Enjoying life in the fast lane

The new Golf R arrives riding a wave of expectation, but can it live up to it? Jack Evans finds out.

The previous-generation VW Golf R earned itself a serious reputation. Its all-weather ability, supercar-beating performance and everyday practicality meant that, to many, it was all the car you could’ve ever neededorwanted–sohow do you possibly replace it? That’s a challenge Volkswagen tackling with this new version. Underpinned by the latest eight-generation Golf platform, the new R has a crushing amount of expectation on its shoulders.

WHAT’S NEW?

Though many aspects are the same – there’s a 2.0-litre engine up front driving all four wheels as before – there have been some serious re-workings of the Golf’s fundamentals to ensure it remains ahead of the game. It also incorporates the latest Golf’s tech-heavy cabin, while its exterior has all of the styling touches that we’ve seen applied to the latest-generation version of the famous hatchback.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

It’s worth getting something out of the way right from the start – the Golf R is now quicker than anyone reasonably needs a car to be on the public road. Given that it’ll now out-pace many far more flamboyant – and expensive – cars, the level of performance the R delivers is nothing short of revolutionary. It’s backed by an all-wheeldrive system that keeps you on the straight and narrow – or clinging on through the bends – no matter the conditions.

It’s very impressive and easy to exploit – this isn’t a car you need to ‘learn’ in order to get the best from.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

The previous Golf R was a masterclass in understated design, and it has to be said, it’s the same story here. Sure, you still have the now de facto quad exhaust pipes, which have become a Volkswagen R hallmark, but apart from that there’s not an awful lot to shout about just how quickly this car will go. It sits considerably lower than the regular car, while ‘our’ car’s 18-inch diamond turned alloy wheels did give it a slightly more premium edge, but this is one under-the-radar car. If you’d like more flamboyance, then you can add a £2,000 ‘Performance Pack’, which brings features like a larger rear wing and bigger alloys. Boot space is reasonable, offering up 374 litres with the rear seats in place. You can increase it by folding the back seats down, of course.

THE VERDICT

Binging in a replacement for the Golf R must’ve seemed like quite the challenge for

Volkswagen. However, it has hit the nail on the head again; this is a fearsomely quick car that is both easy to live with, and easy to get the best from too. It’s almost unnervingly easy to drive, in fact. It might not be the last word in driver involvement, but the older Golf R never was either. No, this is a car that provides all the performance you could want, no matter the weather.