I’m contemplating becoming a member of a cult.
The Volkswagen Golf R has lengthy had a cult following, and I’ve by no means understood it. I’ve pushed a number of variations of VW’s sporty little hatchback through the years. I’ve by no means discovered myself in love.
However per week within the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R swayed me for the primary time. VW’s sportiest automobile within the U.S. affords splendidly adjustable ranges of efficiency.
It may be a sensible commuter with slightly extra cargo house than the typical compact automobile when that’s what you want. Faucet a number of adjustments into the touchscreen, and it may be a efficiency automobile at a surprisingly reasonably priced worth.
The Golf R, even in its softest suspension settings, could also be too stiff for some. However if you happen to’re thinking about a efficiency automobile that may double as a commuter for below $50,000, the Golf R is a flexible automobile that takes on the persona you give it.
Which Trim Degree
The Golf R doesn’t have trim ranges as a result of it roughly is a trim degree — it’s the go-fast model of VW’s Golf hatchback.
My tester was the 2025 Golf R Black Version, which is available in a shiny Mythos Black Metallic coloration with a Titan Black Leather-based inside. It was all a bit Lego Batman for my style, however that aesthetic works for a lot of. In case you’re not considered one of them, it can save you $1,315 by selecting one other coloration.
New 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Costs
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Retail Value
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Honest Buy Value (92620)
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$48,325
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TBD
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$49,640
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TBD
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Favourite Characteristic
Like most efficiency vehicles, the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R has a number of drive modes to select from. Like the perfect of these, it additionally helps you to tune your individual.
In Eco and Consolation, it’s virtually a sedate commuter. The suspension nonetheless affords a barely stiff trip in comparison with, say, a Honda Civic hatchback. But it surely does a convincing sufficient impression of an on a regular basis automobile that my passengers by no means complained.
Sport provides you sharper throttle response, quicker shifts, and barely firmer steering. Race provides stiffer suspension settings and additional dials within the shift factors. It’s merely ferocious.
I didn’t use Drift, as I didn’t get observe time.
Better of all, an Particular person mode helps you to dial within the suspension, steering, and throttle settings you need. I wish to tighten up the steering and suspension however depart the engine extra relaxed, making the automobile enjoyable at authorized speeds.
Some BMW and Mercedes vehicles provide you with related flexibility, however this is without doubt one of the least costly methods to get a self-designed tune.
Adjustable ambient lighting helps you to additional curate your expertise.
What It’s Wish to Drive
All these versatile settings imply the VW Golf R drives the way in which you need it to drive.
A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine provides it 328 horsepower — so much for such a small chassis. Volkswagen not affords it with a handbook transmission, however the 7-speed dual-clutch automated it ships with is very adjustable by means of the assorted drive modes.
Collectively, they make for a extremely responsive throttle pedal. Grippy brakes assist reel it in when wanted, and cross-drilled rotors ought to maintain them cool and efficient even by means of a observe day.
All-wheel drive and a torque vectoring system make this one of many sharpest-handling vehicles you’ll discover in its worth vary.
Inside Consolation and Know-how
Premium sport seats are comfy with out being too stiff. A leather-wrapped steering wheel provides barely when squeezed, which is what you need in a efficiency automobile.
The brushed stainless-steel pedals look improbable. I wasn’t a fan of my tester’s virtually all-black inside, however blue accents helped break the monotony.
The place the Golf R fails is in its irritating touch-capacitive buttons and sliders. They’re exceptionally delicate and situated so to simply brush them accidentally. Greater than as soon as, I reached to reposition a vent and located the again of my hand altering the drive mode.
Designers additionally put a pair of touch-capacitive sliders proper beneath the touchscreen. My hand wished to relaxation a finger there whereas paging by means of touchscreen menus. Inevitably, I’d by chance change the temperature or the quantity doing that.
Volkswagen says it plans to maneuver away from the extremely delicate interface. You’ll possible get used to the system if you happen to purchase the automobile, however the Golf R shall be a greater product after they’re gone.
Limitations
The contact capacitive buttons is likely to be a problem for some consumers. Volkswagen made one other curious know-how resolution my passengers hated. The automobile makes use of a voice enhancer — microphones choose up conversations and play them by means of the automobile’s audio system. That system is helpful in some 3-row autos the place the motive force would possibly genuinely battle to listen to rear-seat passengers. However this can be a small automobile. The delicate echo impact of getting your voice performed again to you thru audio system in a small house pissed off a couple of passenger.
You possibly can flip the voice enhancer off, nevertheless it turns itself on once more each time you begin the automobile.
Curiously, you’ll be able to set off the Golf R’s alarm whereas driving if you happen to by chance press the alarm button on the keyfob. Ask me how I do know.
Key Issues
The Golf R has few pure rivals. Honda’s Civic Sort R and Hyundai’s Elantra N are the closest issues on the highway. If I had been out there, I’d take a look at drive all three. That might make for a enjoyable day. I feel you’d discover the Golf R probably the most customizable of the group.
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