Volkswagen Golf R 2014 Review
A better-balanced, faster and more confident Golf R has arrived, and we reckon it's been worth the waitThe ultimate performance version of the seventh-generation Golf debuted at the Frankfurt motor show in late-2013, and although we know most of the ins and outs already, an on-road drive of the most powerful production Golf yet has until now eluded us.
So Volkswagen decided motoring.com.au should travel to a rather chilly central Germany to sample their latest all-wheel drive hot hatch first hand.
The new Golf R is powered by an augmented version of the turbocharged EA888-series four-cylinder petrol engine that powers everything from the Skoda Octavia to the Audi S3 Sportback... and quite a few models in between.
Displacing 1984cc, the Golf R’s engine is tuned to output 220kW at 5000rpm and 380Nm between 1800-5500rpm. That’s 14kW more than the new Audi S3 Sportback.
They’re impressive numbers, and according to Volkswagen are sufficient to propel a DSG-equipped Golf R to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds. It’s available with either six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch (or DSG in VW parlance) transmission, though swapping cogs yourself will add 0.4 seconds to the triple-figure dash.
Driving all four 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels is via a fifth-generation Haldex-style system Volkswagen dubs 4MOTION. To distribute drive to where it’s required, the Golf uses a combination of four lateral diff locks and an XDS+ cross-differential lock (which in using the brakes acts like a limited slip diff to compensate for understeer).
A more direct, progressive variable-ratio electric steering system further bolsters the Golf R’s scintillating handling credentials, backed by a new, lower sport suspension tune and three-mode stability control system. As always, Volkswagen’s multi-mode Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) adaptive damping is available optionally.
To pull up, the Golf R uses the same large diameter ventilated disc brakes as the Golf GTI Performance model which measure 340x33mm (F) and 310x22mm (R). And as we found out in the hills of Lower Saxony, they work very well indeed. A brief blast down the autobahn proved that hauling the ‘R’ from 230km/h to double digits was effortless, while remaining impressively stable.
Sampling the do-it-yourself gearbox, the Golf R proved incredibly flexible. The heft of low-down torque allows you to be a little lazy on the stick, and still achieve impressive thrust. There’s a proper push in the back as you stab the loud pedal and, even on the frozen roads we encountered, endless traction was found from which to drive from corners, even if these were tackled with a little more trepidation than usual in the sub-zero conditions.
The Golf R’s new column-driven electric steering is linear and well-assisted and, fortunately, not entirely without communication. It manages to squelch the nasty joins and rough edges often found in Alpine roads, yet still telegraphs important directional and force feedback. About time someone got this right.
Surging past 5000rpm the engine note matures from a synthesised, slightly offbeat drone into a purposeful warble. It’s especially sweet with a manual transmission, and while lacking the cheeky flatus of the DSG-equipped version, no less intoxicating.
If we had a minor gripe, it would be that the gearshift gates are tight and less precise than some of this ilk; in contrast to the tactile, meaty clutch. Also, the driver’s seat was a tad too high, to achieve that perfect relationship with the primary controls, even on its lowest setting.
Oh, and Aussie-spec models will likely be de-tuned to cope with our ‘hot climate’.
But these are small issues in the scheme of things and, as a car that is as comfortable to live with doddering around town as it is pushed near to its limits, there are few others we can think of that offer as much for the price.
Better-balanced, faster and more confident than before, the new Golf R has been worth the wait, and will no doubt be worth the price tag. We guarantee it will prove to be super popular, and waiting lists are sure to get lengthy, quickly.
Our tip? Get your order in now.
2014 Volkswagen Golf R pricing and specifications:
Price: $TBA (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 220kW/380Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual / Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.1L/100km / 6.9L/100km (combined)
CO2: 165g/km / 159g/km (combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP
| What we liked: | Not so much: |
| >> Bang for your buck | >> Engine drone when cruising |
| >> Tenacious road holding | >> Oz models will lose power |
| >> Improved balance | >> Long wait list predicted |
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