Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR 2020 Review

Priced from $51,490 before on-road costs, the auto-only Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR sits between the standard GTI ($47,190 plus ORCs) and the hotter, all-wheel drive Golf R ($55,990 plus ORCs).

That places it up against hot hatches like the front-drive manual-only Renault Megane RS Cup (from $52,490 plus ORCs) and the Honda Civic Type R ($54,990 plus ORCs).

While it’s still front-drive, the TCR is racier than the regular GTI on which it’s based, with bigger performance brakes up front (borrowed from the Golf R), a special chassis tune, electronic locking differential and louder free-flowing exhaust.

To differentiate it from others, limited-edition TCR variants come in three colour options: Pure White, Tornado Red and, my personal favourite, a new Pure Grey.

There’s also honeycomb decals down either side and a gloss-black roof, mirror caps, front splitter, side skirts, roof spoiler and rear diffuser.

It rides on larger 19-inch matte-black alloy wheels, while LED headlights come with dynamic cornering lights, the LED tail-lights are fitted with dynamic indicators (they roll, instead of flash) and dark tinted windows finish off the exterior package.

Inside the cabin, there’s a few more special bits and pieces thrown into the otherwise familiar GTI interior.

A perforated leather steering wheel comes with a stitched-in red leather 12-o’clock mark, the seats are covered in red and black sports cloth/microfleece and there are Alcantara inserts on the doors trims and gear lever boot.

Standard carry-over GTI features include an 8.0-inch infotainment display with navigation and smartphone mirroring, electric folding mirrors, keyless entry and start, a 380-litre boot and LED fog lights.

As with all Golfs, there’s also enough room to comfortably seat four adult passengers.

If you’d like to option leather heated seats and a panoramic sunroof or even the Golf R’s larger 9.2-inch infotainment unit, you can opt for a Luxury Package ($3900) or Sound & Style Package ($2300).

The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR carries over much of the same safety and driver assistance features from the 2020 Golf.

These include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blind spot monitoring, park assist, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors and a driver fatigue detection system.

And, just like the normal GTI, those systems work seamlessly during everyday driving. The lane assist is one of a less-intrusive nature, gently guiding you into the centre of your lane, should you stray.

Park assist works well, although an experienced parallel parker could probably get the job done a little straighter.

Other technology reserved for the limited-edition TCR is an electronically controlled mechanical front differential lock, helping the more powerful Golf GTI distribute power across the front-end evenly to avoid inside wheel spin, along with a bespoke adaptive chassis set-up that drops it 5mm closer to the tarmac (compared to the regular GTI).

If there’s one thing that stands out about the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, it’s the fact it’s the most powerful production GTI ever built.

Starting with the same EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, the boffins at V-dub have pumped it up to produce 213kW of power – that’s 33kW more than GTI and the same amount as the Golf R – and 350Nm of torque (30Nm shy of Golf R).

A six-speed wet-clutch DSG auto is employed, instead of the seven-speed dual-clutch unit in the current Golf GTI and Golf R (as well as the GTI TCR in other markets).

The opportunity to test the TCR on both road and track allowed us to get a feel for how all that translates in the real world.

First and foremost, the 2.0-litre turbo four is a gem. With a torque band ranging from 1700rpm all the way to 5800rpm, it never seems to run out of puff. It’s got plenty of mid-range pull out of corners – when it can get its power down, that is – and it continues to scream along with great top-end power too.

Although the e-diff works hard to distribute power through the front wheels, there’s still a great deal of wheel spin present under full-throttle applications – and a bit of torque steer too – with some steering lock wound on, making it feel less agreeable the more you ask of it on circuit.

You have to be going pretty hard on a public road for that to be much a problem away from the racetrack, but there’s no forgetting you’re in front-drive car and the GTI TCR really starts objecting when you begin to overdrive it.

Despite the ‘race car’ credentials its name suggests, the TCR feels more content at 80 per cent than it does when you’re asking closer to 10-tenths of it. Drive it with more patience and the front tyres (and diff) become your friend.

As for the gearbox, there’s some signature DSG hesitation upon take-off at low speeds, however, gear changes are smooth and precise once you’re on the move via a flap of the paddle shifter or whack of the gearstick, and the exhaust offers wonderful blips and farts with each downshift.

Those upgraded Golf R brakes are magnificent too, and after back-to-back laps at the tight and twisty Luddenham circuit, there was not a glimmer of brake fade.

Something that also comes to light on track is that the seats could probably use a bit more side bolstering to hold you in place when cornering hard. They’re super comfortable on a long trip, but the lack of side support is another reminder that thing isn’t an actual race car, like its badge suggests.

Yet ride quality is firm bordering on harsh, making living with the TCR on a day-to-day basis a chore if you frequent rough roads. You feel just about every imperfection in the road and even on a relatively smooth coarse-chip country road, the ride is still stiff in Comfort mode.

That suspension rigidity wins points when it comes to cornering, however, where the TCR sits firm and flat with almost zero body roll. This allows it to change direction on a dime, snapping you from left to right so fast that it starts to feel like an, er, race car.

The steering could do with some more weight and feedback, feeling just a little vague on track due to a slowish steering rack and tyres that could use a little more grip. Once again, despite its racy badge, on road is where the top Golf GTI really shines and becomes easy, enjoyable and rewarding to drive.

But if you’re after a nice, gentle Sunday driver, you should probably look elsewhere because the Golf GTI TCR demands attention. Its rough and ready ride and noisy dual-outlet exhaust will make you feel – and hear – every bump.

That’s the price you pay for a super-hot, motorsport-themed hatchback, and the raw and rigid feel is probably just what anybody keen on the most powerful Golf GTI ever is looking for.

As for fuel consumption, will anyone ever achieve Volkswagen’s claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 7.5L/100km? Probably not.

But will you have a blast driving this thing on your favourite mountain road? Most definitely.

If a track-day laptime-setter is what you’re after, there are better options out there than the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, like the Type R and even the Megane RS.

The Hyundai i30 N is probably quicker point to point and arguably more comfortable to live with every day too, while the Ford Focus ST is engaging and playful at all the right times.

Perhaps disappointingly for some, the hottest GTI is a more convincing all-rounder than what you might expect of car named after a hot hatch racing series.

Then again, perhaps being a jack-of-all-trades is the beauty of it. Stay away from the track, and it’s everything you want a hot hatch to be: fast, fun and head-turning.

But the final fling for the Mk7 Golf GTI is more than that, with a captivating soundtrack, dynamics that delight, standing-start acceleration that feels quicker than its 5.7-second 0-100km/h claim suggests, and handsome looks that wrap it all up in a neat little package.

So the Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR might just be the best GTI after all.

How much does the 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR cost?
Price: $51,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 213kW/350Nm
Transmission: Six-speed wet clutch DSG automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 172g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2013)