2025 Volkswagen Golf R

Pros 

• Thrilling driving experience.
• Practicality of a hatchback.
• Delivers a smooth ride with plush seating.
• Generously equipped with standard features.

Cons

• Touch-sensitive controls can be both frustrating and distracting to operate.
• The cost increases significantly when all optional features are added.

How do you like to drive the Golf R? The Golf R boasts one of the most powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engines available on the market today. We haven’t yet tested the R with the power boost, but in our latest 2022 test, the Golf R test car accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.3 seconds. Extremely fast times are possible for a hot hatch or a small performance car. There is a powerful and smooth engine, and the shifts in the dual-clutch transmission feel a lot more advanced than those in some rivals’ regular automatics.

It was very easy to control and stop. The Golf R came to a stop from 60 mph in 105 feet and achieved 0.99 g on the skidpad, marking one of the best performances we’ve observed from a compact car. With standard all-wheel drive, stability is never a problem, and the adaptive suspension does a great job of keeping the body in place. The precise handling and well-tuned suspension make the car feel lighter and more agile than the Volkswagen GTI, which is a close competitor. It’s not the fastest or most maneuverable car in its class, but it’s pretty close. The Golf R is easy to park in because driving is lighter when the speed is low. However, some reviewers thought it was too heavy in Sport mode.

How comfortable is the Golf R? The adaptive suspension springs in the Golf R enhance driving comfort and improve handling. It’s still easy to adjust to the Sport setting, but it’s very different from the Comfort setting. The seats in the Golf R are also nice. They support you well because they have set bolsters that hug you without being too tight. The seats on the sides of the back are also heated, and the seats in the front are both heated and cooled. The padding in both rows provides comfort without feeling overly firm.

The Golf R is quiet on the highway, with only light wind and road noise. Even though the exhaust can be turned down, you won’t have any trouble talking to your guests even when it’s turned all the way up. It sounds like a four-cylinder engine, and when the turbo is running at full speed, it makes a nice little whine.

The main thing we don’t like about the car is the temperature control system. Even though the usual three-zone automated climate control is helpful, it can be annoying and hard to control and change the settings. Volkswagen thought wrongly that the capacitive touch buttons didn’t need backlighting, so you can’t see them at night. Voice commands are mostly useful, but they are not a good way to do things. It’s at least cool inside with the AC.

How is the inside? The same capacitive touch buttons that make the temperature control system so annoying are also in the rest of the car and make it hard to use. The only real buttons are on the outside of the window switches. We accidentally turned on the heated steering wheel more than once when our palms hit the capacitive control during a sharp turn. The volume control on the wheel is non-functional, whether pressed or used as a slider.

Thank goodness the rest of the inside is much better. The driver’s seat is very flexible, so it’s easy to find a comfy position. The front seat is also very wide in all directions. Adults can sit easily in the back, but this type of tiny car has more room, and the center tunnel makes the middle seat mostly useless. Because the doors open wide and the room is small, it’s easy to get in and out. Even though the Golf R’s side mirrors aren’t very big, the short poles and high cabin make it easy to see outside.

How does the tech work? All Golf R models come with a new 12.9-inch tablet display and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, both of which can be customized. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both let you talk to your phone wirelessly, but you can also use a USB-C plug to connect your phone directly. There is also a portable charging pad inside.

The menu system isn’t always easy to use, but the touchscreen buttons work much better than the capacitive touch ones. The built-in guidance system works well most of the time, but it sometimes gets slow. To get directions, it’s easy to use voice prompts or the screen, and the map is clear and simple to use. The second one works better than most in its class and can also be used to control the radio or temperature control.

The Volkswagen Golf R has many driving aids, such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot recognition, and lane-keeping assistance. It’s easy to set up, and there are no false reports or sensitive beeps. Even better, the manual gearbox has adaptive cruise control built in.

How are things with the storage? It takes up 19.9 cubic feet of room in the Golf R when the seats are up and 34.5 cubic feet when the 60/40 split back seats are folded down. The rear seats fold nearly flat, and the trunk floor is both spacious and low. The height-adjustable rear cargo floor and the upright back window will help with taller items. The cabin has a lot of great front storage, including large door pockets, front cupholders that can be moved around (though they’re awkward), and a bin for your phone or shades in front of the shifter. Each front seat back features three map pockets. The pockets on the back doors are also pretty big.

The Golf R’s outer rear seats have Isofix anchors that are easy to reach. However, the cargo cover has to be removed for the seatback pin. The car is easy to move around because the roof is big and level, and the doors open wide. For bigger seats, the height of the front seats may need to be raised a little.

How much fuel does it use? The EPA thinks that the Volkswagen Golf R with an automatic drive could get 25 miles per gallon in the city and on the highway. It is expected that you will get 23 mpg on average if you choose the six-speed manual. The Golf R is better than most rivals with manual transmissions, but the automatic model is better than most competitors, regardless of transmission. Invoice Pricing tested the Golf R automatic over 115 miles and found it to get an amazing 29.3 mpg.

Should you pay that much for the Golf R? A basic Golf GTI costs less than the Golf R, but the Golf R is a good deal. You can only choose the color of the paint and the engine, and it comes with everything you need. There is a high-end feel inside that you won’t find in other sport compacts or hot hatchbacks, and the build quality is great all around. There is more hard plastic inside than in most cars, and it costs around $40,000, but considering how well it runs, this is a fair trade-off.

Volkswagen’s standard guarantee covers the body and engine for four years or 50,000 miles. You also get free maintenance for two years (24,000 miles) and roadside help for three years (36,000 miles).

The Golf R hasn’t been all that interesting. The older types weren’t over the top to get your attention, but they were different enough from other Golfs to let you know they were special. This time, Volkswagen has added some style, but this is also true for the eighth-generation car. Its front and back fascias are stronger than they were before, giving it an athletic and pointed shape. Even though it’s bigger, the rear wing is still pretty small. It looks and feels more grown-up than the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Elantra N.

VW makes things very easy for you. Many options come standard with the base Golf R trim level. The new Euro-style choice is good for people who want a better performance but don’t mind not having the sunroof or the power-adjustable and ventilated driver’s seat.