To the untrained eye, the Volkswagen Golf R might seem like just another family hatchback, with understated looks and the trusty VW badge that adorns the front and rear of the car. But under the bonnet you’ll find something quite brilliant. This is the king Golf, with the power, handling and acceleration to make you the envy of any motoring enthusiast – and starting at just shy of £30,000, our VW Golf R review will take a look at what this almighty hatch has done to earn its premium price tag.
- 300 bhp turbo-charged engine
- 0-62mph in less than 5 seconds
- Class-leading reliability
Design
The styling of the VW Golf R maintains the balance between respectability and sportiness, with subtle changes to make it stand apart in a saturated marketplace. The R grille features a chrome strip, while unique bumpers, wider side sills and smoked chrome mirror caps let you know this isn’t just any old hatchback. At the rear of the car, you’ll see LED clusters and quad exhausts – and we’d recommend the optional 19” alloys which look fantastic and give the car a purposeful stance on the road.
The interior of the R is a rather classy affair, with the level of quality you’d expect of a £30k car. The dashboard is complemented by a superb gloss black centre console and a carbon-look decorative trim. New racy sports seats are available in either leather or alcantara, and are designed to grip the driver for ultimate comfort as you put the motor through its paces. The upmarket feel is completed with flash LED interior lights, puddle lights, xenon headlamps and sophisticated dials.
Performance
The performance of the Golf R is simply outstanding. A 296 bhp 2.0-litre turbo will propel the R from 0-60mph in less than five seconds, making it feel effortlessly quick on the road. But it’s Volkswagen’s revolutionary new 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system that means you really can make the most of all the power available to you – as all the engine’s power can be sent to the rear wheels in a fraction of a second, giving you excellent traction and a ton of grip. No front-wheel car can match the performance of this fantastic hot-hatch, which somehow maintains the comfort and control of any regular Golf – a perfect companion for cruise or commute.
Features
As you’d expect from Volkswagen, the standard kit list is comprehensive and includes front and rear parking sensors, climate control, electric heated folding mirrors, Bluetooth, cruise control and automatic lights. Options include a conventional ‘Discover’ navigation system and a range-topping ‘Discover-pro’ system – including an 8-inch colour touch screen which allows you to scroll across the map with the swipe of a finger.
The starting price for the Volkswagen Golf R is £29,900, while a model with plenty of optional extras will cost you considerably more. If you want to get your hands on a VW Golf R of your own but can’t afford the upfront payment, the Car Loan Warehouse can help. We’re experts in VW finance and could help you save money – so check out our car loan calculator today for an instant quote.
