1. The Headline

The Hot Hatch. A configuration of vehicle that combines the agility and speed of sports cars and the practicality of small cars. For decades they have been considered the car enthusiast’s perfect daily driver. The true pinnacle of the hot hatch, the Volkswagen Golf has been at the top of the heap for over 50 years at this point. Over its illustrious history, the Golf has had its ups and downs but I believe that this model truly is the peak. At over 6 million Mk7 Golfs sold, produced from 2012 to 2021, the Golf of the last generation has left its mark. And no version of the Golf has done so more than Volkswagen’s top-of-the-line Golf R. Pumping out roughly 300 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, the turbocharged straight-four engine is able to rocket the small car from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds. But the best part about the R? It comes with a manual. So lets see how this thing holds up, and it has a high bar to hurdle that are its predecessors. 

2. First Impressions

Like many of its recent predecessors, the Golf R retains the 5 door configuration, a classic look that still stands the epitome of hatchback design. The one I drove was finished in black with black and silver rims, a simple yet elegant specification. In terms of badging, it is limited in announcing itself as the kingpin of golf. Its minimal flairs and this one’s black color allow for it to slip under the radar and remain a bit of a sleeper in the eyes of the common folk. A new front grill and quad exhausts hint at the upgrade in power but, again, it is subtle. 

As for the interior, it, like the outside, retains much of the same as the base golf. Some new bucket-ish seats that are quite comfortable yet supportive and sport some “R” badging is about as different as the interior gets. The R features a touch screen but still retains a healthy balance of buttons and dials. A perfect balance almost, with it being extremely simple to adjust the temperature or volume via the dials while the screen allows for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The backseats are somewhat decently sized and 3 adults are able to (squeeze) into the back somewhat comfortably. The one complaint I have is that some of the materials used (mainly plastics) feel cheap and not as luxurious as a 45 thousand dollar car might demand. 

3. Performance & Driving Experience

But enough of that, time for the meat and potatoes of this review: the performance and driving experience. The car is very turbo-y. There is little power before boost comes on, which happens around 3.5k RPMs. That said, once you’re into the power band, the thing pulls hard. The sound of the engine, although not as glorious as a 6 cylinder, still sounds decent and contains fun turbo noises when on throttle. The handling of the car is elite. The car is incredibly precise and is happy to be thrown around. Although one does notice the front wheel drive bias, at anything past 7/10s it handles more like a true 50/50 4 wheel drive car. It is a great deal of fun hustling on a windy road. The steering feels pretty good, with it being heavier and communicative in Track mode, while being more soft in other modes. The brakes are also very solid, with a very linear feeling to them. But the best part of the car is the gearbox. The 6 speed manual just makes the car far more engaging than it would otherwise be. The gears feel slightly soft, however that just lends itself to being easier to throw between gears. The clutch is a nice weight, not too soft nor too heavy. Some issues arise when driving on a highway however; At 75 mph, it will sit around 3 thousand RPMs even in 6th gear, meaning a drone of the engine, and the car has a considerable amount of wind noise making it a somewhat loud driving experience when at highway speeds. But the suspension is quite soft when in “Comfort mode” and is fairly pliable, soaking up most bumps. And when popped into Track mode, the suspension stiffens up and feels very directive and assertive, providing enough communication as is satisfactory. As for fuel efficiency, it is decent (as it should be being an inline 4). I averaged around 21 MPG while city driving and approximately 30 MPG when highway driving. 

4. Technology & Safety

The car contains a whole host of safety and driver assistance systems (although thankfully not as many as in cars in recent years) all of which are able to be switched off relatively easily. Although it is a manual, it retains cruise control which is quite nice on longer drives. The tech in the car is smart and very German as in it is only there for when you need it. 

5. Practicality & Value

At an MSRP just north of 40 thousand dollars, the Golf R’s only real competitor is the Toyota GR Corolla. And while the Toyota is cheaper and perhaps a tiny bit more engaging to drive, the Golf blows it out of the water in every other category. Horsepower, top speed, luxuriousness, passenger space, luggage space, and materials all go to the VW. If one was looking for a car that could fit all of those requirements and still handle well, they would have to jump up to the BMW M3, a considerable increase in price in comparison to the R. 

6. The Verdict

The verdict? The 2018 Volkswagen Golf R is a true sweet spot in handling, speed, affordability, and drivability. Although some materials are lacking and at highway speeds the noise is irritating, VW has managed to package a true (small) rocket into a hatchback. This generation of Golf R certainly is deserving of its status of being at the top of Hot-Hatch mountain. Images Citied

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