2nd Volkswagen Golf R THROUGH THE RANGE

It’s a great option for track days, but Performance pack is pricey and doesn’t give Golf an edge

THE Golf R has been around since 2014, and was updated early in 2017 along with the rest of the Golf range. But this is the first time it’s been available with a Performance pack.

The option adds £2,300 to the price of the R, and brings new 19-inch alloys with wider tyres, bigger brakes and a boot spoiler that increases downforce. The pack also removes the Golf’s top-speed limiter, so it can now hit 166mph, although that’s obviously irrelevant on the road.

There’s no power upgrade, and the 2.0-litre 306bhp/400nm engine remains unchanged. Its performance is still very impressive, and it feels brutally quick off the line thanks to its four-wheeldrive system and quick-shifting dual-clutch box.

It easily beat the Honda in our 0-60mph test, but in gear the Golf started to fall behind. From 30-50mph in fourth the two hot hatches were level, posting times of 3.4 seconds, while from 50-70mph in fifth the Golf was slightly slower.

The engine isn’t as exciting as the Honda’s revvier unit and produces its power and torque lower down in the rev range. That means it’s easy to access the performance without pushing the engine hard, but the Civic’s motor is more rewarding to use. That’s also down to the gearbox, which, while fast, is nowhere near as much fun as the sublime manual shift in the Honda.

Our test car’s titanium Akrapovic exhaust goes some way to adding excitement to the Golf’s less characterful engine, because it’s loud and has a racy tone. Yet it’s also a pricey option, at £2,975.

The VW’S steering is precise, but doesn’t have the quicker response rate of the Honda’s rack and feels a little light. Still, the plentiful grip from the chassis gives lots of confidence and the Golf is very easy to drive very fast. But unless you take it on track days often, the Performance pack doesn’t seem worth the extra cash. This car feels very similar to the normal Golf R on the road, although the upgraded brakes are strong.

The most important option to go for is the £850 Dynamic Chassis Control system. This allows you to change the suspension settings between Comfort, Normal and Sport modes. In Comfort and Normal it’s still firm but compliant, so it’s just as usable as the Type R on British roads. Sport mode is still able to deal with harsh bumps without upsetting the chassis, and doesn’t feel as aggressive as the Civic’s +R mode.

Whatever driving mode you’re in, the Golf R feels planted to the road, and only when pushed hard will it start to skip over rough tarmac.

Which trim level suits you?

WE’RE focusing on the five-door Golf R; it’s a match for the Civic and more usable than the three-door.

The Golf R comes with plenty of standard kit; climate control, adaptive cruise, heated seats and LED lights are all fitted. You also get VW’S excellent 12.3-inch Active Info Display instead of physical instrument dials, plus the Discover Navigation infotainment system. This uses an eight-inch screen with sat-nav and smartphone connectivity.

A standard Golf R will cost £532 a month on a three-year/10,000mile PCP contract with a £3,500 deposit, thanks to the £1,500 contribution from Volkswagen.

Specify the Performance Pack and payments rise to £571 a month, but we’d skip that option and add Dynamic Chassis Control instead to the Golf R. Either way, the VW is pricier than the Honda Civic Type R.