Used 2019 Volkswagen Golf R Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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Best Performance Hatch
Nick Brooks, 10/24/2019
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
29 of 29 people found this review helpful
Before I bought the R, I was looking for a newer GTI, but after test driving the R, I was blown away by this car. The little 2L 4 cylinder definitely puts a smile on my face every time I give it gas and the awesome AWD compliments it perfectly when taking harsh corners. In my opinion, the Golf R is better than the GTI in every way, except for the price. The R has definitely exceeded my expectations in every way from performance to comfort and technology. One of my favorite things about the R is the style, it isn't all sporty and flashy like the red accents on the GTI, instead it is more reserved and blends well with the crowd, until you get on it, of course. Overall I highly recommend the Golf R over the GTI if you do have a little extra in your spending range.
Best little rocket on the road for the price
CValeBoston, 12/28/2019
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
I have owned six Audi TTs (all three generations) and loved them all, but I’ve always lusted after the TTS because of its more powerful engine. While the DSG with paddle shifters on the TT is lightning fast and fun, it still isn’t as fun as manual transmission in my opinion. And there’s no way I can afford the TTS, so I opted for a 2019 VW Golf R in one of the 40 special-order Spektrum colors. The four-month wait was worth it. Besides getting the same engine as the TTS, I got a car in a color I wanted with manual transmission and with several safety features not offered on the TT. The adaptive cruise control is great, and the lane warning system notifies you but gently tugging the wheel back in the correct lane but without the annoying chimes and buzzers that many other cars use. This is not your grandfather’s Golf; it’s a stylish all-wheel-drive rocket. I much prefer the understated design to that of the Honda Civic Type R, Subaru WRX STI and Ford Focus RX, which are great if you’re 16 but a tad too showy for someone like me (definitely not 16). At the same time, the design is anything but boring with dual chrome exhausts, special body molding, and aggressive LED headlights. Everything about the R feels tight and right: steering, clutch, shifter, breaks. And then there’s the power; let’s just say it’s more than ample. But not too thirsty as I’m averaging 29 MPH combined highway and city. In my experience, there’s virtually no turbo lag as long as I downshift appropriately. The large touchscreen is better and more intuitive than anything I’ve used before, including our other car, a 2018 Subaru Forester. Seats are comfortable and supportive. There’s ample storage for me, but remember, I’m coming from a TT. I love the car and can’t help grinning every time I get in it. PROs: • Design and availability of 40 colors • Availability of a manual transmission • TTS engine for about $10K less • Comfortable and practical cabin with intuitive controls CONs: • Because Audi/VW’s direct shift gearbox is so good, the manual is a tad slower; not a problem for me but might be for some • Side mirrors do not automatically dim when there’s a car behind with brights on (the rearview mirror does) • Only one USB port and the placement is really awkward and hard to get to • No wifi; I understand this will be available in 2020 models with Car-Net but cannot be retrofitted. Bummer. Would I buy it again? In a heartbeat.
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2019 Volkswagen Golf R for sale near you
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- 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $32,990183 mi away
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Still a remarkable car in many, many ways
Mark, 07/29/2019
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
36 of 38 people found this review helpful
I have owned many performance cars including 3 Porsches, 2 Audi, and 2 BMW M3's over the years. This is my last fun car purchase and my official "retirement" car. I owned a 2015 Golf R and loved it. I can not overstate how satisfying this little car is. It is a true sleeper, fun, agile, comfortable and the kind of car that makes even mundane trips to the market an experience. I drove my 2015 R and put 81K miles on it and never had even a tiny issue. Interior is very comfortable , Tech features including Apple car play, Fender sound system and fantastic variable sports & drive settings are as good as the $75+ Audi S series cars. The dynamic headlights are just amazing (Porsche good). All one needs to remember is that this little hot hatch is packed w/ goodies that trickle down from Porsche & Audi. As for the price difference between the fully loaded VW GTI and the R: I purchased a 2018 GTI ,drove it 6 months and then test drove the new 2019 R. For my passions and needs there is NO real comparison. The R is a better car by a good margin & for me is worth the cost. Hands down. I keep reminding myself that a car is only a car but the noble little Golf R is literally a masterwork at it's price point.
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Good AWD performance at a price
Nathan Apticar, 06/16/2019
updated 06/10/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
45 of 50 people found this review helpful
I’ve had this car for about 8K miles and one year. I have driven the car in four inches of snow and solid ice, and driven a 500+ mile trip from western Texas to Colorado up through Raton Pass, NM. Overall, it’s an amazing vehicle. I still recommend buying it over the GTI if your budget allows. The four drive modes (eco, comfort, normal, race, and custom) make a difference in ride comfort and acceleration. Normal mode does well for everyday driving, comfort mode noticeably smoothes out the bumps on the highway, and race mode significantly reduces the turbo lag to get you going extremely quickly, changes the shift points, and tightens up the suspension. I average about 20 mpg in the spirited way I drive, but can get 29 mpg on the highway when I drive reasonably. The DSG is very responsive; rarely have to use the paddle shifters to downshift. I chose the DSG over the manual because of the stop-and-go traffic when commuting to/from work each day and because Edmunds' expert reviews revealed the DSG is faster than the manual. One update after 8Kmiles: off-the-line acceleration in Normal mode results in significant and annoying turbo lag; I find myself driving in Sport mode most of the time to reduce the lag. Still considering APR-Plus tune. The interior is of high quality soft touch materials, plastics and leather. The cabin is quiet for a car with 35 series summer tires. Spoiler: there’s no spare tire. The seats have excellent bolstering and the driver’s seat is 12-way adjustable; both front seats are perforated and heated. The digital dash is cool and customizable. The sound system is very good and the interface is very user friendly and responsive. I had to refer to the owner's manual because of the many ways to customize the electronics of the car. Additional gadgets: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, auto wipers, nav, adaptive suspension, auto LED lights all around, mini SD card slot onto which to load music, ability to direct cooled air into the glove compartment, ability to have nav and other displays in the central part of the digital dash, and cool blue ambient lighting strips in the doors and on the front door sill scuff plates. Update: I do would like a lockable compartment in the car. The center console has a storage compartment and the arm rest slides forward and can be adjusted for height. Through a recall, added the performance monitor (gimmicky). The exterior. The paint is excellent and smooth; no orange peel effect. The ground effects are cool looking and don’t detract from the overall smooth and adult vibe of the car. Once I washed the car by hand, I discovered just how difficult it is to clean all of those nooks and crannies of the plastic ground effects. Some downsides (still worth it in my opinion). The purchase price is about $10K more than the GTI and VW does not give much of a discount as it claims there are limited units arriving at US shores each year; of course, none for 2020 and maybe 2021. The front seats are comfortable, but the seating position is low. If you're larger than I am (5'9, 180 lbs), then it will be a tight and maybe uncomfortable fit; applies especially to getting in and out of the car and side bolsters around the upper back and shoulder areas. The steering doesn't telescope or tilt as far as I initially liked, but it does have a flat bottom, so that makes getting in and out of the car a little easier. The piano black plastic trim used extensively throughout the front of the cabin get dusty and shows finger prints very easily. Of course, this goes for the 8" display, too. The car demands premium fuel; costs about $40 to fill up and takes me about 350 miles in mixed driving. Finally, there are the summer tires that are not run flats and there's no spare tire. You can get the Euro spare tire kit online for about $300. I replaced my stock summer tires with Ultra High Performance All Season tires, Continental DWS-06. The car did very well in 4" of snow and ice. Handling on dry and warm roads was only slightly better with summer tires. I wish the 12V outlet were co-located with the USB port in front of the shifter so my radar detector cord didn't stretch across the cup holders to the base of the center arm rest. Apple CarPlay: phone fails to connect to car about 50% of the time; have to plug it in again to make it work. I blew the 20A fuse for the 12V outlets each time I plugged in the factory air compressor; don’t know. There is no fuse diagram in the owner's manual or car; Googled it. Nevertheless, driving this car is a blast. I’m in my late 40s and have owned several sports cars and luxury sports sedans. I highly recommend this car if you enjoy cars, driving fast, feeling connected to the road, high quality materials, and a sleeper that will easily compete with the average high performance sports car in a straight line, but smoke it in the twisties. It’s amazing in Colorado. Finally, it’s not very common, making it even cooler to drive.
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I've loved both my R's!
Allen C., 08/23/2019
updated 06/21/2023
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
I'm driving a 2017 and my son continues to drive my 2011. Both have been great cars, but the 2017 is better for it's real world power. The earlier car was plenty fast, but you needed to run it pretty hard to gain much over a standard GTI, but the 2017 develops torque earlier and is definitely worth the premium price. One thing you should know is that the clutch on the manual is not up to the task of handling all that torque. At 45K miles it started to slip in high gears under WOT. I've never worn out a clutch on car with less than 100K miles on it, so I was surprised to say the least. The good news is I used it as an excused to install a performance clutch and an APR stage one tune (high torque version). WOW. 370HP and 383 foot pounds of torque. It is now very fast. According to the tuner, the clutch situation is not unusual for the R, given it's the same as the GTI's and with the extra power and grip, the wear all goes on the clutch. The early car is still on the original clutch with over 200K by the way. Anyway, I'm still giving the car 5 stars... it's that good
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As a former GTI owner,definitely worth the extra $
Ross Larkin, 03/19/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
What can I say, I’m in love with this car. I purchased a 2017 GTI in December 2016 after being told I was not allowed to test drive the Golf R by every VW dealer in the Washington DC metro area. I figured the car was just hyped by the manufacturer and dealers to get people to pay sticker or close to sticker. I did not purchase vehicles without test driving them. 2 years later, I became employed by a local VW dealer. As soon as the first of the 2019 R’s arrived, I had a customer put a deposit so I took the car to put fuel in it. I instantly realized why the car was worth the extra money. As soon as I was able to secure enough funds to get my payment to an affordable level, I purchased a 2019 Golf R DSG in Lapiz Blue with 6 miles on it. That was July, and I now have 6,200 miles on my Golf R. I have nothing but good things to report. This car feels like it has much more than 70 extra horsepower over the GTI. The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is an excellent system. This thing never wants for traction. Power is put down so well. When launching, it is virtually impossible to get any wheelspin at all, even in the wet. Launch control is pretty violent and it puts a smile on my face every time I use it. You can feel that car use the rear axle to pivot the vehicle when going around curves. Not only is the GTI’s wheelspin cured with the all-wheel drive, but so is the wheel-wrenching torque steer I had when my GTI was tuned. Also non-existent is the annoying wheel hop that plagues the front drive GTI. I thought about tuning my R, but the stock performance is so impressive (4.7 sec 0-60 and 13 sec 1/4 mike) that I feel tuning the car would be overkill and get me in way too much trouble. So at least for now, my R is stock. The equipment level of the Golf R is top notch. Compared to its competitors, the R looks high tech with its digital cockpit, adaptive cruise control, and other driver assistance features. The warranty is also a very generous 6 years/72,000 mikes bumper-to-bumper, giving the R another advantage compared to its competition. The build quality is excellent. Close your eyes while feeling around the cabin and your fingers read “Audi”. I’ve always wanted a German built VW and the R is one of only 3 models that are (the others being Arteon and e-Golf). For some reason, this car feels more expensive than the GTI as the interior even has a higher quality smell to it. I know this sounds pretty trivial, but it makes me feel like I’ve gotten what I’ve paid a premium for. But really, the added performance alone would be enough. One thing to be careful of: this car is very sensitive to the octane level in the gas. I only use 93 octane. I can tell when I have gotten a batch less than 93 because acceleration becomes sluggish and the engine sputters. The car also bogs down on acceleration. I know this is from the gas because the code scanner showed timing was being pulled and the problem was solved by adding Boostane octane boost. I get this problem every time I use gas from Costco. Just make sure to always use Top Tier 93 octane gas and be consistent with where you buy your fuel from and you will have no problem. As a side note, I get around 18-20 mpg in mostly city driving with a very aggressive driving style (I tend to drive my R like I stole it). You can do much better (around 28-30) if you can restrain your right foot. Overall, the Golf R is an impressive car. It’s exhilarating performance, superior build quality and warranty, German built pedigree, and high level of standard equipment make it worth the premium it commands over the GTI.
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In love with the Golf R
Mike, 01/15/2020
updated 01/24/2025
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have been driving my 2019 Golf R for almost four years and more than 60,000 km with very few to no issues at all. The car is fun, confortable, practical and loaded with the latest hi tech equipment. Absolutely great when driven in Canadian winters. My only complain is the 19" Continental high performance tires which can be somewhat noisy at high speed. Hope VW review their tire choice.
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Superb Performance with a Few Tweaks
TAT, 07/03/2019
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
My 2016 features an APR Stage One tune, a carbon fiber intake system, a six (6) speed, manual transmission and the performance of a 'super car'! It will reach 0-100 kph (i.e. 0 to 62 mph) in just under 4.0 seconds. Where else can one achieve this type of performance for this kind of price?!?
The perfect blend
Chris Quinn , 11/05/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is me coming off of a 2008 AUDI RS4. Yep, you read that right. I test drove everything you could imagine that may replace that. American Muscle, BMW M3, AUDI RS3, WRX STI, etc. The fun and feel that the Golf R "manual" conveyed to me was unmatched. I say that having driven Golf R Automatics, man what a let down. This car is tight, grounded, fun, responsive, fast...it does everything right. You can't go wrong with this gem. I'm lucky I found one that was a manual!
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Things you should know going in
Rick Morton, 12/27/2019
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
15 of 32 people found this review helpful
I am a long-long-time GTI/GLI driver. Those cars (particularly the GTI) appear to give more bang for the buck than anything else out there, and stay reasonably durable at least until the 80-100,000 mark. When I first became aware of the Golf R a couple of years ago I pined for it greatly, and then all of the sudden it became a financial reality. Voila, there I was this week with the Golf R. And I hated it an hour or two in and stayed that way. The fantastic dealer let me do a reset the next day and I was thankfully back where I started. This is not a review of how bad the Golf R is, it's a warning to GTI owners who look at this as a no-downsides trade up from the GTI. In the deal you're giving up at least two things in addition to a ton of cash - the taken-for-granted throw-around handling of the GTI, and the effortless primo MPG achieved by same. Given my short stint I can only say that you feel the extra weight in the back of the Golf R where all the AWD mechanisms are working, it's a little like hauling a trailer. And you may be disappointed when a mixed highway 27 mpg trip in the GTI turns into a mediocre 22 mpg drag in the R, where (unlike with the GTI) you are trying deliberately to go slow off the line to save a little gas. In fairness, where the weight in the back affects cornering and nimbleness, it also helps tracking so the R goes exactly where you direct it to go albeit with a little harsher ride. A few other differences between the two cars. You have to bring your own spare tire with the Golf R and decide where to put it (the cargo area being the most obvious choice). The R navigation is super, but the front end cruise control accident assist may drive you bananas. Even though the gear ratios on paper look the same, it seems like you go through the gears faster in normal driving with the R and may have trouble finding the right gear in the 35-45 mph range. There's other stuff that I can't recall sitting here. In concept it's a great car, in reality I wanted back in my old GTI after about 30 minutes in (fortunately my wish was granted). Again, not a knock on the car but a warning to GTI drivers who are looking at this as a GTI plus. It is not. It's a different car with different strengths and weaknesses, a few of which I couldn't accept. .
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Kids Car? No Way!
Mark Womack, 07/08/2022
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car is solid, quick, handles great and is really fun to drive. I’m 65 years old and it makes me smile every day!
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The flying box.
Merlin, 02/10/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
This vehicle will peak not only the practice side via its 5 doors but also it's performance and engineering components I assure you it's not a GTI it's a flying box. 😀
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R vs GTI
Steve S, 07/04/2019
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
4 of 24 people found this review helpful
I love my GTI. Nice performance, handling and practicality, all rolled into one car. If I could afford an R I would have one in a second, but I'm completely satisfied with what I have.
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A rattly POS
Achalemoipas, 07/02/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
4 of 26 people found this review helpful
After 2,000 miles, I can say that I hate this car. Everything rattles. The back seat rattles. The front passenger seat rattles. The middle armrest rattles. Something rattles in the ceiling. The thing behind the back armrest rattles. The front driver side window rattles. I've never had a more annoying vehicle in my life. Every single time I want to enter something on Google maps using the keyboard, some nonsensical message about the keyboard prevents me from using said keyboard for two seconds. If the passenger uses the touchscreen while I'm driving, the screen freezes and displays some moronic message about safety, making me lose focus. It's not even particularly fast or quick. It's only those things on paper.
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vw R
VW -R, 03/09/2020
updated 04/22/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
2 of 26 people found this review helpful
standard seats was not comfortable for the 40 k price tag
Love it!!!!!
Lindsay Messinger, 11/01/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Dream of a daily driver. Keeps my right foot ecstatic!
Fun fast smiles all around
John B, 05/31/2021
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Be ready to be surprised at every angle.
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Best of the Mk7 Generation
Tyler Anderson, 07/15/2023
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Excellent chassis, steering with feedback, plenty of induction noise, and the perfectly sleek Mk7 aesthetics. Interior quality is miles better than top-trim Mk8 Golf R, and entire package offers a driving experience unique to Mk7, especially with the dual-clutch transmission. Perfect car if you want something that can make you smile and laugh like an idiot in all conditions while providing an engaging driving experience and practical construction.
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Great car stock..can't wait to add extras
A Sizzle, 03/29/2020
2019 Volkswagen Golf R 2.0T w/DCC and Navigation 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)
0 of 4 people found this review helpful
Expensive but well worth it ... only car I've purchased new besides a slightly used 15 challenger scat pack with 3K on it formerly owned by Shaquille O'Neal...well worth the money I've had the dodge since July 2016 daily driver (but I still own older things like expedition, Legacy, infinite g37) and none make me feel the way the R does...their both fast both driving the dodge 485 HP fast is like a workout at the gym though I've hit 174mph in it with 2 friends coming from A.C. but when I drive em back to back I prefer the luxury and refinement of the R. I drive the golf like I stole it, racing everybody who lines up at the light here in Philly... never lost once maybe I just haven't met the right opponent yet, but with the AWD if its wet no RWD V8 gettin past me...put 3.5k on it in 3 months highway and city daily and haven't met nobody going faster than me yet...I don't want to run into problems with the 72k 6 year warranty but once I get the APR tune I know a non-resonated downpipe and REMUS or AWE exhaust will be soon to follow...the car just instills confidence to go fast without a worry or doubt it'll end up BAD...maybe I should've waited for a slightly used 18 before paying the new 19 price but at the end of the day its worth it for now, will I feel that way in a coupe of years? time will tell...
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