New VW Golf R review: The ultimate car?

Change your car with Carwow: https://bit.ly/Change-Your-Car-1812

The Golf R has been updated!

VW’s famous pocket rocket has been updated in 2024, but are the changes enough to sway you away from competitors such as the S3, AMG A35 or M135?

Well, let’s take a closer look. Starting with the design, it’s still clearly a Golf, but there are a few notable changes compared to the previous edition. You now have an illuminated VW badge sitting within the light bar stretching across the front. The lower bumper has also been redesigned and houses some real vents on either side. Along the side there are satin door mirrors and side skirts, while at the back there’s a redesigned bumper, updated taillights, and of course, quad tailpipes.

On the inside, not much has been updated – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! There’s blue stitching throughout, R-specific digital dials, and soft-touch materials throughout. The main change, though, is the large infotainment screen on the centre of the dash. It’s bright and looks smart, although it can be a bit laggy at times. In the back, there aren’t any changes of note – it’s pretty much the same as the previous edition.

Under the bonnet, you have the same 2-litre 4-cylinder turbo as before. However, the power output has now been increased from 320hp to 333hp! It still comes with four-wheel drive and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It’ll propel you to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds.

The new Golf R costs from £44,500. So is it still the best hot hatch on the market for under £45,000? Stick with Mat to see for yourself!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:34 Design
01:37 Interior
02:54 Back Seats
03:19 Engine
03:40 0-60mph
04:06 Boot
04:24 Annoying Features
05:34 Cool Features
07:08 Drift Mode
09:05 Brakes
09:54 Country Road Driving
12:28 Motorway Driving
13:30 Verdict