Used 2017 Volkswagen Golf R Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Golf R, so we've included reviews for other years of the Golf R since its last redesign.
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!!
LA, 01/20/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
28 of 28 people found this review helpful
Considering the options available for this car, this is definitely the best bang for the buck out there. Especially when considering the other vehicles out there that offer dynamic suspension, automatic w/ paddle shifters, and a 0-60 in under 5 secs (they just don't exist in the Golf R's price range). The Golf R is a total blast to drive. It hangs in the curves like it's on rails. Mine has the DCC suspension. The best part is that the 'comfort' setting dials everything back enough that my mother would have no problems driving it. Most of the time I leave the suspension dialed in to the 'race' setting, which is fine for most of my driving. MPG isn't quite as good as advertised. And will get slightly worse if you add the APR stage 1 kit (even though APR claims otherwise) - my combined MPG is around 22. However gas milage is still darn respectable considering the performance. Adding the stage 1 APR kit drops the 0-60 time to under 4 secs. And keeping the foot off the gas pedal becomes an exercise in will power. One of the things I have come to like a lot about the Golf R is that it is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It doesn't beg for attention from law enforcement like other performance cars do. Yet, it has plenty of thrill providing capabilities whenever the mood strikes. And it's practical enough for grocery shopping and driving my kids. Overall, there is very little that I would have changed about this car. My 1st complaint is the lack of a sun roof on the R model. On the flip side, a sunroof decreases chassis stiffness and moves the center of gravity higher, both of which adversely affect handling. Supposedly the Euro spec model comes with a sunroof. I could have sacrificed a little in the handling dept. for a sunroof. A 2nd complaint is that there is no middle ground for the engine mapping. The DCC provides 2 engine mappings - 'normal' and 'race' which are at opposite ends of the spectrum. VW needs a setting between those two. The 'race' setting would be great if you don't mind frequent visits to the gas station. And the 'normal' setting just isn't quite peppy enough. A 3rd change would be to add an over drive gear for highway driving. At the 80+ mph speeds on many interstates, the Golf R hums along around 3k rpm, well into its power band. An overdrive gear would definitely help with gas milage. Alright, so no car is going to perfectly appeal to everyone. For me, the Golf R is about as good as it gets, especially when compared to the other junk that car makers are putting on the market. BTW - I had been a Honda owner for over 15 years and am glad to be rid of them.
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Scary quick.
rpeyw1@gmail.com, 02/10/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
This vehicle has interested me for almost 2 years. When the 2017 came out with DCC, I started a little more research and decided to pull the plug. The ride home from the dealership on I-95 left a smile on my face until the next day, when I got an even bigger smile after understanding more about the systems. The car is scary quick, and goes exactly where you point it. The seats are very comfortable, even after spending over 4 hours in the vehicle on the second day. The tech may be a little intimidating at first, as the vehicle has almost every conceivable bit of information at your finger tips. VW's carnet blows away Onstar. The fender sound system is absolutely outstanding. I leased mine because of my previous experience with VW products. They all developed "issues" around 60K miles. Assuming this vehicle hangs with me, I will probably buy it outright at the end of my lease. There is supposed to be a limited quantity of these this year. I say if you can find one, drive it, and you will smile like a lil kid. Hatchbacks are not everyone's cup of tea, but if you are a hatchback type of person, IMHO, this one is very hard to beat. Happy motoring!
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2017 Volkswagen Golf R for sale near you
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- w/DCC and Navigation 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $29,90054 mi away
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- w/DCC and Navigation 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $27,595109 mi away
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2017 rrrrrrrrr is a true pirates car
Alan, 10/18/2016
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
I love my new golf R! I was skeptical at first even with all the reviews, however after I test drove the car I was hooked. The car moves like a rocket, but holds the road tight. The 19 inch tires are wonderful,and I bought a set of 17 inch snows that will come in handy here in the northeast. The fender sound system is better than most, and the ability to switch driving modes from comfort to race really makes a difference.I can truly say this is a great car to drive and enjoy!
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Incredibly fast and market-dominating hot hatch
Hawkeye, 04/07/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
23 of 25 people found this review helpful
Firstly, before I get into the nitty gritty, if you are going to compare this in any way to a GTI, don't. They are both in totally different classes and the golf R is on such a higher performance tier than the GTI, you'd be doing yourself a dis-service. This car is competing with STI's, EVO's, M235i's, CLA45 AMG's, Focus RS, etc. Anyways....I bought the car shortly after it came out, deep pearl black, 6spd manual, no dcc/navigation. Was one of the lucky few that was able to walk into a dealership, find the perfect one, was not being held, bought it same day. Car is incredible!!! Factory performance on these is nothing short of stunning. Judging from the overall looks of the car, it's quite surprising what this thing is really capable of. If I were to compare to others in it's class, it is more refined (excluding the BMW and Mercedes I mentioned above of course). In my honest opinion, there is not a better performance car that you can buy for the money, currently. Power/Engine performance: 292hp/280tq reported by VW. This is very impressive as it sits, coming from a 2.0L. However, after having the car tested on a dyno after the break in period (100% stock) the numbers were far closer to 318hp/310tq (which makes sense when these run against EVO's and STI's and out pace them). Since then, I purchased the stage 1 package from APR (just a tune) and it becomes a completely different predator. With the tune, you'll be looking at 354hp and 379tq (dsg 0-60 mph capable of sub 4 second times). In this setup, much fewer cars can compete in terms of speed, acceleration, agility. Handling: I think the handling is excellent. The model I have does not include the dynamic chassis control, and it still handles on rails (I can only imagine how well the DCC model handles). Traction: Excellent. Uses the exact same quattro system as the Audi S3 (actually the whole car is almost an exact copy of the S3, minus some interior options). I've had this in snow, gravel, ice, mud (not by choice), rain, you name it. Nothing will keep this thing off the road, I would pit it up against the best AWD's out there in terms of traction/grip. Interior: Very impressed with the interior of this car. Everything is either carbon fiber (it's a vinyl like carbon, still looks nice), quality italian black leather (yes it's real leather, not like the crap on Jetta's), and piano black trim. Looks very classy and sexy, feels like a much nicer car than a VW. Gear shift has a quality feel to it, along with all of the interior buttons and knobs. Makes me feel as if everything was well thought out and materials were not skimped on in any circumstance. Exterior: Love it. I personally am a big hatch fan, so this is a little biased. I dig the small, hunkered down, lowered look of the R. Quad exhaust tips are a sporty/sexy addition. I also appreciate how tasteful the body kit is. It's not near as "boy racer" as many of it's competitors, and outruns all of them! Overall, I absolutely love the car. I highly recommend this to someone that is interested in an STI, EVO, M235i, S3, etc. I strongly feel that VW has done an amazing job with this car, very excited to see how the next few R's progress.
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Golf R - The Best All-Around Car I've Owned
Daniel, 08/02/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
This is definitely one of the most stunning and surprising cars that I've ever driven that has a high-quality Porsche feel to it when you're driving. I also love the fact that it is purely a sleeper car. For a mere $800 you can get a stage 1 tune and add almost an extra 100 HP and beat 2015 M3s, Porsche Carreras, and all sorts of muscle cars from Mustangs to Camaros and Dodge Chargers/Challengers. What's even more amusing is when you add some turns to the track and the Golf R will compete extremely well against anything you throw at it. Even with all the power, the gas mileage is pretty high around 25/26 combined mpg (80% city, 20% hwy).
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26000 Miles and Going
Buffalo Tom, 10/27/2016
updated 05/02/2017
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
Had the 2016 Golf R for 13 months now. Overall I don't find myself left wanting for anything. Wish the German version of a Nav system worked faster, it shows your at a intersection well after you've passed it (at any speed). Also when seeking back roads hoping for a challenge/new sights by selecting shortest distance it always sticks to more major roadways - boring! Inputting addresses to search has more effective results if done one way v.s. another (starting w/ street v.s. town). I did catch it being down a couple qts. of oil in one oil change, others were ok, maybe garage didn't top it off, not sure. Stock tires were shot in 10 K miles, but they had v good grip. Not trilled with 35 sidewalls especially w/ soft tires, any edges on the roadway over 1.5 inches over 35 mph and you're flirting w/ bent rims. I think the 235 45 tire size would be better overall. Clutch seems strong in the car, hasn't showed signs of weakness (unlike my previous 2005 Mitsu Evo). The ride selections are very nice and effective although I usually leave mine in race mode but the wife sometimes complains which is easily resolved. Interior design is plush, but they shouldn't disable the center console lid/compartment - plain BS. I'd like to see it more aggressive with proportioning more drive to the rear tires when it's needed, having driver control over that like the ride selection would be a blast. I had a 2005 Mitsu Evo and put 175000 mls on that car. Between the 2 I'd choose the Golf R, biggest reasons are: interior comfort/fit and finish, seats, cruise control, radio, less road noise. Of course this isn't fair as my Evo was a 2005. I think the Golf R is a little faster but that my be the gear boxes. I do miss the engine sound feedback the Evo provided, the Golf R isn't as good which compromises your driving abilities. Update 5/2/2017: +36000 mls and going. I don't park the car in the garage. I've noticed on occasion that the clutch will slip at first use until things warm up. Could be moisture or temp related seemed to act up when v cold or wet out. Runs low on oil at end of 10 k oil changes 1-2 qrts, isn't leaking, probably just normal burn off. Engine noise just isn't loud enough for driver feedback, it's v easy to hit the rev limiter especially in 1st gr. Gas mileage runs 26 when ran hard, 32 in ideal conditions. Brakes on the car are holding up really really well. The car's driver interface (radio, nav, etc.) freaks out on occasion at 1st start, sometime it'll recover, other times I need to restart the motor to get it to come around, it locks up or ignores driver input for several minutes happened 4-5 times so far.
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A real "Q" ship
75 year old car lover, 02/20/2017
updated 02/22/2019
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
The Golf R is a car that many just can't understand. $41K for a mere VW Golf? It's certainly no chick magnet regardless of color. And it's not designed to cosset the boss on a ride to a sales appointment. But like the mundane-appearing WW II freighters that packed hidden heavy guns, it is a real "Q ship." For those who value performance , it equals or exceeds more than a few so-called sports-cars. Compare its acceleration, handling, and braking statistics, for example, to those of the last generation C5 Corvette. While equipped with the same engine and transmission as the Audi S3 and TTS, it sells for thousands less with fit and finish to match. Unlike some ostensibly competitive "hot hatches," it doesn't beat you up in daily driving. It's as quiet as many popular sedans, it absorbs road irregularities with aplomb, and provides all the convenience of a four-door hatchback that can haul all kinds of stuff home from Best Buy and Home Depot. Oh yes, it's not perfect. The video screen is simply too small and the lack of an automatic garage door opener is inexplicable. Similarly, I very much dislike the car's inability to run the navigation system without having to listen to the radio. The new adaptive cruise control is terrific, but the lane-keeping system needs a good bit of work. Whatever you, do not compare this car to the previous generation Golf-R. Having just sold my 2012 R, I can say without the slightest hesitation, it's vastly better, particularly in NVH. The car's greatest problem are its beautiful, very light alloy wheels. They simply are not sufficiently strong to withstand the potholes of late Midwestern winters. And at a replacement cost of $800 a wheel, that's not a trivial issue. Additionally, VW needs to do some work with its proximity warning system and integrated navigation system. Unless you turn it off completely, there is no way to shut off the proximity system's warning sound, which most times remains on far too long. Similarly, there is no way to use the navigation system without also having the radio running. Honda's figured that one out, VW should, too.
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Great little rocket hatchback thats fun
R, 06/25/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have owned it for a month with only 1500 miles and I must say I love this car. I love the DCC and the ability on how it controls the suspension. I honestly thought it was going to a small improvement, but comfort really sorts out the bumpy roads quite well. Race mode makes things fun and tight. You can also custom Taylor the individual mode to how you like it too. Driving this car is very fun and I never want to get out of it. I also have a new BMW 328xi which use to be fun, but now drives like a boat compared to the R. If you have the chance to buy one just get it. It's a fast fun rocket that sits 4 comfortable with a very nice refined interior. The DSG transmission shifts awesome and keeps the revs up high while in sport mode. I initially tested out a bunch of performance cars at first, but once I drove the R it was a solid choice that ticked all the boxes perfect. All this package for under 40k was a great choice.
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Performance, comfort, luxury, & practicality
Chris Stiles, 05/09/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
6 months of ownership in Lapiz Blue, DSG, & dynamic chassis control, and overall I'm very satisfied. A hoot to drive, very fast, excellent grip, reasonably luxurious, stops on a dime, & practical. Handled well in snow with high performance all season tires. An Audi S3 for $4500 less. The Fender audio is excellent, but my entertainment & navigation shut down and required a dealer refresh to get it back up again. For $40K this car should have a Homelink garage door opener, LED tail lights, and a sunroof should be an option since the interior is black, dark & serious. An open roof would give the car a more airy interior. And how come the center console is bolted shut? Makes no sense and the dealer was unaware & of zero help. But other than these minor gripes, this car is special and exclusive. Hope it proves reliable. Highly recommended if you can strike a good deal.
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2016 Golf R
Oliver, 08/18/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
The R looks from the outside like an ordinary Golf. Rather plain. The driving experience is any but that! The R is an absolute sleeper. The multi-mode suspension settings allow for a very smooth commuter style ride to a "like it's on rails" type of ride. Interestingly, the most agressive setting isn't overly harsh at all. The traction from the all wheel drive is simply outstanding and allows you to get the power to the road without any drama. The interior ergonomics suits me extremely well. Steering wheel position, the actual feel of the steering wheel and along with its' size and shape is spot on. The seats are superb! (But no memory settings???) The last time I bought a VW was in 1999 and it was not a great car so it took a lot to get me to consider buying another. The R got me back.
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Seven months in...and very pleased.
Scott K, 10/09/2016
updated 04/14/2017
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Two cars were in my final list; the R and a Focus RS. Here in Canada (Nova Scotia...had to use a Maine zip code to submit my review), the RS is $8k (!) more than the R. So the R was the obvious selection...and I am not disappointed. Definitely understated WRT its exterior...and I'm fine with that. Folks who know cars come up an ask me about routinely. It is very quick...especially when moving from 2nd, 3rd thru 4th. Brakes are outstanding. Got a chance to enjoy the 4Motion in the snow the day it arrived (March 2016) and through out the remainder of the winter...also excellent on dry pavement when you are working the corners hard. Interior is consistent with VW/Audi...logical and good quality. Lots of soft surfaces. The exhaust tone is a bit pedestrian, but not a big issue for me. One item of ongoing irritation - Android Auto. Quite unreliable - only connects to my phone after multiple efforts. Once it does, it's great (Spotify, Google Maps) but it should be seamless. Summary, for someone living in Canada, there aren't may vehicles that can touch the R's performance/$ ratio.
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Golf R, Long Term also bought FordRS. more fun
MidCow3, 06/04/2016
updated 06/06/2018
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
14 of 17 people found this review helpful
This review has been updated after owning the Golf R a little over 1 year. I drove a 6 speed manual Ford Focus ST, ST3 and moon roof for 3 1/2 years. I was going to get the Ford Focus RS with AWD and 350 Hp; I ended up getting a lE Ford Focus RS RS in January 2018; still have Golf R The color selection on the RS was limited to grey,white,black, and nitrous blue). I knew that the interior of the VW was better, but I didn't know how much better until I actually bought the Golf R and had some seat time with it. The ride of the Ford Focus ST was pretty stiff and the RS was going to be 33% stiffer on the comfort setting; I wasn't looking forward to a rougher ride. The ride on the Golf R with the DCC mode set in comfort mode is very smooth and compliant. I was right on this one some late Ford RS reviews compare the Ford RS ride to a pogo stick or a bucking bronc on anything but very smooth roads. Actual Ford RS ride isn't thta bad Okay , I bought the 2016 Golf R with Manual 6-speed transmission, DCC with Nav, and the Driver's Assistance Package. With DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) there is a dramatic difference between the settings. I like the individual settings with most everything set on normal or comfort except for the sport exhaust sound. I like this setting because the Golf R remembers it between stops and starts and you don't have to always reselect it every time you start. I found the interior , especially how the devices function at night to be a lot nicer with better feel and better night lighting. The interior is much higher level than first look, the back seats have 2 inches more room, the gas tank is 14.5 gallons compared to 12.4 in the ST and 13.9 in the RS. The mileage is great 22/31 rated , compared to ST 23/32 and RS 19/25. Long term, even with sporty driving, I get around 26 miles overall which makes for a very nice driving range. The rear seat passenger leg room is 35.4 Inches which is 2.2 inches more than the RS and ST and allows a 6 ft passenger to comfortably ride behind a 6 ft driver. The Golf R can travel 4 adults for long distances in comfort. Another nice feature in the Golf R is that the seats actually fold fairly flat. In the ST there is a 4 inch drop and they don't actually fold flat. RS don't fold flat eaither but stiull fold enough ton Now one of the best features is the Driver's Assistance Package which includes several higher level safety items: (1) the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control), (2) lane keep assist,(3) are front and rear proximity sensors that help you when you are parking or backing with visual and audio warnings of objects in your path, and (4) and probably the best is blind spot monitoring, a yellow blind spot light flashes in you left or right mirror if a vehicle is in your blind spot area. (5) autonomous emergency braking if the front sensors detects an impending collision it brakes for you, and (6) rear traffic alert alerts you to cars coming up fast in the rear of your left or right; this works extremely well. Oh now let's talk about the turbo, since the power comes on at a very low 1,800 RPM and the boost is fairly linear you don't notice any turbo lag and it almost feels non-turbo like until you look at the speedometer and you are rapidly increasing your speed. The power is great, you have a lot of power in sixth and most of the time unless you don't need to downshift to pass . Same with the Ford RS, but much more. Both the Golf r and Ford RS havce amplified, some call fake motor noises, I am okay with that ...but some aren't and it can easily be turnd off( i.e. disabled) in both cars. In summary, the is a very fast, very fun car, that has high level accoutrements, and gets good gas mileage, with very comfortable seats and easy drivability. Also a lot of things are automatic; auto lights(early, normal, late), driving mode, rain sensing wipers, radar detector automatically starts, gas door automatically unlocks and no start-stop to disable. But in all honesty, the Ford Focus RS is more fun and I drive it mostly. Ford Focus has announced a limited edition 2018 supposedly last year Race Red and I bought one. Modifications: I had the following installed: Diesel Geek Sigma 6 short shifter (very precise shifting ), 50% Luminar Tint, and front bumper and partial front hood PPL protection, Escort Red Line radar detector. I thought the winner was the Golf R when I first bought it, and now I am absolutely sure the Ford Focus RS may be the best choice in a "hot" manual shift hatchback even though the Golf R is still much better for trips. The Golf R triumphs in the long-term evaluation! While maybe not as fast as Focus RS or as "school-boy gaudy look at me" or as loud of stock exhaust the Golf R is a far, far better all around car and daily driver. It doesn't have all the rough edges or the rough ride the Ford Focus RS has. At a little 2 years of driving no problems, no maintenance costs ( first 2 years free service); 10,000 mile service interval.
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Great car with one big design flaw
nital1, 12/12/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
10 of 12 people found this review helpful
This is a true driver's hatch. However, there is one major design flaw that has resulted in my poor review. Note that the front lower corners are openings which offer no protection to the components behind. I have experienced, and so have others incidences where roadside debris punctures the radiator resulting in a broken car. Recommend buyers keep this in mind - there are several workarounds for this but not something that is part of the original design.
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Golf R has got it all!
Rj, 07/31/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This car has got it all. Was looking at subaru sti and focus st, but this is better. More refined than those 2. Great power. Engine sounds awesome. Turbo is audible. Then the noise settles down when just cruising. So much fun. Great comfortable ergonomic interior. Very usable. Only real Downside is that price is a bit steep.
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Simpicate and Add Less Weight
Bob Maurer, 07/27/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The worst thing about my 2016 Golf R is the Owner's Manual! 434 pages fill mostly with attorney written warnings repeated over & over again to the point that it makes it almost unreadable. And the Owner's Manual is only 1 of 3 books that cane with the car. The brakes are great! Once you get above 2,000 rpm the engine has lots of grunt. The steering is a little numb in that you do not get to feel the road surface but force feel is appropriate. Like many cars today, the steering wheel is loaded with buttons but most of them are so small that you have to look down at the wheel to use them. The 'touch screen' does not work very well - I think they want you to use the tiny buttons. When you start driving the car, the complaints disappear since it is a joy to drive!!!
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Great car!
GM, 02/06/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Handles great. Awesome acceleration. Great electronics. A super fun car. You can tell that you're in a Golf because some items are obviously spec'd for a lower price point. However, this much fun in a practical car cannot be passed up, and the lower price point for a VW is still on par with a similarly priced BMW. Only an Audi/Mercedes will get you truly better interior.
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Love this car
Neil, 02/07/2016
updated 02/12/2018
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
Compared to its rivals its a class act. The acceleration is great so is the braking. The steering is not as good as it could be but that goes with the territory when it comes to electronic steering. The build quality is impeccable. If I have a fault its with the pedal positions in the manual. The driving modes dont differ enough to make changing them worthwhile. I dont have DCC. Two years on still look forward to driving it, even on my commute. This car has made my mind up that my next car will more than likely be another Golf R
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Poorly disguised as an econo-box.
P R, 12/27/2015
updated 06/27/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
High performance meets practicality. It's awesome. Does everything as advertised.
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After my Corvettes
Mark, 11/04/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
I have owned my 2016 Golf R for almost a year. Prior to this, I owned two base-model Corvettes, also purchased new. In instrumented magazine road tests, the Corvettes were less than a second apart in 0-60 and quarter mile acceleration times. The Golf R splits the difference -- a little quicker than my 1998 C5 and a little slower than my 2006 C6, acceleration-wise. But the difference is so negligible that the seat-of-the-pants feel is the same. Handling, for all practical purposes, feels about the same too. Impressive braking. No bombastic roar and not the head-turner that the Vettes were. But I'm getting a lot of attention from the younger crowd (I'm 67) who know exactly what the R is. So I'm enjoying driving a sleeper again. My first sleeper since my 1973 Mazda RX2, a rotary engine screamer in mundane coupe form that was a blast to drive as most cars were deteriorating, performance-wise, at the time. I'm also very happy with the quality of the interior, although I do wish it came in a color other than black. Tons 'o fun!!
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Fun...
Anthony Heath, 06/20/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R w/Dynamic Chassis Control and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
It has been a while since my wife and I had a car that was actually fun to drive. We have had nothing but people movers since my 2007 Tundra purchase and her 2008 Honda Odyssey. Decided to purchase a run around car that would provide some fun and the Golf R seemed to be the best option for that requirement along with a relatively high degree of refinement. Not quite 1000 miles yet, but so far we have been extremely happy with the purchase. Great performance, comfort, and still have usable space for a small car.
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Screamin' T
B. Thurman, 11/17/2016
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This car is a blast to drive and the best part about any VW turbo is they are extremely tunable. Out of the crate this car will surprise not only you but other drivers with how quick, and yet practical the R is. I put 19.5 wheels (VMR) on it with stock suspension and the stance and drive is great. Plus I went with a stage 1 APR tune with a CAI and if you think the R is fast off the showroom floor...when tuned it's how I envision. The VW engineers would do their own ride if the ban counters let them. Point being this is a quality ride, all around with great performance, with the option to be a true beast.
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Broken engine before 2nd Oil Change
Nelson, 02/14/2018
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
27 of 41 people found this review helpful
We bought our 2017 Golf R as a weekend/road trip car and I was super satisfied with it's performance. I babied it for the first couple thousand miles as advised and I was very meticulous about maintenance, well I finally decided to give it a nice spirited drive on the highway on a late Saturday night. BIG MISTAKE!!! It had exactly 7,701 miles on the odometer as I did a full throttle acceleration from 40 mph, we heard a few loud POPS, I immediately let off the gas, and as I pulled over it sounded like a bunch of rocks in a clothes dryer! I towed it to the dealership the following Monday, I was told the engine block cracked severely!! Well I was confident thinking my warranty would cover a new block when VW decides to VOID MY WARRANTY!!! They lied and said I had an aftermarket tune that was not covered! A complete lie. I had no modifications done, everything was stock but they say otherwise. I currently have a lawyer fighting VW for me as I don't plan on making these big car payments for a horrible product stuck in my garage! plus we put a big down payment to drive it off the lot! It's already been 3 months, hopefully my problem gets resolved soon.
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Just an absolute riot
Bill Iannopolis, 04/20/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I cross shopped this with much more expensive cars. Once I started driving it, I was blown away. It's quick, but not incredibly fast. It handles, but isn't the best handling car. That being said...it all blends together into an incredibly balanced and engaging vehicle that makes driving to work a rush. The interior is beautifully finished. The seats are comfortable and the nav has some fun features. The stereo is pretty damn good. Not really able to point out a fault.
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Vroom: my VW Type R sizzles
Patrick, 11/01/2017
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Exceptional fit & finish, DCC (6 speed auto) & VW 4 Motion (AWD) are sweet, 0-60 Times stock will rock your socks. Fender sound system fantastic. Drivers assistance package includes the latest tech advances: great! My only lament is it’s got a rough ride with factory rims and tires
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Retiree-owned R
WarpSpeed R, 10/03/2019
updated 04/14/2025
2016 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my '16 R manual almost 4 years ago when I was still working. Coming from a 1st gen Mazdaspeed 3, I was a little disappointed in the power delivery. The red Speed 3 was raucous and in your face, plus it had a killer 2nd gear. The R felt sedate and tepid in 2nd gear by comparison. It took me only two weeks to return to the dealer to visit it's tuner division. An hour later, I drove out with an APR Stage 1 and the power deficit was instantly remediated! A few months later I noticed clutch slipping in higher gears, the price for the increased power. I waited another couple years, then returned to the tuner shop for an APR Stage 2 and a new Southbend Daily racing clutch plus APR intercooler, intake, and supporting hardware. At age 71, I feel as though the power is just right and it's reassuring to know the upgraded clutch will last forever. Now that I'm retired, I'm not driving nearly as much but enough to have fun. At just 50K miles and driving only about 100 miles a week, the car should last the rest of my expected life expectancy. The lesson learned is that if you're not satisfied with the R's performance, there are plenty of options to fix that. As for problems, there have been a few. Those included backup camera not working at times, balky window switch (fixed under warranty), oil leak in rear differential (differential replaced under warranty), ignition and spark plug coil failure, leaking water pump (replaced under warranty), and speed sensor failure causing dash warning lights to illuminate. Also, my speedo and tach backlights are very dim. In sum, this is not a cheap car to own and maintain but it's not bad for a near-supercar. A few months ago, I noted some deterioration of the clear coat on the rear spoiler and rotting of the weather seals around the front triangular corner windows. I tried to reapply some clear coat spray but that didn't turn out well. Other weather seals are showing serious deterioration. As a stop-gap measure, I applied some black auto body patching tape to those areas. Eventually I may take it to Carsmetics for a proper repair.
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Performance, comfort, luxury, & practicality
Chris Stiles, 05/09/2017
updated 11/12/2018
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
6 months of ownership in Lapiz Blue, DSG, & dynamic chassis control, and overall I'm very satisfied. A hoot to drive, fast, excellent grip, reasonably luxurious, stops on a dime, & practical. Handled well in snow with high performance all season tires. An Audi S3 for $4500 less. The Fender audio is excellent, but my entertainment & navigation shut down and required a dealer refresh to get it back up again. For $40K this car should have a Homelink garage door opener, LED tail lights, and a sunroof should be an option since the interior is black, dark & serious. An open roof would give the car a more airy interior. And how come the center console is bolted shut? Makes no sense and the dealer was unaware & of no help. But other than minor gripes, this car is special and exclusive. Hope it proves reliable. Highly recommended if you can strike a good deal. 2 years and 15K on the odometer. Car has been reliable but I haven’t put many miles on it either. Balance of performance & practicality is hard to beat. Still highly recommend this car.
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Beast !
DAVID OLLIFF, 03/18/2018
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
So much fun!......great sound system.....fast.......nice fit and finish.....great fuel economy.
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A total blast
Andrew Wilson, 06/12/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Have had it for 5 months and enjoyed every minute. More comfortable and practical in day to day driving than I had expected and even more fun than expected when driving for fun. All round a great car.
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Little Wolf in Sheeps Clothing
Bull, 02/08/2018
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Dealer network is horrible, But this is one of the best cars I ever owned. I owned all the german makes (spent well over 100K on many cars) and this is the most fun, I have put another 10K in performance mods and it's amazing.
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Great car
Mike, 06/03/2019
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought my R brand new November 2016 I have 24,000 miles on it now zero problems. It is a very comfortable car with all the upgrades and it is fast. 2 1/2 years later still puts a smile on my face.
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5 years and 130k km
They, 02/15/2023
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought it brand new in 2017 DSG, reflashed the ECU +TCU with stage 1 from Eurodyne right in the dealer lot, until 2023, now being catless and Stage 2, goes like a charm with no issues. Keep up with maintenance, change the oil every 8-10k km or yearly, you wont have cam phasers issues. Flush out the haldex and clean the filter, you wont have Haldex pump issues Flush out the DSG fluid and filter, you wont have issues. The DSG is (roughly in laymens) a manual transmission that's computer operated. It does not have a torque converter. If you buy this hoping its going to be smooth and buttery like your common CVT or Drum shifted transmission, just keep away from these cars. Put OEM parts for goodness sake. I work in this industry, for Honda. Let me tell you, OEM parts aren't cheaper at Honda or any other brands. And guess what, they always work on the first try and lasts just as long, if not longer than the one you just replaced. Through the time, i've had to replace the thermostat housing (under warrenty) at like 80k km A rear wheel bearing (warrenty) at like 80k km The rest like brakes, fluids and spark plugs are just part of normal maintenance you will find with every other car brand. Fender sound system is amazing if you dont blast your ears off like a 15y/o that discovered the bass boosting slider in his 2008 Accord. Maybe the Android auto is a bit wierd at times, did have some, now I say SOME entertainement unit crashes while using Android Auto, but its so random and rare, that I may blame it on my old Samsung. Oh yeah, if you want the right to be a bit less harsh, treat yourself on a nice set of lightweight 17inch wheels, with a matching proper set of tires, any potholes that you hit with the 19" will make you cringe so hard your ears will bleed. The DCC works fine, I just drive it in "Race" 99% of the time, i'm not the gadget type of guy really. In the snow this car is great, the Haldex is a bit random some times. On the same turns at the same speeds, depending on throttle input and how hard you are, sometimes you get understeer and sometimes you get oversteer. BUT you eventually get used to this and can make this kinda predictable.
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I really love this thing
M5 on the A5, 03/14/2023
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is an amazing experience. One of the most enjoyable performance cars with a strong helping of practicality. Never fails to put a smile on my face. I look for excuses to drive it. I have driven a lot of sports cars and have some background doing this. Ranging from renting a new 600HP M5 covering long distances at top speed on the Autobahn to local auto cross events and track days. I also get groceries, go on road trips and commute to work in snow storms. This is not the fastest, however it will hang with some pretty serious cars and is an exceptional daily driver. The flexibility if this car is amazing. Want to go fast, it does. Exceptional handling with adaptive suspension or soften it up for a drive with your boss. Haul furniture, just put down the seats. Need to stop quick, it looks like they pulled the brakes off a F150, they are huge. Want great gas mileage for a fast car that is driven hard all day, no problem. How about a drive in a snow storm in Minneapolis, just get a second set of wheels and some dedicated snow tires and let the all wheel drive go to work. It is awesome. Feeling like a normal experience leave the default settings. Want to go fast, a quick flick of a button in to race mode and here we go. This is a feather weight experience, light and nimble, it is no Hellcat. The DSG dual clutch is amazing, faster and better than a manual (I never thought I would utter those words). And to be clear, no a modern automatic is NOT better. Also, at 80k miles it has just been standard maintenance items, no real repairs needed. Still tight, fast and no unusual rattles. Great paint, interior is holding up very well. Looks nearly new. Usually after 5 years I get the itch to get a new car. No thanks, I still love this thing.
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Fun car
Ron, 04/02/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
1 of 5 people found this review helpful
Great car
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A Rocket
Mr Bullet , 07/28/2020
updated 08/02/2021
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This Car is Almost Perfect
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Best car in its class!
40 Roller, 06/28/2022
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Volkswagen's top performing car is a delight to drive. AWD, adaptive cruise and semi-autonomous driving means this car will almost drive itself. Coupled with the DSG transmission this car moves from a dig. Rated at 292hp this turbo 4 delivers with its IS38 engine. Turbo is strong mid-range and keep pulling all the way through the powerband. .5 seconds then the Audi S3 on the track. There is another level once you really start to rock and roll over 200kph. Handling grips hard around corners and even the Extreme Contacts from Continental perform admirably. There is so much technology on this vehicle and the cockpit and interior is better then the Audi S3. Infotainment system could be better but the Fender audio is perfect! Strangely this car comes with no spare tire in the trunk but they do give you a compressor. If you live near snow or can head to the hills in January for some snow, this car handles incredibly well with no issues.
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Quieter and better build quality than Subaru WRX
Roger, 06/18/2023
2017 Volkswagen Golf R 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Comfortable, fast, fun and beautiful leather seats. The fuel tank only holds about 12 gallons but if you drive it sensibly expect 28 mpg. Using the fun pedal gives you 20.
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Awesome hot hatch
Jkooler, 09/11/2023
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have been a Subaru WRX/STI owner since 2003. When they stopped making the 5 door I had to find another car and the Golf R is a step up in all categories. The technology is all newer, the car is finished better and the automatic transmission with paddle shifters is faster and crisper shifting than I can do! I am able to pull extra performance out the an APR Stage 2 tune for the engine and transmission. A joy to drive!
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Man, what fun!!!
kirkGolfR, 03/08/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
I struggled over the decision to spend so much for a car of this type but SO glad I did. I had a 93 Corrado SLC that was awesome... this is the 2017 Star Wars version of that with more storage. It flys, stops on a dime, creature comforts are incredible.
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Golf R
Ken Brenner, 06/23/2017
2017 Volkswagen Golf R w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
This could be the best sleeper care on the road. Looks are classic, performance is outstanding and technology is great. Driving is just plain fun, shifting through the gears feeling the pull of acceleration while handling the road like it's on rails. This is the best car I have owned. It also can be tuned and modified to your hearts content.
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