2025 Volkswagen Golf R First Drive Review: The Hot Hatch For Grown-Ups

The 2025 Volkswagen Golf R is arguably the largest beneficiary of the eighth-generation Golf refresh. It would not simply get up to date styling and an improved infotainment system; somewhat, it will get much more energy. On paper, it additionally has some attention-grabbing possibility packages that may change the styling and even save just a little weight. On the similar time, it now finds itself dealing with down extraordinarily compelling efficiency choices for much less cash. So is the Golf R nonetheless price trying out, or has it been priced out of relevancy?

We went right down to Summit Level Motorsports Park to spend time on monitor and on mountain roads to check out each the Golf R and the GTI, and to reply that very query. The solutions are a bit nuanced, regardless of the general excellence of the automobile. It would nonetheless be lots in comparison with the GTI, however in the event you’ve acquired the price range, it completely wants to remain in your brief record.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted setting beneath sure time constraints. Control DrivingOnRoad for our complete Check Drive overview which is able to observe quickly.

What’s Modified For This Mannequin Yr?

Just like the 2025 Golf GTI, the Golf R receives a lot of aesthetic modifications. It encompasses a new entrance fascia with up to date headlights and grille. The headlights now function a part of the blue spotlight stripe that goes by means of the grille, and an LED operating gentle seems immediately under it, together with an illuminated badge. Two new packages are actually provided that may change the looks of the car. The Black Version provides darkish badging throughout the automobile, in addition to a set of black wheels and black exhaust ideas. The Euro Model Package deal deletes the sunroof, provides fake suede seats with out air flow and fewer energy capabilities, plus a titanium Akrapovic exhaust.

In fact, the Euro Model Package deal is extra about weight financial savings than model, and Volkswagen claims the bundle drops about 80 kilos of weight over the usual Golf R. However that is not the one space by which the Golf R will get incremental efficiency enhancements. The powertrain has been revised to provide 328 horsepower, a 13-horsepower enchancment over final 12 months, and with the identical 295 pound-feet of torque. It has additionally misplaced its handbook transmission possibility, and is now solely obtainable with the seven-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission.

Lastly, the Golf R receives a few of the similar inside enhancements of the GTI, primarily the big 12.9-inch infotainment display screen operating VW’s latest working system. Not like the GTI, although, the R retains the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons, the results of the R that includes a novel drive mode button not shared with different VWs.

Design: Including Wanted Spice To The Golf’s Appears to be like

If our largest criticism in regards to the GTI’s styling is that it is arguably too restrained, the R goes an extended option to repair that. The variations aren’t dramatic, however they’re efficient. The a lot bigger rear spoiler makes it extra apparent that it is the sporty mannequin, and it does a pleasant job of balancing out the eighth-generation automobile’s sizable nostril. The identical goes for the aspect skirts and rear bumper extension that match the distinctive entrance bumper. It is only a disgrace that the GTI’s cool five-element fog lights go away.

As for the looks packages, we’d counsel skipping them. The Black Version, which provides $1,315 to the Golf R’s worth, goes overboard with the black accents. The darkened badges specifically look low cost, like somebody sprayed some translucent black paint over them. The paint would not flatter the wheels, both, which look far prettier with the machined end on the inventory model.

As for the Euro Model Package deal, the seats look glorious with the vivid blue accents, and the Akrapovic exhaust is sharp, too. And naturally, for the hardcore, dropping 80 kilos of weight is engaging. Nonetheless, you are paying $3,795 for seats with fewer changes and no air flow, no sunroof, and an exhaust that, whereas fairly, is mainly as quiet as a typical exhaust. We would counsel saving your cash for an aftermarket exhaust, and perhaps some extra noticeable upgrades like a set of even stickier tires in the event you’re trying to be a weekend autocross warrior.

Inside: A Little Fundamental For The Cash

The Golf R’s inside is almost similar to that of the GTI. A lot of the supplies and controls are assembled simply as properly and really feel good, although some facets may use some enchancment for the R. The carbon fiber-impressed sprint trim is the largest let down, contemplating the automobile’s $45,000+ price ticket. That is one space the place the Black Version scores factors, as a result of it receives actual carbon fiber as an alternative, and it seems to be pretty. The Euro Model Package deal additionally will get factors for its very fashionable fake suede upholstery, however as we have mentioned, it comes at the price of different fascinating gear.

On the subject of ordinary gear, the Golf R is packed. It has three-zone computerized local weather management, the seats are power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, and coated with Nappa leather-based. Even the rear seats are heated. The entrance seats are an actual spotlight, too, because of nice assist and bolsters that maintain, however are versatile sufficient for anybody to be comfy.

Area-wise, the Golf R is just a little tight inside. Head and legroom are stable up entrance, although shoulder room is proscribed, and the rear seats are missing in legroom because of the automobile’s small measurement. Cargo area is not too unhealthy, although, at 19.9 cubic ft behind the rear seats, and 34.5 with them folded down.

Infotainment: Good, However With A Catch

The Golf R, along with the opposite commonplace options highlighted above, additionally will get a lot of options as commonplace which might be choices or solely included on higher-end GTIs, such because the Harman Kardon sound system and head-up show. However the massive improve is the bigger infotainment display screen, which additionally comes with navigation, plus free trials for Wi-Fi, satellite tv for pc radio, and AI speech recognition. The primary factor to remove, although, is that the infotainment is now genuinely helpful. It is responsive, seems to be good, and it has loads of fastened and customizable shortcuts that we respect.

Not every little thing is ideal, although. The contact buttons for local weather and quantity, although illuminated now, are nonetheless borderline ineffective. And in contrast to the GTI, the Golf R nonetheless has touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons. It is simple to miss-press some buttons, and so they do not feel nice. Nonetheless, the flexibility to vary drive modes from the wheel is helpful, so it is a bit of a wash. We do respect the bigger shift paddles on the Golf R’s wheel, and we want these had been included on the GTI, too.

Powertrain & Driving: Double The Drive Wheels, Double The Enjoyable

The Golf R solely comes with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The engine feels very like the GTI’s, but it surely has extra of every little thing, which is to be anticipated when it makes 87 extra horsepower. It feels practically as fast to hit enhance, and the torque curve feels simply as fats, you simply have extra of every little thing. Consequently, it is each tractable, and has a powerful prime finish. You may actually construct up pace on a monitor, and it is as enjoyable as you’d count on. It by no means feels crass or shocking, although – it is a gentleman (or woman) with its energy supply. The twin-clutch transmission, whereas not fairly the last word in shift pace that it was once, continues to be swift and is enjoyable to make use of in computerized or handbook modes. We’ll miss the handbook, however this can be a completely acceptable various.

Nonetheless, the actual attraction of the Gold R is its all-wheel drive system, significantly the eighth-gen’s trick dual-clutch actual differential. On all sides of the differential is a clutch pack that may have interaction or disengage to regulate how a lot energy every rear wheel will get. The rear finish solely ever will get a portion of the entire energy, however no matter energy goes again to the again, could be totally shifted to at least one wheel, if wanted.

What’s nice is that you could actually discover it on again roads and on the monitor. It provides just a little further nudge that helps the nostril of the R dive for apexes. It makes the automobile way more balanced beneath energy. It simply makes the R really feel extra playful than the predictable GTI. It opens up extra prospects for corners on monitor, since you’ve that further rear finish shove to assist get across the nook, somewhat than having to remain off the throttle to keep away from understeer. With that mentioned, it would not really feel fairly as pure because the GTI, because the automobile is doing a few of its personal issues that you simply’re by no means fully positive of. Nonetheless, we predict the trade-off is price it for extra flexibility and enjoyable.

The Golf R additionally comes with the very good DCC adaptive suspension that is provided on the GTI. It is simply as adept at being mushy and compliant, or agency and responsive, relying on the drive mode. It makes it a breeze to drive the automobile each day with out sacrificing any efficiency. Talking of driving modes, the Golf R nonetheless has extra modes than the GTI, significantly the Race mode which has a tune particularly for the Nürburgring, and a Drift mode to essentially get the tail out.

Our one gripe with all of that is that the Akrapovic exhaust is much too quiet. In case you’re paying to get a flowery exhaust, it’s best to actually have the ability to hear it, and it would not actually sound any louder than a typical GTI. In actual fact, the unreal engine noise is much louder than the exhaust ever is. That is nice for quietness and refinement, however not nice in the event you’re on the lookout for extra growl.

Verdict & Pricing: Not Low cost, However Not A Unhealthy Deal, Both

Some of the contentious facets of the Golf R is the value. It begins at $47,100, and with the $1,225 vacation spot cost, it involves $48,325. The one actual choices are the Black Version, which is an additional $1,315, and the Euro Model Package deal, which is $3,795. That makes it about $1,000 costlier than the extra spacious Honda Civic Sort R, and about $8,000 greater than the Toyota GR Corolla, which is a bit much less highly effective, however has an much more exceptional all-wheel-drive system. However each in seems to be and in driving expertise, the VW is much extra mature, comfy, and quiet. So, in the event you’re feeling such as you need sizzling hatch enjoyable with out compromise, the VW is the clear selection.

The VW can also be an incredible deal in the event you evaluate it with different extra mature-seeming choices. The Acura Integra Type S begins above $50,000, and it has worse seats and is not practically as quiet. It is a related cope with the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35, which has much less energy and is much less sensible. The BMW M235xi is a pair thousand greater than the VW, and it once more has much less energy and fewer practicality.

Simply because the VW GTI is about the very best all-around automobile you may get, the Golf R is, in some ways, the very best all-around automobile when you’ve got an even bigger price range. We’re undecided that it is fairly price saving one other $16,000 in the event you’ve solely acquired GTI cash, however in the event you do have the price range, it’s best to go for it. The additional options and energy give it much more functionality, and it would not sacrifice any of the GTI’s on a regular basis usability. It is simply the GTI with extra, and in contrast with the competitors, it is nonetheless a deal.