The Volkswagen Golf R – Unrestricted Performance Comes Standard

Think of a hot-hatch. Chances are you thought of the Volkswagen Golf R first, and you’d be right to do so. The hot-hatch market is bigger than ever right now, and Volkswagen’s top contended has been upgraded to maintain its spot at the front of the pack.

Volkswagen South Africa recently introduced the facelift Golf R to the local market, earning it the title of the most powerful Golf ever sold in our country thanks to the 228kW of power and 400Nm of torque produced by its 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder TSI engine. It replaces the previous 213kW Golf R, bringing it into a more competitive position when compared to rival hot-hatches like the Audi S3 Sportback and the Honda Civic Type-R which, interestingly, both have 228kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

In a playing field that is so level, VW has found many ways to make the Golf R the more desirable option. One example is the updated 4Motion all-wheel drive system that sends power to each wheel, resulting in an abundance of traction and grip. Pair this with the lightning-quick 7-speed paddle shift DSG gearbox and you have a proper robot-to-robot weapon. There’s also a built-in launch control sequence that’s so easy to use. All you do is turn the traction control off, press the brake with your left foot, hit the accelerator with your right foot and you’re off.

In a straight line the Golf R will sprint from 0-100km/h in just 4.6-seconds before reaching its electronically limited top speed of 250km/h, but things get a bit more interesting once you add some corners into the mix. The Golf R features adaptive chassis control along with a driving profile selection system that allows the driver to toggle between eco, normal, sport and race mode, all depending on the situation. Race mode beefs up the suspension, increases throttle response and adds weight to the steering wheel to make you feel more engaged with the road. It’s actually very entertaining to drive the Golf R hard through corners because it’s nearly impossible to test its limit. It just goes, fast and powerful, asking no questions.

A hot-hatch needs an exhaust system capable of striking fear into even the bravest person. For years, VW Golf R drivers have allocated this responsibility to aftermarket tuners, but now VW will fit an Akrapovic exhaust system to the R for just R40,000, straight from the factory. The price is justified by the sound alone, but it’s also 7kg lighter than the standard exhaust. Talking about weight reduction, there are lightweight 19-inch alloys that save weight while giving the Golf R a sporty look. Behind the alloys are a set of R Performance Brakes that come in handy when stopping power is required.

The final characteristic of a thoroughbred hot-hatch lies in its ability to be efficient when necessary. The Volkswagen Golf R is no exception to this, boasting a start/stop function as well as brake energy recuperation. Throw the Golf R into Eco mode and it becomes a quiet cruiser, sipping just enough fuel to keep it rolling. VW claims that the Golf R will do 6.9-litres/100km and this isn’t an unrealistic figure considering that our test unit would easily creep between the 7- and 8-litres/100km range.

The Volkswagen Golf R starts from R681,000.