Golf R vs WRX STI
It’s Volkswagen against Subaru to see which rules the fast 4WD sector
It’s a Golf, but not as we know it. The R is the pinnacle of the range, sitting above the GTI and powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with almost 300bhp. Power is fed to all four wheels via a Haldex system, which can channel 100 per cent of torque to the rear wheels if necessary.
It’s not that the Golf is any more potent than the WRX, it’s that the engine manages to combine power and efficiency better. You’ll easily get 30mpg in daily driving. And it’s fast – we timed a DSG-gearboxed car at 4.5secs to 60mph. This one is an easy win for VW. Not because it’s much bigger, but because it’s so much nicer to live with. The hatchback makes the Golf more versatile; it comes with or without rear doors; and inside, the design, engineering and quality knock the Subaru into a cocked hat. It’s not as sharp and responsive as the Subaru but strikes a much better all-round balance by being more civilised. The ride is a touch sharp by VW standards, but it’s worth it for the excellent body control, traction and pace the R can deliver. It might be thoroughly revamped with new hydraulic steering, revised suspension and a stiffer bodyshell, but the basics are the same as they’ve always been: permanent 4WD, manually lockable diffs and a heavily turbocharged flat-four engine. Oh, and a whacking great rear spoiler.
On paper, there’s not much difference – both produce similar power and the Subaru is only 39kg heavier. But the 2.5-litre engine isn’t anything like as modern, suffering lag and poor economy, while the gearbox is tight but brutish. As long as you’re not too demanding, you won’t have a problem, but there’s no escaping the fact a saloon isn’t as versatile as a hatch. The bigger problems for the STI are the low gearing and road noise, which make it a rowdy companion, and the cheap plastics and ropey interior design. The Subaru is a wild ride, which – when you’re in the mood – makes it enthralling and absorbing. But when you want to back off, the car doesn’t know how. As such, the STI is rather onedimensional and hasn’t realised it’s now 2014.