2025 Volkswagen Golf R

How does the Golf R drive? The Golf R uses one of the best turbocharged four-cylinder engines around. We haven't tested the R with the power increase yet, but in our last test from 2022, our automatic-equipped Golf R test car ripped from 0 to 60 mph in a scant 4.3 seconds. That's outstanding acceleration times for a hot hatch or compact performance sedan. The engine is powerful and smooth, and the dual-clutch transmission's shifts feel far more refined than those from traditional automatics in some rivals.

Braking and handling impressed too. The Golf R stopped from 60 mph in just 105 feet and pulled 0.99 g on the skidpad, again among the best we've ever seen from any compact. The standard adaptive suspension does a wonderful job of keeping body motions well in check, and standard all-wheel drive means traction is never an issue. The car feels light and nimble thanks to that well-tuned suspension as well as responsive steering that translates more road feel than the closely related Volkswagen GTI. It's not the sharpest or most dynamic car in its class, but it's not too far off the benchmark. Some editors found the steering to be a bit heavy in Sport mode, but it lightens up at low speeds, which makes the Golf R a breeze to park.

How comfortable is the Golf R? The Golf R's adaptive suspension dampers help improve not only handling but ride comfort too. There's a distinct difference between Comfort and Sport settings, though the latter is still reasonably compliant. The Golf R's seats are also great. They offer excellent support, with fixed bolsters that hug without squeezing too tight. The front seats are both heated and ventilated; the rear outboard seats are heated too. Padding in both rows is supportive but not overly firm.

The Golf R is relatively quiet, with only a mild amount of wind and road noise at highway speeds. The exhaust is adjustable, though even in its loudest setting you won't have trouble talking to your passengers. The exhaust note is beefy for a four-cylinder engine, and there's a lovely bit of turbo whine at full blast.

Our biggest complaint is the car's climate control system. While the standard three-zone automatic climate control is a plus, controlling and adjusting the setting can be cumbersome and frustrating. In fact, you can't even see the capacitive touch controls at night as Volkswagen (incorrectly) believed it didn't need backlighting. Using voice commands is a crutch, not a solution. At least the air conditioning blows cold.

How’s the interior? The same capacitive touch controls that make the climate control system so frustrating plague the rest of the car too. Outside of the window switches, there really aren't any actual buttons. We accidently turned on the heated steering wheel multiple times when a palm grazed the capacitive control in a tight turn. The volume control on the wheel can be pressed or used as a slider, but it doesn't work great either way.

Fortunately, the rest of the interior is much better. The front seat is spacious in all directions, and the driver's seat offers enough adjustment so that it doesn't take long to dial in a comfortable position. The rear is comfortable for adults, but there are more spacious compacts in this class, and the center tunnel makes the middle seat a bit useless. The doors open wide, and the small footprint makes getting in and out a nonissue. The Golf R's upright cabin and narrow pillars help make for great outward visibility, though the side mirrors are on the smaller side.

How’s the tech? All Golf Rs come standard with a new 12.9-inch touchscreen display and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, both of which allow for some customization. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard and have wireless connectivity, though you can still connect your phone directly using one of the USB-C ports. A wireless charging pad is also standard.

Thankfully, the touchscreen's controls work better than the capacitive touch ones, though the menu system isn't always the most intuitive. While it can occasionally lag, the built-in navigation system works well for the most part. The map is clear and easy to navigate, and it's easy to input directions using the screen or voice commands. The latter works better than most in this class and can also be used to do things such as adjust the radio or climate control system.

Volkswagen includes a whole suite of driver aids on the Golf R, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and lane keeping assistance. All work well, with straightforward controls and no false positives or overly sensitive beeps. Even better, adaptive cruise control is available with the manual transmission.

How’s the storage? The Golf R has a reasonably large cargo area, with 19.9 cubic feet of space with the seats up and 34.5 cubes with the 60/40-split rear seats folded down. The cargo floor is low and wide, and the rear seats fold nearly flat. The upright rear window helps with taller items, as does the height-adjustable rear load floor. Storage in the front of the cabin is equally impressive, with large door pockets, adjustable (if somewhat awkward) front cupholders, and a bin in front of the shifter for your phone or sunglasses. The rear door pockets are sizable too, and there are three map pockets on the back of each front seat.

The Golf R has easily accessible Isofix anchors on the outboard rear seats, though you do need to remove the cargo cover to access the seatback anchor. The doors open reasonably wide, and the tall, flat roof means there's space to move around. Larger seats may require scooting up the front seat a bit.

Is the Golf R a good value? The Golf R is pricey compared to a regular Golf GTI, but there's value here. It comes loaded with standard equipment and has zero options beyond paint color and your choice of transmission. Overall build quality is excellent, and the interior gives off a premium feel you won't find in other hot hatches or sport compacts. There's more hard plastic inside than other cars in the mid-$40,000s, but it's an OK trade-off considering the car's performance.

Volkswagen offers a four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty, which is average for this class. You also get three years/36,000 miles of roadside assistance and two years/24,000 miles of included maintenance.

The Golf R has been somewhat understated. Older models were distinct enough from the base Golf that you could tell it was something special but not so flashy that it would draw your attention. That's true of the eighth-generation model, too, though Volkswagen has added a bit more spice this go-around. It's sharp and sporty, with more aggressive front and rear fascias than before. The rear wing has grown in size but is still relatively subtle. It looks and feels a bit more grown-up than either the Honda Civic Type R or Hyundai Elantra N.