided to not sell the base Golf anymore in the United States. For us, it's just the Golf GTI or Golf R.
Looking at it on paper, you'd expect the Golf R to drive like a GTI with a little extra hot sauce to help VW justify the price difference. But right out of the gate it becomes abundantly clear that the new R is not a GTI "plus." It's a completely unique experience that might just make it the pick of the litter this time around.
For a small car that rides on big 19-inch wheels, the Golf R is impressively comfortable. Adaptive suspension dampers come standard on the R, and the separation between ride comfort and sporty handling is wider than ever. Put the R in Comfort mode and it becomes little more than a well-damped family hatchback.
The Golf R doesn't stray too far from the formula established by the redesigned GTI. The most significant changes to the cabin from the previous generation are immediately apparent from behind the wheel. The digital Driver Cockpit instrument panel is standard and has a few more tricks up its sleeve this time. You can configure the screen to display various bits of info, including torque output, a g-meter and lap times. It also changes its format depending on which drive mode you're in and even lights up to let you know when to shift.
In addition to the standard 10.25-inch infotainment display that offers niceties such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, the Golf R also comes with VW's IQ.Drive suite of active safety features as standard. IQ.Drive includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking (but only for automatic-equipped cars), pedestrian detection, road sign detection and more.
The EPA has put the Golf R through its testing procedure and its big power and AWD mean it's one of the less efficient compacts on sale today. The manual-equipped Golf R gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined (20 city/28 highway) and the automatic, which has one more cog in its transmission, should net 26 mpg combined (23 city/30 highway).
The 2022 Golf R comes in one fully loaded trim. The only option available to buyers is the choice between the six-speed manual transmission or the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Feature highlights include:
Edmunds saysThe redesigned 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is faster, more high-tech and even more exciting to drive than its already superlative predecessor. VW's hottest hatch can go toe-to-toe with any of its competition, and even outperform some much more expensive machinery. The new interior is a letdown, but otherwise the Golf R delivers everything you could want from a small car with both grace and pace.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R:
The least-expensive 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $44,090.
Other versions include:
