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Man of Many
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Man of Many
2025 Volkswagen Golf R Review
High Point Low Point Verdict Vehicle Dynamics Management (VDM) system and R-Performance Torque Vectoring makes it genuinely fun to drive. 2.0-litre TSI (EA888 evo4) engine loves to rev, and has more power (245 kW). Some interior materials (plastics) don't make it feel like $70k worth of luxury hatchback. Plastic doors in something this expensive? Really? Still the best executive express for the money. While the market moves towards small SUVs the Golf R reminds us why the flagship premium hot hatch is still the leader in the segment. Scroll horizontally to view full table Ten years ago, I bought myself a used 2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI. It was one of the quickest P-plate legal cars you could buy at the time, and it was the car that taught me how to change oil and wiper blades. Things spiralled, and it eventually became a project, much to the dismay of my parents, whose driveway it sat on. With the car on jackstands, I taught myself how to pull the engine, upgrade the turbo, intercooler, suspension, and even a thing or two about engine software management. It was in those few years that I learnt how a car worked, and I wouldn't be the same automotive writer I am today had I not spent hours of my life lying on my back under that Golf GTI in my parents' driveway. What I'm trying to say is that I'm a Volkswagen nut, but also their biggest critic. That brings me to the new Golf R MK8.5, which arrives more than a decade after my humble GTI hit the production line in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen hosted a group of media for a drive through the New South Wales Central West from Orange to the Blue Mountains and then Sydney Motorsport Park. Here, I learnt all about the new Golf R, and today, I'm going to share everything that you need to know about the executive express. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia How Much is the Volkswagen Golf R? The 2025 Volkswagen Golf R is priced from AUD$70,990 before on-road costs in Australia, while the blacked-out Golf R Black Edition is priced from AUD$72,490 before on-road costs. If you want a little more theatre, the Warmenau Package (AUD$6,500) can be optioned and comes with an Akrapovič titanium exhaust and real carbon décor. Here's how the line-up looks in Australia: 2025 Golf R MK8.5 – from $70,990 plus on-road costs 2025 Golf R Black Edition – from $72,490 plus on-road costs Warmenau Package +$6,500 Panoramic Sunroof +$1,900 That's right, our Australian-delivered vehicles are highly specified from the factory with features like a Harman Kardon 480W 8+1 speaker system, Nappa leather seats with heating & ventilation (front), and a Head-up display (windscreen projection). The only option available is the Panoramic Sunroof ($1,900). Colour options for the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R are Pure White, Lapiz Blue (Premium Metallic), and Grenadilla Black (Metallic). Here's how the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R stacks up against its key rivals: Model Power 0–100 km/h Drivetrain Price (AUD) VW Golf R MK8.5 245kW / 420Nm 4.6 sec AWD $70,990 Audi S3 Sportback 245kW / 420Nm 4.7 sec AWD $78,800 Toyota GR Corolla GTS 221kW / 370Nm 5.3 sec AWD $67,990–$70,490 Honda Civic Type R 235kW / 420Nm 5.7 sec FWD $74,100 Driveaway BMW M135i xDrive 233kW / 450Nm 4.9 sec AWD $83,600 Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC 225kW / 400Nm 4.7 sec AWD $89,700 Scroll horizontally to view full table 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia What's the Interior Like? I was shocked to find capacitive touch buttons on the steering wheel! While the new Volkswagen Golf GTI has steered away from this, the Golf R has retained them. I found this odd because Andreas Mindt, VW Head of Design, was recently asked about this and said 'We will never, ever make this mistake any more. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing any more,' in an interview with Autocar in March. Besides that giant 12.9-inch infotainment display, the rest of the interior will look very familiar to those who have spent time in the MK8 R. You get heated and ventilated front seats finished in Nappa leather with blue decorative stitching and three-position memory. We spent more than four hours in the car during the drive route and they were perfectly comfortable. Materials are only okay, and generally shared with the Golf GTI (even the base model) in key areas. Everything in your eyeline is wrapped in some form of fabric or leather, which is something I can't say for other brands. However, things start to get very scratchy and plastic the further down you look in the cabin. The biggest offender is the door, which is almost entirely plastic. You grab the door handle to shut the car every time you get i,n and it doesn't feel particularly luxurious when you do. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia I don't remember the rear seats being quite so cramped, but you could pretty comfortably jump from a board meeting to lunch and back with four adults on board. I'm not sure that I'd want to take a ride in the back seats for longer than 2 hours, although the rear centre armrest with cupholders and two rear (45W fast-charging) USB-C ports and AC vents would help make the trip a little more comfortable. Storage has always been a strong suit of Volkswagen Golfs, and the R continues this trend with 60/40 split folding rear seats with pass-through and a total of 341 litres of boot capacity (seats up) and 1,197 litres with the seats down. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia The 12.9-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto dominates the cabin, and it houses the vast majority of your controls. This is complemented by a 10.2-inch digital cluster with custom views and a head-up display. There are a handful of shortcut buttons on the top of the display to access drive modes, parking systems, safety, vehicle settings, and the main menu. Then, a second row is used at the bottom to shortcut your recirculation, A/C, climate, and seat cooling and heating. Finally, below this are your slide controls to adjust temperature and volume, and lower in the cabin near the air vents, more hard buttons for safety, parking, climate, and drive modes. Your headlight controls are positioned on a panel on the right-hand side of the cabin behind the steering wheel, but you're probably never going to touch them. There are two USB-C ports in the front, two in the rear, and a wireless charging dock that couldn't fit my iPhone 16 Pro Max with a case on it. Other important features include LED lighting with 30 selectable colours, LED footwell lighting (colour-selectable), reading lights (front and rear, LED), LED vanity mirrors (driver + passenger), and three-zone automatic air conditioning. Yeah, it's pretty well equipped for a hatchback! 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia How Does the Volkswagen Golf R Drive? Specification Detail Engine Type 2.0-litre TSI (EA888 evo4) Configuration Inline 4-cylinder, turbocharged Fuel System Direct injection Fuel Type (Recommended) 95 RON unleaded Engine Position Front transverse Cubic Capacity 1984 cc Maximum Power 245 kW @ 6500 rpm Maximum Torque 420 Nm Emission Standard EU6 Transmission 7-speed DSG (wet dual-clutch) Driven Wheels 4MOTION all-wheel drive Torque Vectoring Yes – R-Performance Torque Vectoring Scroll horizontally to view full table The Volkswagen Golf R has always been the executive express, lauded for its straight line speed and smart looks, but with the adoption of EVs, everything is quick these days, and you can get an MG4 XPower for AUD$59,990 that accelerates from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds. Knowing this, the new Golf R adds R-Performance Torque Vectoring to its 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. This is a tricky rear differential that can send 50 per cent of power to the rear differential and then 100 per cent of that to the outside wheel to help reduce understeer and improve traction and corner exit, similar to the latest-generation Audi RS 3. Most importantly, it makes the car more capable, which is the German word for fun. I've spent time behind the wheel of some pretty serious metal recently, including the Lamborghini Revuelto and Aston Martin Vanquish, and the Golf R is right up there in terms of capability on the road. You'd have to be in a pretty special Porsche to get away from this on a twisty road. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia The secret sauce lies in the Golf R's Vehicle Dynamics Management (VDM) system, which is a closed-loop control system that uses real-time data from sensors to manage the Chassis (adaptive damping), Steering, 4MOTION all-wheel drive, and R-Performance Torque Vectoring rear differential. You don't know that it's working while driving (it's not something that you can feel), but you know it's working when you point the Golf R into a bend and it glues itself to the tarmac and shoves you out of the bend with serious force. It works with the drive modes to adjust things like the Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC), steering feel, throttle mapping, gear shift logic, exhaust sound, and the torque vectoring and AWD logic. Here's a list of the drive modes in the new MK8.5 Golf R and what they do: Comfort : Softer suspension, lighter steering, smoother throttle and gear shifts for daily driving : Softer suspension, lighter steering, smoother throttle and gear shifts for daily driving Sport : Sharper throttle response, firmer damping, sharper gear shifts for spirited street driving : Sharper throttle response, firmer damping, sharper gear shifts for spirited street driving Race : Stiffer damping, weightier steering, minimal traction control for track use : Stiffer damping, weightier steering, minimal traction control for track use Special : Nürburgring-tuned setup with softer damping over bumps (my favourite) : Nürburgring-tuned setup with softer damping over bumps (my favourite) Drift : Sends more torque to the rear outside wheel to enable controlled oversteer : Sends more torque to the rear outside wheel to enable controlled oversteer Individual: Lets you mix settings (e.g. Comfort suspension + Race throttle) So the software is pretty good, but what about the basics? The progressive steering does struggle with feel on centre, but gets better once weighted up. The pedals are tuned well, with a firm brake that never faded on the twisty mountain roads, and the transmission is a 7-speed DSG (wet dual-clutch) that's been retuned and can now comfortably claim the title as 'baby PDK' because of its accuracy and speed. Of course, power from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged EA888 evo4 engine is always there, and it likes to rev, producing 245kW @ 6,500rpm and 420Nm with a very flat curve. 0-100km/h is dispatched in 4.6 seconds, which isn't blistering by today's standards, but if you find the new GTI a tad lacklustre in this regard, the R will give you the fizz you're looking for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia How Safe is the Volkswagen Golf R? The Volkswagen Golf R hasn't specifically been tested by ANCAP, but it carries across the 5-Star Safety rating from the Volkswagen Golf, which was originally rated by ANCAP in 2019 and assessed against 2022 rating criteria. All updated Golf MK8 variants built from November 2022 and on sale from February 2023 carry this rating. Here's how the Volkswagen Golf scored in ANCAP tests: Adult Occupant Protection 88% – 33.66 out of 38 Child Occupant Protection 87% – 42.71 out of 49 Vulnerable Road User Protection 74% – 39.98 out of 54 Safety Assist 76% – 12.17 out of 16 These are the safety systems you get in the new Golf R, in alphabetical order: Airbags Driver and front passenger airbags Front side airbags Rear side airbags Curtain airbags (front and rear) Front centre airbag Child Safety ISOFIX child seat anchorage points (outer rear seats) Top tether child seat anchorage points (x3) Child safety locks on rear doors Driver Assistance ( Suite) Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop & go Travel Assist (combines ACC and Lane Assist with lane guidance) Lane Assist (lane-keeping system) Front Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection Emergency Assist Side Assist (blind spot monitoring) Rear Traffic Alert Exit Warning System Distance warning display Park Assist Plus (semi-autonomous parking) Manoeuvre braking (front and rear) Oncoming vehicle braking when turning Parking & Camera Systems Area View (360° exterior camera system) Rear View Camera (RVC) Parking distance sensors (front and rear) Optical Parking System (OPS, visual display in infotainment) Active Safety Systems Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Brake Assist Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) Multi-collision brake Hill Start Assist (HSA) Performance front brake system Automatic flashing brake lights (emergency braking) Traction & Stability Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) Extended Electronic Differential Lock (XDL) Vehicle Dynamics Manager R-Performance Torque Vectoring Security & Anti-Theft Alarm system with interior monitoring and towing protection Electronic engine immobiliser Keyless Access (keyless entry and push-button start) Programmable locking functions Remote central locking Warning triangle Tyre & Emergency Support Low tyre pressure indicator Tyre mobility set (sealant and 12V compressor) 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia How Much Does the Volkswagen Golf R Cost to Run? Servicing and Warranty Golf R Warranty 5 years, unlimited kilometres Roadside assistance 12 months Service intervals 12 months or 15,000 kilometres Service pricing 1 year / 15,000 kms $557 2 years / 30,000 kms $1,071 3 years / 45,000 kms $557 4 years / 60,000 kms $1,460 5 years / 75,000 kms $557 Capped-price servicing 3 Years $1,966 (10% discount) 5 Years $3,640 (1st Service Cost Free) Scroll horizontally to view full table 2025 Volkswagen Golf R | Image: Supplied / Volkswagen Australia Verdict on the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Cars aren't cheap anymore, and while the sticker price of AUD$70,990 before on-roads might sound a little ridiculous on paper for a VW hatchback, it becomes less of a shock when you look at the competition. The platform-shared Audi S3 Sportback is priced from AUD$78,800, the Honda Civic Type R is upwards of $74,100, and the aging Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC is priced from $89,700 plus on-roads. It makes the more powerful, quicker Golf R look like good value for money, and when you add in the additional standard kit, with things like Harmon Kardon audio and leather included, the price looks even sharper. Servicing is still exorbitantly priced, and the Civic Type R and GR Corolla are more fun on a track, but the Golf R can keep up everywhere else, and you don't have to explain to your better half why you bought a track car over a sensible daily driver with an attitude problem. It's been a fan favourite since it launched, and this is the best Golf R yet. Need we say much more?
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2025 Volkswagen Golf R review
Volkswagen Golf Pros Volkswagen Golf Cons The Volkswagen Golf R is more than just a fast hatchback; it's a trailblazing legacy that goes back decades. Since the first-generation Golf R32 debuted back in 2002, the R-badged Golf popularised a new class of compact performance car above that of its GTI hot hatch stablemate, challenging properly fast nameplates for straight-line pace. From the singing six-cylinder originals to the thumping turbocharged fours of more recent iterations, the flagship badge in the Golf lineup has become synonymous with being the consummate high-performance hatch, transcending traditional mainstream and premium segments in terms of both performance and all-round useability. The Golf R embodies this as much as ever in its latest Mk8.5 generation, with performance and technology that rivals vehicles from the Audi S, BMW M Performance and Mercedes-AMG stables at a much more attainable price point. It's hardly cheap at $70,000 before on-road costs, and it's now much closer in price to said premium performance alternatives these days, but it's decked out with all of the latest and greatest creature comforts the German auto giant has to offer, too. From later this year you'll also be able to deck out the Golf R with lightweight factory performance options for the first time on the regular variant – including an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and genuine carbon-fibre inlays. So is this still the benchmark hardcore hot hatch for performance enthusiasts? We joined the recent Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out… Base pricing for the updated Golf R has only risen by $400 compared to the last of the Mk8 generation, starting from $70,990 before on-road costs. The Black Edition adds another $1500. That's not all that far off the related Audi S3 (from $78,000) these days, and the latest BMW M135 xDrive (from $83,600) is also within reach. Less so is the Mercedes-AMG A35 (from $89,700), but you get the picture. From the mainstream brands, a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990) offers similar turbocharged all-wheel drive performance in an arguably less liveable rally-bred package, while the Honda Civic Type R ($74,100 D/A) is currently out of stock and channels similar grunt to only its front wheels – and is noticeably more track-focused. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool We've covered the recent launches of the Mk8.5 Golf and Golf GTI, so there's not much new to report here. Perhaps the biggest difference between them and the R is the fact it doesn't revert to physical multifunction switchgear on the steering wheel – the pesky haptic touch-sensitive buttons remain. They can still be a little fiddly at times, and during more spirited driving stints including on track, I managed to mis-press the heated steering wheel button, as well as the skip track button when cornering. Beyond that it's much the same as the rest of the upgraded Golf range; there are different trims and colours, with distinctive blue highlights scattered throughout the cabin, including on the fine Nappa leather seat upholstery, steering wheel accents or the flutters of blue throughout the in-car displays. The seats themselves are similar to those in the GTI and R-Line, save for the Nappa hide, and the steering wheel is the perforated leather-trimmed sports unit from the GTI with said blue accents and touch controls. Metal mesh-effect trim accents line the dashboard and doors, and you can customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster with some unique R customisation like a racy line-bar tacho with shift lights. Later this year you'll be able to opt for genuine carbon-fibre trim accents as part of the Warmenau package. Centre stage is the new 12.9-inch 'Discover' touchscreen multimedia system, which is larger than the old display while also bringing the latest software interface already seen in the German brand's ID-branded electric models. You score the new IDA voice assistant in addition to the usual navigation, DAB+ digital radio and wireless smartphone mirroring, but the lack of factory connectivity means it isn't quite as intelligent as the internet- and AI-enabled version offered overseas. The wireless Apple CarPlay generally worked without fault when paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, though I have experienced the odd dropout when passing under one of Victoria's toll booths in other models with this system. While some of the subbed-in trimmings go a good way to making it feel more upmarket, there haven't been any wholesale changes like in the related Cupra Leon, for example, which will be applying new padded and leather-lined surfaces along the centre console for a more premium ambience. Previous gripes around the touch sliders for temperature and volume have been somewhat addressed with illumination, which helps with useability in low-light situations while also looking more sophisticated, while the hard toolbar at the base of the screen makes it easier to toggle HVAC functions as well as operate the heated front seats. The second row remains one of the most generous in the class, with more than enough room for two adults to sit behind two adults. Head, knee and leg room are all good for the segment, even behind a taller driver like 6'1″ me, though forward visibility past the chunky sports bucket seats might be a challenge for nausea-prone passengers. Niceties include a third zone of climate control with directional vents at the rear of the centre console. Further, the flock-lined door bins continue in the rear to stop bottles rattling around, and there's a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. You also get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outboard seats, and top-tethers across all three. Additionally, there's a handy ski port – quite European – in case you're needing to stow longer items through from the boot. Speaking of, there's a decent 341 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in play, expanding to 1197 litres with them folded. There's an adjustable boot floor to make a load area flat if needed, and the space-saver spare of other Golf variants has been swapped out for a tyre mobility kit. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new Golf R gets the same 'EA888' 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but compared to the old Australian-spec model it now makes 245kW of power (+10kW) and 420Nm of torque (+20Nm). This aligns our latest Golf R with European specifications, after the previous model was down 20Nm on the global version due to a lack of a petrol particulate filter (PPF). The new model picks up the exhaust filtration system like the European model and therefore gets the full-fat tune. It's also worth noting the new R is now compatible with 95 RON premium unleaded, rather than being restricted to 98-octane fuel like the old car. Further, Volkswagen's 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 4.6 seconds is down 0.2 seconds on the previous model, while the standard R Performance Package fitted to the Australian specification means the Golf R is capable of hitting a top speed of 270km/h. Our observed indicated fuel economy of 10.4-10.7L/100km was achieved on day one of the launch with a mix of B-roads and country highways, including spirited stints. On the following day after a 71km transit leg from the Blue Mountains to Sydney Motorsport Park on mostly highway and freeway, we saw a far more impressive 5.8L/100km. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Let's get to the fun part, shall we? Our drive of the new Golf R and Golf R Black Edition started in Orange, NSW, taking us through the high country to the Blue Mountains for an overnight stay, then to SMP in western Sydney the following morning. Day one was very wet and gloomy, which made for a good test of the Golf R's 4Motion AWD traction on the high-speed roads on our lengthy drive route. As you'd expect, the fast little Volksie was nothing short of excellent. Driving through what can only be described as a torrential downpour for much of the day, the Golf R was unflappable in the wet, even on winding country B-roads with mixed road surface quality accompanied by signed speed limits generally in the realm of 80-100km/h. Even in tighter bends there was little to no understeer or scrabbling for traction when pushed – within reasonable limits given the conditions, of course – giving you the confidence to still drive with intent without feeling like you were anywhere near the limit. We had a few hours behind the wheel of the Golf R Black Edition on day one, providing plenty of time to test out the different modes. Personally, I chose to cycle between Special (Nurburgring) and Comfort during the extended route. Special is basically Race with the chassis softened off a touch to suit the lumpy-bumpy Nordschleife, and in reality a lot of Australia's spaghetti-like regional roads suit this exact mode given there's a layer of added compliance needed to iron out some sharper hits and high-frequency imperfections to avoid upsetting the balance of the vehicle. In this mode the drivetrain is also put into S+, which basically dials up everything to 11. It revs right out to the redline in each gear and downshifts early with plenty of aural theatre – helped by the augmented engine sound via the speakers – and if you flick it into the manual M+ mode the Golf R will refuse to shift even if you hit the limiter. The new turbocharger preload system works its magic in this mode, maintaining boost for better response. You basically get no turbo lag, and it almost feels naturally aspirated in the way it responds so quickly and revs out so linearly. Adaptive chassis tech and variable-ratio steering mean you can dial up the feel and firmness when you want it for spirited stints, and then dial it back when you're tootling around the 'burbs or cruising on the highway. As its predecessors have done for generations, the Golf R remains a superb all-rounder. As with the GTI, I found that the steering weight felt a tad artificial and not as communicative as something like a Civic Type R, but it has a nicely fluid and accurate rack that suits the Jekyll and Hyde personalities of the Golf R quite well. I'd just like a bit more of a natural and weighted feel. I didn't find the engine's soundtrack to be overly contrived or artificial like the old Mk7's, and in its most aggressive mode the Golf R has an aggressive, high-pitched and raspy tone that sounds a little like the free-revving Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo four. You get subtle cracks or 'farts' on upshifts, a nice burbly idle, and a bit of overrun when you lift off the throttle between 3000 and 5000rpm. It certainly sounds purposeful, and is a little more raucous than the Audi S3 which shares the same drivetrain and much of the running gear underneath. At SMP we got to trial Drift mode on the skid pan before taking both the R and Black Edition out for some instructed laps on the long circuit. It's fascinating how much the different modes change the car's vibe. You can genuinely hold slides quite easily with the throttle (in a controlled environment when conditions permit), yet the Golf R also remains a sharp corner-carver on the racetrack. We started in Comfort mode and gradually worked or way up to Race and Special, really getting a good feel for the Golf R's circuit capabilities. The mix of sweeping bends and hairpins was a good test for the 4Motion AWD system as well as the brakes, and there was minimal fade from the latter after successive laps. There's good response from all driver controls at the limit, and it took a lot to induce any understeer – if anything ,the rear differential does a great job of sending torque to the outside rear wheel the bring the bum around. Volkswagen R's development driver, Benjamin 'Benny' Leuchter, even took us for a couple of hot laps at what felt like 10/10ths, included a lap in both the Special and Drift modes. As you can imagine, it was the latter that really generated the widest eyes and loudest gasps from all three journalists onboard… Mr Leuchter confirmed the Golf R Black Edition lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 47 seconds, which is around three seconds off the Civic Type R's pace but quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. Not bad. Rounding out the on-road assessment, we did find there was a bit of tyre roar finding its way into the cabin from the 235/35 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, but that's not unusual for this type of car. The R's driver assistance suite is also excellent, as you'd expect. Travel Assist remains one of the benchmark semi-autonomous functions, and the standard Area View surround camera means you shouldn't have an excuse for gutter-rashed rims – though the quality of the camera feed could be better. Also standard are helpful features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, which supplement the Golf's already very good outward visibility. The former also brakes to avoid collisions in reverse. Speaking of parking, the R features Park Assist Plus, which adds automated assistance for the accelerator, brake and gear selection over the standard Park Assist in lower Golfs, which only controls steering to help guide you into both parallel and perpendicular parking bays. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The standard R is bolstered by the Black Edition, which is limited to 300 units in Australia. Volkswagen's local arm says around half of our market's Black Edition allocation is already spoken for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R equipment highlights: Golf R Black Edition adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R will be available with an optional Warmenau Package for model year 2026 and it's available to order now, while both the MY25 Golf R and Black Edition are both available with a panoramic sunroof. Warmenau Package: $6500 (MY26 R only) Single-item options: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing. Standard safety equipment includes: Golf GTI adds: Golf R adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R, like the wider Golf range, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Put simply, this is an R-mazing little car. Volkswagen has been polishing away at the Golf R formula for over two decades and it shows. Perhaps other than the related Audi S3, no other vehicle at this size or price point offers the same kind of all-round capability and useability. It's feels at home both in the city and on the racetrack, and while it's not necessarily the quickest or fastest hot hatch on sale, it arguably strikes the best balance. The level of adjustability in the chassis and drivetrain allows you to finetune it to just about any driving situation, and of course it's a Golf so the fundamentals are generally excellent anyway. It also is packed with just about everything the latest Golf portfolio has to offer, much of which isn't available in lower grades in Australia. Gripes? The fiddly steering wheel controls can get annoying when driving hard, and $70,000 is a lot of money for a Golf, even one as fast and as capable as this. Indeed it's not all that much cheaper than an Audi S3 with the same running gear. It's also a shame the Golf R Wagon remains off the menu for Australians. The more practical body had a cult, if niche, following Down Under, and offered a point of difference alongside all of its peers at this end of the market. Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cupra will fill the gap somewhat later this year with the Leon Sportstourer, though I imagine many would still prefer a Golf. All told though, the updated Mk8.5 Golf R is a fine compact performance car. It's the Swiss army knife of hot hatches, perhaps even more so these days than the also excellent new Golf GTI. It's as hardcore and racy as ever, without skimping on the creature comforts and daily driveability the nameplate is lauded for. The Black Edition in Grenadilla Black looks pretty mean, though I'd personally be holding out for an MY26 Lapiz Blue example with the optional Warmenau package. Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from: Golf Pros Volkswagen Golf Cons The Volkswagen Golf R is more than just a fast hatchback; it's a trailblazing legacy that goes back decades. Since the first-generation Golf R32 debuted back in 2002, the R-badged Golf popularised a new class of compact performance car above that of its GTI hot hatch stablemate, challenging properly fast nameplates for straight-line pace. From the singing six-cylinder originals to the thumping turbocharged fours of more recent iterations, the flagship badge in the Golf lineup has become synonymous with being the consummate high-performance hatch, transcending traditional mainstream and premium segments in terms of both performance and all-round useability. The Golf R embodies this as much as ever in its latest Mk8.5 generation, with performance and technology that rivals vehicles from the Audi S, BMW M Performance and Mercedes-AMG stables at a much more attainable price point. It's hardly cheap at $70,000 before on-road costs, and it's now much closer in price to said premium performance alternatives these days, but it's decked out with all of the latest and greatest creature comforts the German auto giant has to offer, too. From later this year you'll also be able to deck out the Golf R with lightweight factory performance options for the first time on the regular variant – including an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and genuine carbon-fibre inlays. So is this still the benchmark hardcore hot hatch for performance enthusiasts? We joined the recent Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out… Base pricing for the updated Golf R has only risen by $400 compared to the last of the Mk8 generation, starting from $70,990 before on-road costs. The Black Edition adds another $1500. That's not all that far off the related Audi S3 (from $78,000) these days, and the latest BMW M135 xDrive (from $83,600) is also within reach. Less so is the Mercedes-AMG A35 (from $89,700), but you get the picture. From the mainstream brands, a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990) offers similar turbocharged all-wheel drive performance in an arguably less liveable rally-bred package, while the Honda Civic Type R ($74,100 D/A) is currently out of stock and channels similar grunt to only its front wheels – and is noticeably more track-focused. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool We've covered the recent launches of the Mk8.5 Golf and Golf GTI, so there's not much new to report here. Perhaps the biggest difference between them and the R is the fact it doesn't revert to physical multifunction switchgear on the steering wheel – the pesky haptic touch-sensitive buttons remain. They can still be a little fiddly at times, and during more spirited driving stints including on track, I managed to mis-press the heated steering wheel button, as well as the skip track button when cornering. Beyond that it's much the same as the rest of the upgraded Golf range; there are different trims and colours, with distinctive blue highlights scattered throughout the cabin, including on the fine Nappa leather seat upholstery, steering wheel accents or the flutters of blue throughout the in-car displays. The seats themselves are similar to those in the GTI and R-Line, save for the Nappa hide, and the steering wheel is the perforated leather-trimmed sports unit from the GTI with said blue accents and touch controls. Metal mesh-effect trim accents line the dashboard and doors, and you can customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster with some unique R customisation like a racy line-bar tacho with shift lights. Later this year you'll be able to opt for genuine carbon-fibre trim accents as part of the Warmenau package. Centre stage is the new 12.9-inch 'Discover' touchscreen multimedia system, which is larger than the old display while also bringing the latest software interface already seen in the German brand's ID-branded electric models. You score the new IDA voice assistant in addition to the usual navigation, DAB+ digital radio and wireless smartphone mirroring, but the lack of factory connectivity means it isn't quite as intelligent as the internet- and AI-enabled version offered overseas. The wireless Apple CarPlay generally worked without fault when paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, though I have experienced the odd dropout when passing under one of Victoria's toll booths in other models with this system. While some of the subbed-in trimmings go a good way to making it feel more upmarket, there haven't been any wholesale changes like in the related Cupra Leon, for example, which will be applying new padded and leather-lined surfaces along the centre console for a more premium ambience. Previous gripes around the touch sliders for temperature and volume have been somewhat addressed with illumination, which helps with useability in low-light situations while also looking more sophisticated, while the hard toolbar at the base of the screen makes it easier to toggle HVAC functions as well as operate the heated front seats. The second row remains one of the most generous in the class, with more than enough room for two adults to sit behind two adults. Head, knee and leg room are all good for the segment, even behind a taller driver like 6'1″ me, though forward visibility past the chunky sports bucket seats might be a challenge for nausea-prone passengers. Niceties include a third zone of climate control with directional vents at the rear of the centre console. Further, the flock-lined door bins continue in the rear to stop bottles rattling around, and there's a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. You also get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outboard seats, and top-tethers across all three. Additionally, there's a handy ski port – quite European – in case you're needing to stow longer items through from the boot. Speaking of, there's a decent 341 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in play, expanding to 1197 litres with them folded. There's an adjustable boot floor to make a load area flat if needed, and the space-saver spare of other Golf variants has been swapped out for a tyre mobility kit. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new Golf R gets the same 'EA888' 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but compared to the old Australian-spec model it now makes 245kW of power (+10kW) and 420Nm of torque (+20Nm). This aligns our latest Golf R with European specifications, after the previous model was down 20Nm on the global version due to a lack of a petrol particulate filter (PPF). The new model picks up the exhaust filtration system like the European model and therefore gets the full-fat tune. It's also worth noting the new R is now compatible with 95 RON premium unleaded, rather than being restricted to 98-octane fuel like the old car. Further, Volkswagen's 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 4.6 seconds is down 0.2 seconds on the previous model, while the standard R Performance Package fitted to the Australian specification means the Golf R is capable of hitting a top speed of 270km/h. Our observed indicated fuel economy of 10.4-10.7L/100km was achieved on day one of the launch with a mix of B-roads and country highways, including spirited stints. On the following day after a 71km transit leg from the Blue Mountains to Sydney Motorsport Park on mostly highway and freeway, we saw a far more impressive 5.8L/100km. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Let's get to the fun part, shall we? Our drive of the new Golf R and Golf R Black Edition started in Orange, NSW, taking us through the high country to the Blue Mountains for an overnight stay, then to SMP in western Sydney the following morning. Day one was very wet and gloomy, which made for a good test of the Golf R's 4Motion AWD traction on the high-speed roads on our lengthy drive route. As you'd expect, the fast little Volksie was nothing short of excellent. Driving through what can only be described as a torrential downpour for much of the day, the Golf R was unflappable in the wet, even on winding country B-roads with mixed road surface quality accompanied by signed speed limits generally in the realm of 80-100km/h. Even in tighter bends there was little to no understeer or scrabbling for traction when pushed – within reasonable limits given the conditions, of course – giving you the confidence to still drive with intent without feeling like you were anywhere near the limit. We had a few hours behind the wheel of the Golf R Black Edition on day one, providing plenty of time to test out the different modes. Personally, I chose to cycle between Special (Nurburgring) and Comfort during the extended route. Special is basically Race with the chassis softened off a touch to suit the lumpy-bumpy Nordschleife, and in reality a lot of Australia's spaghetti-like regional roads suit this exact mode given there's a layer of added compliance needed to iron out some sharper hits and high-frequency imperfections to avoid upsetting the balance of the vehicle. In this mode the drivetrain is also put into S+, which basically dials up everything to 11. It revs right out to the redline in each gear and downshifts early with plenty of aural theatre – helped by the augmented engine sound via the speakers – and if you flick it into the manual M+ mode the Golf R will refuse to shift even if you hit the limiter. The new turbocharger preload system works its magic in this mode, maintaining boost for better response. You basically get no turbo lag, and it almost feels naturally aspirated in the way it responds so quickly and revs out so linearly. Adaptive chassis tech and variable-ratio steering mean you can dial up the feel and firmness when you want it for spirited stints, and then dial it back when you're tootling around the 'burbs or cruising on the highway. As its predecessors have done for generations, the Golf R remains a superb all-rounder. As with the GTI, I found that the steering weight felt a tad artificial and not as communicative as something like a Civic Type R, but it has a nicely fluid and accurate rack that suits the Jekyll and Hyde personalities of the Golf R quite well. I'd just like a bit more of a natural and weighted feel. I didn't find the engine's soundtrack to be overly contrived or artificial like the old Mk7's, and in its most aggressive mode the Golf R has an aggressive, high-pitched and raspy tone that sounds a little like the free-revving Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo four. You get subtle cracks or 'farts' on upshifts, a nice burbly idle, and a bit of overrun when you lift off the throttle between 3000 and 5000rpm. It certainly sounds purposeful, and is a little more raucous than the Audi S3 which shares the same drivetrain and much of the running gear underneath. At SMP we got to trial Drift mode on the skid pan before taking both the R and Black Edition out for some instructed laps on the long circuit. It's fascinating how much the different modes change the car's vibe. You can genuinely hold slides quite easily with the throttle (in a controlled environment when conditions permit), yet the Golf R also remains a sharp corner-carver on the racetrack. We started in Comfort mode and gradually worked or way up to Race and Special, really getting a good feel for the Golf R's circuit capabilities. The mix of sweeping bends and hairpins was a good test for the 4Motion AWD system as well as the brakes, and there was minimal fade from the latter after successive laps. There's good response from all driver controls at the limit, and it took a lot to induce any understeer – if anything ,the rear differential does a great job of sending torque to the outside rear wheel the bring the bum around. Volkswagen R's development driver, Benjamin 'Benny' Leuchter, even took us for a couple of hot laps at what felt like 10/10ths, included a lap in both the Special and Drift modes. As you can imagine, it was the latter that really generated the widest eyes and loudest gasps from all three journalists onboard… Mr Leuchter confirmed the Golf R Black Edition lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 47 seconds, which is around three seconds off the Civic Type R's pace but quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. Not bad. Rounding out the on-road assessment, we did find there was a bit of tyre roar finding its way into the cabin from the 235/35 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, but that's not unusual for this type of car. The R's driver assistance suite is also excellent, as you'd expect. Travel Assist remains one of the benchmark semi-autonomous functions, and the standard Area View surround camera means you shouldn't have an excuse for gutter-rashed rims – though the quality of the camera feed could be better. Also standard are helpful features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, which supplement the Golf's already very good outward visibility. The former also brakes to avoid collisions in reverse. Speaking of parking, the R features Park Assist Plus, which adds automated assistance for the accelerator, brake and gear selection over the standard Park Assist in lower Golfs, which only controls steering to help guide you into both parallel and perpendicular parking bays. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The standard R is bolstered by the Black Edition, which is limited to 300 units in Australia. Volkswagen's local arm says around half of our market's Black Edition allocation is already spoken for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R equipment highlights: Golf R Black Edition adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R will be available with an optional Warmenau Package for model year 2026 and it's available to order now, while both the MY25 Golf R and Black Edition are both available with a panoramic sunroof. Warmenau Package: $6500 (MY26 R only) Single-item options: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing. Standard safety equipment includes: Golf GTI adds: Golf R adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R, like the wider Golf range, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Put simply, this is an R-mazing little car. Volkswagen has been polishing away at the Golf R formula for over two decades and it shows. Perhaps other than the related Audi S3, no other vehicle at this size or price point offers the same kind of all-round capability and useability. It's feels at home both in the city and on the racetrack, and while it's not necessarily the quickest or fastest hot hatch on sale, it arguably strikes the best balance. The level of adjustability in the chassis and drivetrain allows you to finetune it to just about any driving situation, and of course it's a Golf so the fundamentals are generally excellent anyway. It also is packed with just about everything the latest Golf portfolio has to offer, much of which isn't available in lower grades in Australia. Gripes? The fiddly steering wheel controls can get annoying when driving hard, and $70,000 is a lot of money for a Golf, even one as fast and as capable as this. Indeed it's not all that much cheaper than an Audi S3 with the same running gear. It's also a shame the Golf R Wagon remains off the menu for Australians. The more practical body had a cult, if niche, following Down Under, and offered a point of difference alongside all of its peers at this end of the market. Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cupra will fill the gap somewhat later this year with the Leon Sportstourer, though I imagine many would still prefer a Golf. All told though, the updated Mk8.5 Golf R is a fine compact performance car. It's the Swiss army knife of hot hatches, perhaps even more so these days than the also excellent new Golf GTI. It's as hardcore and racy as ever, without skimping on the creature comforts and daily driveability the nameplate is lauded for. The Black Edition in Grenadilla Black looks pretty mean, though I'd personally be holding out for an MY26 Lapiz Blue example with the optional Warmenau package. Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from: Golf Pros Volkswagen Golf Cons The Volkswagen Golf R is more than just a fast hatchback; it's a trailblazing legacy that goes back decades. Since the first-generation Golf R32 debuted back in 2002, the R-badged Golf popularised a new class of compact performance car above that of its GTI hot hatch stablemate, challenging properly fast nameplates for straight-line pace. From the singing six-cylinder originals to the thumping turbocharged fours of more recent iterations, the flagship badge in the Golf lineup has become synonymous with being the consummate high-performance hatch, transcending traditional mainstream and premium segments in terms of both performance and all-round useability. The Golf R embodies this as much as ever in its latest Mk8.5 generation, with performance and technology that rivals vehicles from the Audi S, BMW M Performance and Mercedes-AMG stables at a much more attainable price point. It's hardly cheap at $70,000 before on-road costs, and it's now much closer in price to said premium performance alternatives these days, but it's decked out with all of the latest and greatest creature comforts the German auto giant has to offer, too. From later this year you'll also be able to deck out the Golf R with lightweight factory performance options for the first time on the regular variant – including an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and genuine carbon-fibre inlays. So is this still the benchmark hardcore hot hatch for performance enthusiasts? We joined the recent Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out… Base pricing for the updated Golf R has only risen by $400 compared to the last of the Mk8 generation, starting from $70,990 before on-road costs. The Black Edition adds another $1500. That's not all that far off the related Audi S3 (from $78,000) these days, and the latest BMW M135 xDrive (from $83,600) is also within reach. Less so is the Mercedes-AMG A35 (from $89,700), but you get the picture. From the mainstream brands, a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990) offers similar turbocharged all-wheel drive performance in an arguably less liveable rally-bred package, while the Honda Civic Type R ($74,100 D/A) is currently out of stock and channels similar grunt to only its front wheels – and is noticeably more track-focused. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool We've covered the recent launches of the Mk8.5 Golf and Golf GTI, so there's not much new to report here. Perhaps the biggest difference between them and the R is the fact it doesn't revert to physical multifunction switchgear on the steering wheel – the pesky haptic touch-sensitive buttons remain. They can still be a little fiddly at times, and during more spirited driving stints including on track, I managed to mis-press the heated steering wheel button, as well as the skip track button when cornering. Beyond that it's much the same as the rest of the upgraded Golf range; there are different trims and colours, with distinctive blue highlights scattered throughout the cabin, including on the fine Nappa leather seat upholstery, steering wheel accents or the flutters of blue throughout the in-car displays. The seats themselves are similar to those in the GTI and R-Line, save for the Nappa hide, and the steering wheel is the perforated leather-trimmed sports unit from the GTI with said blue accents and touch controls. Metal mesh-effect trim accents line the dashboard and doors, and you can customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster with some unique R customisation like a racy line-bar tacho with shift lights. Later this year you'll be able to opt for genuine carbon-fibre trim accents as part of the Warmenau package. Centre stage is the new 12.9-inch 'Discover' touchscreen multimedia system, which is larger than the old display while also bringing the latest software interface already seen in the German brand's ID-branded electric models. You score the new IDA voice assistant in addition to the usual navigation, DAB+ digital radio and wireless smartphone mirroring, but the lack of factory connectivity means it isn't quite as intelligent as the internet- and AI-enabled version offered overseas. The wireless Apple CarPlay generally worked without fault when paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, though I have experienced the odd dropout when passing under one of Victoria's toll booths in other models with this system. While some of the subbed-in trimmings go a good way to making it feel more upmarket, there haven't been any wholesale changes like in the related Cupra Leon, for example, which will be applying new padded and leather-lined surfaces along the centre console for a more premium ambience. Previous gripes around the touch sliders for temperature and volume have been somewhat addressed with illumination, which helps with useability in low-light situations while also looking more sophisticated, while the hard toolbar at the base of the screen makes it easier to toggle HVAC functions as well as operate the heated front seats. The second row remains one of the most generous in the class, with more than enough room for two adults to sit behind two adults. Head, knee and leg room are all good for the segment, even behind a taller driver like 6'1″ me, though forward visibility past the chunky sports bucket seats might be a challenge for nausea-prone passengers. Niceties include a third zone of climate control with directional vents at the rear of the centre console. Further, the flock-lined door bins continue in the rear to stop bottles rattling around, and there's a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. You also get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outboard seats, and top-tethers across all three. Additionally, there's a handy ski port – quite European – in case you're needing to stow longer items through from the boot. Speaking of, there's a decent 341 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in play, expanding to 1197 litres with them folded. There's an adjustable boot floor to make a load area flat if needed, and the space-saver spare of other Golf variants has been swapped out for a tyre mobility kit. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new Golf R gets the same 'EA888' 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but compared to the old Australian-spec model it now makes 245kW of power (+10kW) and 420Nm of torque (+20Nm). This aligns our latest Golf R with European specifications, after the previous model was down 20Nm on the global version due to a lack of a petrol particulate filter (PPF). The new model picks up the exhaust filtration system like the European model and therefore gets the full-fat tune. It's also worth noting the new R is now compatible with 95 RON premium unleaded, rather than being restricted to 98-octane fuel like the old car. Further, Volkswagen's 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 4.6 seconds is down 0.2 seconds on the previous model, while the standard R Performance Package fitted to the Australian specification means the Golf R is capable of hitting a top speed of 270km/h. Our observed indicated fuel economy of 10.4-10.7L/100km was achieved on day one of the launch with a mix of B-roads and country highways, including spirited stints. On the following day after a 71km transit leg from the Blue Mountains to Sydney Motorsport Park on mostly highway and freeway, we saw a far more impressive 5.8L/100km. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Let's get to the fun part, shall we? Our drive of the new Golf R and Golf R Black Edition started in Orange, NSW, taking us through the high country to the Blue Mountains for an overnight stay, then to SMP in western Sydney the following morning. Day one was very wet and gloomy, which made for a good test of the Golf R's 4Motion AWD traction on the high-speed roads on our lengthy drive route. As you'd expect, the fast little Volksie was nothing short of excellent. Driving through what can only be described as a torrential downpour for much of the day, the Golf R was unflappable in the wet, even on winding country B-roads with mixed road surface quality accompanied by signed speed limits generally in the realm of 80-100km/h. Even in tighter bends there was little to no understeer or scrabbling for traction when pushed – within reasonable limits given the conditions, of course – giving you the confidence to still drive with intent without feeling like you were anywhere near the limit. We had a few hours behind the wheel of the Golf R Black Edition on day one, providing plenty of time to test out the different modes. Personally, I chose to cycle between Special (Nurburgring) and Comfort during the extended route. Special is basically Race with the chassis softened off a touch to suit the lumpy-bumpy Nordschleife, and in reality a lot of Australia's spaghetti-like regional roads suit this exact mode given there's a layer of added compliance needed to iron out some sharper hits and high-frequency imperfections to avoid upsetting the balance of the vehicle. In this mode the drivetrain is also put into S+, which basically dials up everything to 11. It revs right out to the redline in each gear and downshifts early with plenty of aural theatre – helped by the augmented engine sound via the speakers – and if you flick it into the manual M+ mode the Golf R will refuse to shift even if you hit the limiter. The new turbocharger preload system works its magic in this mode, maintaining boost for better response. You basically get no turbo lag, and it almost feels naturally aspirated in the way it responds so quickly and revs out so linearly. Adaptive chassis tech and variable-ratio steering mean you can dial up the feel and firmness when you want it for spirited stints, and then dial it back when you're tootling around the 'burbs or cruising on the highway. As its predecessors have done for generations, the Golf R remains a superb all-rounder. As with the GTI, I found that the steering weight felt a tad artificial and not as communicative as something like a Civic Type R, but it has a nicely fluid and accurate rack that suits the Jekyll and Hyde personalities of the Golf R quite well. I'd just like a bit more of a natural and weighted feel. I didn't find the engine's soundtrack to be overly contrived or artificial like the old Mk7's, and in its most aggressive mode the Golf R has an aggressive, high-pitched and raspy tone that sounds a little like the free-revving Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo four. You get subtle cracks or 'farts' on upshifts, a nice burbly idle, and a bit of overrun when you lift off the throttle between 3000 and 5000rpm. It certainly sounds purposeful, and is a little more raucous than the Audi S3 which shares the same drivetrain and much of the running gear underneath. At SMP we got to trial Drift mode on the skid pan before taking both the R and Black Edition out for some instructed laps on the long circuit. It's fascinating how much the different modes change the car's vibe. You can genuinely hold slides quite easily with the throttle (in a controlled environment when conditions permit), yet the Golf R also remains a sharp corner-carver on the racetrack. We started in Comfort mode and gradually worked or way up to Race and Special, really getting a good feel for the Golf R's circuit capabilities. The mix of sweeping bends and hairpins was a good test for the 4Motion AWD system as well as the brakes, and there was minimal fade from the latter after successive laps. There's good response from all driver controls at the limit, and it took a lot to induce any understeer – if anything ,the rear differential does a great job of sending torque to the outside rear wheel the bring the bum around. Volkswagen R's development driver, Benjamin 'Benny' Leuchter, even took us for a couple of hot laps at what felt like 10/10ths, included a lap in both the Special and Drift modes. As you can imagine, it was the latter that really generated the widest eyes and loudest gasps from all three journalists onboard… Mr Leuchter confirmed the Golf R Black Edition lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 47 seconds, which is around three seconds off the Civic Type R's pace but quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. Not bad. Rounding out the on-road assessment, we did find there was a bit of tyre roar finding its way into the cabin from the 235/35 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, but that's not unusual for this type of car. The R's driver assistance suite is also excellent, as you'd expect. Travel Assist remains one of the benchmark semi-autonomous functions, and the standard Area View surround camera means you shouldn't have an excuse for gutter-rashed rims – though the quality of the camera feed could be better. Also standard are helpful features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, which supplement the Golf's already very good outward visibility. The former also brakes to avoid collisions in reverse. Speaking of parking, the R features Park Assist Plus, which adds automated assistance for the accelerator, brake and gear selection over the standard Park Assist in lower Golfs, which only controls steering to help guide you into both parallel and perpendicular parking bays. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The standard R is bolstered by the Black Edition, which is limited to 300 units in Australia. Volkswagen's local arm says around half of our market's Black Edition allocation is already spoken for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R equipment highlights: Golf R Black Edition adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R will be available with an optional Warmenau Package for model year 2026 and it's available to order now, while both the MY25 Golf R and Black Edition are both available with a panoramic sunroof. Warmenau Package: $6500 (MY26 R only) Single-item options: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing. Standard safety equipment includes: Golf GTI adds: Golf R adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R, like the wider Golf range, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Put simply, this is an R-mazing little car. Volkswagen has been polishing away at the Golf R formula for over two decades and it shows. Perhaps other than the related Audi S3, no other vehicle at this size or price point offers the same kind of all-round capability and useability. It's feels at home both in the city and on the racetrack, and while it's not necessarily the quickest or fastest hot hatch on sale, it arguably strikes the best balance. The level of adjustability in the chassis and drivetrain allows you to finetune it to just about any driving situation, and of course it's a Golf so the fundamentals are generally excellent anyway. It also is packed with just about everything the latest Golf portfolio has to offer, much of which isn't available in lower grades in Australia. Gripes? The fiddly steering wheel controls can get annoying when driving hard, and $70,000 is a lot of money for a Golf, even one as fast and as capable as this. Indeed it's not all that much cheaper than an Audi S3 with the same running gear. It's also a shame the Golf R Wagon remains off the menu for Australians. The more practical body had a cult, if niche, following Down Under, and offered a point of difference alongside all of its peers at this end of the market. Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cupra will fill the gap somewhat later this year with the Leon Sportstourer, though I imagine many would still prefer a Golf. All told though, the updated Mk8.5 Golf R is a fine compact performance car. It's the Swiss army knife of hot hatches, perhaps even more so these days than the also excellent new Golf GTI. It's as hardcore and racy as ever, without skimping on the creature comforts and daily driveability the nameplate is lauded for. The Black Edition in Grenadilla Black looks pretty mean, though I'd personally be holding out for an MY26 Lapiz Blue example with the optional Warmenau package. Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from: Golf Pros Volkswagen Golf Cons The Volkswagen Golf R is more than just a fast hatchback; it's a trailblazing legacy that goes back decades. Since the first-generation Golf R32 debuted back in 2002, the R-badged Golf popularised a new class of compact performance car above that of its GTI hot hatch stablemate, challenging properly fast nameplates for straight-line pace. From the singing six-cylinder originals to the thumping turbocharged fours of more recent iterations, the flagship badge in the Golf lineup has become synonymous with being the consummate high-performance hatch, transcending traditional mainstream and premium segments in terms of both performance and all-round useability. The Golf R embodies this as much as ever in its latest Mk8.5 generation, with performance and technology that rivals vehicles from the Audi S, BMW M Performance and Mercedes-AMG stables at a much more attainable price point. It's hardly cheap at $70,000 before on-road costs, and it's now much closer in price to said premium performance alternatives these days, but it's decked out with all of the latest and greatest creature comforts the German auto giant has to offer, too. From later this year you'll also be able to deck out the Golf R with lightweight factory performance options for the first time on the regular variant – including an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and genuine carbon-fibre inlays. So is this still the benchmark hardcore hot hatch for performance enthusiasts? We joined the recent Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out… Base pricing for the updated Golf R has only risen by $400 compared to the last of the Mk8 generation, starting from $70,990 before on-road costs. The Black Edition adds another $1500. That's not all that far off the related Audi S3 (from $78,000) these days, and the latest BMW M135 xDrive (from $83,600) is also within reach. Less so is the Mercedes-AMG A35 (from $89,700), but you get the picture. From the mainstream brands, a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990) offers similar turbocharged all-wheel drive performance in an arguably less liveable rally-bred package, while the Honda Civic Type R ($74,100 D/A) is currently out of stock and channels similar grunt to only its front wheels – and is noticeably more track-focused. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool We've covered the recent launches of the Mk8.5 Golf and Golf GTI, so there's not much new to report here. Perhaps the biggest difference between them and the R is the fact it doesn't revert to physical multifunction switchgear on the steering wheel – the pesky haptic touch-sensitive buttons remain. They can still be a little fiddly at times, and during more spirited driving stints including on track, I managed to mis-press the heated steering wheel button, as well as the skip track button when cornering. Beyond that it's much the same as the rest of the upgraded Golf range; there are different trims and colours, with distinctive blue highlights scattered throughout the cabin, including on the fine Nappa leather seat upholstery, steering wheel accents or the flutters of blue throughout the in-car displays. The seats themselves are similar to those in the GTI and R-Line, save for the Nappa hide, and the steering wheel is the perforated leather-trimmed sports unit from the GTI with said blue accents and touch controls. Metal mesh-effect trim accents line the dashboard and doors, and you can customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster with some unique R customisation like a racy line-bar tacho with shift lights. Later this year you'll be able to opt for genuine carbon-fibre trim accents as part of the Warmenau package. Centre stage is the new 12.9-inch 'Discover' touchscreen multimedia system, which is larger than the old display while also bringing the latest software interface already seen in the German brand's ID-branded electric models. You score the new IDA voice assistant in addition to the usual navigation, DAB+ digital radio and wireless smartphone mirroring, but the lack of factory connectivity means it isn't quite as intelligent as the internet- and AI-enabled version offered overseas. The wireless Apple CarPlay generally worked without fault when paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, though I have experienced the odd dropout when passing under one of Victoria's toll booths in other models with this system. While some of the subbed-in trimmings go a good way to making it feel more upmarket, there haven't been any wholesale changes like in the related Cupra Leon, for example, which will be applying new padded and leather-lined surfaces along the centre console for a more premium ambience. Previous gripes around the touch sliders for temperature and volume have been somewhat addressed with illumination, which helps with useability in low-light situations while also looking more sophisticated, while the hard toolbar at the base of the screen makes it easier to toggle HVAC functions as well as operate the heated front seats. The second row remains one of the most generous in the class, with more than enough room for two adults to sit behind two adults. Head, knee and leg room are all good for the segment, even behind a taller driver like 6'1″ me, though forward visibility past the chunky sports bucket seats might be a challenge for nausea-prone passengers. Niceties include a third zone of climate control with directional vents at the rear of the centre console. Further, the flock-lined door bins continue in the rear to stop bottles rattling around, and there's a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. You also get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outboard seats, and top-tethers across all three. Additionally, there's a handy ski port – quite European – in case you're needing to stow longer items through from the boot. Speaking of, there's a decent 341 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in play, expanding to 1197 litres with them folded. There's an adjustable boot floor to make a load area flat if needed, and the space-saver spare of other Golf variants has been swapped out for a tyre mobility kit. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new Golf R gets the same 'EA888' 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but compared to the old Australian-spec model it now makes 245kW of power (+10kW) and 420Nm of torque (+20Nm). This aligns our latest Golf R with European specifications, after the previous model was down 20Nm on the global version due to a lack of a petrol particulate filter (PPF). The new model picks up the exhaust filtration system like the European model and therefore gets the full-fat tune. It's also worth noting the new R is now compatible with 95 RON premium unleaded, rather than being restricted to 98-octane fuel like the old car. Further, Volkswagen's 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 4.6 seconds is down 0.2 seconds on the previous model, while the standard R Performance Package fitted to the Australian specification means the Golf R is capable of hitting a top speed of 270km/h. Our observed indicated fuel economy of 10.4-10.7L/100km was achieved on day one of the launch with a mix of B-roads and country highways, including spirited stints. On the following day after a 71km transit leg from the Blue Mountains to Sydney Motorsport Park on mostly highway and freeway, we saw a far more impressive 5.8L/100km. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Let's get to the fun part, shall we? Our drive of the new Golf R and Golf R Black Edition started in Orange, NSW, taking us through the high country to the Blue Mountains for an overnight stay, then to SMP in western Sydney the following morning. Day one was very wet and gloomy, which made for a good test of the Golf R's 4Motion AWD traction on the high-speed roads on our lengthy drive route. As you'd expect, the fast little Volksie was nothing short of excellent. Driving through what can only be described as a torrential downpour for much of the day, the Golf R was unflappable in the wet, even on winding country B-roads with mixed road surface quality accompanied by signed speed limits generally in the realm of 80-100km/h. Even in tighter bends there was little to no understeer or scrabbling for traction when pushed – within reasonable limits given the conditions, of course – giving you the confidence to still drive with intent without feeling like you were anywhere near the limit. We had a few hours behind the wheel of the Golf R Black Edition on day one, providing plenty of time to test out the different modes. Personally, I chose to cycle between Special (Nurburgring) and Comfort during the extended route. Special is basically Race with the chassis softened off a touch to suit the lumpy-bumpy Nordschleife, and in reality a lot of Australia's spaghetti-like regional roads suit this exact mode given there's a layer of added compliance needed to iron out some sharper hits and high-frequency imperfections to avoid upsetting the balance of the vehicle. In this mode the drivetrain is also put into S+, which basically dials up everything to 11. It revs right out to the redline in each gear and downshifts early with plenty of aural theatre – helped by the augmented engine sound via the speakers – and if you flick it into the manual M+ mode the Golf R will refuse to shift even if you hit the limiter. The new turbocharger preload system works its magic in this mode, maintaining boost for better response. You basically get no turbo lag, and it almost feels naturally aspirated in the way it responds so quickly and revs out so linearly. Adaptive chassis tech and variable-ratio steering mean you can dial up the feel and firmness when you want it for spirited stints, and then dial it back when you're tootling around the 'burbs or cruising on the highway. As its predecessors have done for generations, the Golf R remains a superb all-rounder. As with the GTI, I found that the steering weight felt a tad artificial and not as communicative as something like a Civic Type R, but it has a nicely fluid and accurate rack that suits the Jekyll and Hyde personalities of the Golf R quite well. I'd just like a bit more of a natural and weighted feel. I didn't find the engine's soundtrack to be overly contrived or artificial like the old Mk7's, and in its most aggressive mode the Golf R has an aggressive, high-pitched and raspy tone that sounds a little like the free-revving Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo four. You get subtle cracks or 'farts' on upshifts, a nice burbly idle, and a bit of overrun when you lift off the throttle between 3000 and 5000rpm. It certainly sounds purposeful, and is a little more raucous than the Audi S3 which shares the same drivetrain and much of the running gear underneath. At SMP we got to trial Drift mode on the skid pan before taking both the R and Black Edition out for some instructed laps on the long circuit. It's fascinating how much the different modes change the car's vibe. You can genuinely hold slides quite easily with the throttle (in a controlled environment when conditions permit), yet the Golf R also remains a sharp corner-carver on the racetrack. We started in Comfort mode and gradually worked or way up to Race and Special, really getting a good feel for the Golf R's circuit capabilities. The mix of sweeping bends and hairpins was a good test for the 4Motion AWD system as well as the brakes, and there was minimal fade from the latter after successive laps. There's good response from all driver controls at the limit, and it took a lot to induce any understeer – if anything ,the rear differential does a great job of sending torque to the outside rear wheel the bring the bum around. Volkswagen R's development driver, Benjamin 'Benny' Leuchter, even took us for a couple of hot laps at what felt like 10/10ths, included a lap in both the Special and Drift modes. As you can imagine, it was the latter that really generated the widest eyes and loudest gasps from all three journalists onboard… Mr Leuchter confirmed the Golf R Black Edition lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 47 seconds, which is around three seconds off the Civic Type R's pace but quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. Not bad. Rounding out the on-road assessment, we did find there was a bit of tyre roar finding its way into the cabin from the 235/35 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, but that's not unusual for this type of car. The R's driver assistance suite is also excellent, as you'd expect. Travel Assist remains one of the benchmark semi-autonomous functions, and the standard Area View surround camera means you shouldn't have an excuse for gutter-rashed rims – though the quality of the camera feed could be better. Also standard are helpful features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, which supplement the Golf's already very good outward visibility. The former also brakes to avoid collisions in reverse. Speaking of parking, the R features Park Assist Plus, which adds automated assistance for the accelerator, brake and gear selection over the standard Park Assist in lower Golfs, which only controls steering to help guide you into both parallel and perpendicular parking bays. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The standard R is bolstered by the Black Edition, which is limited to 300 units in Australia. Volkswagen's local arm says around half of our market's Black Edition allocation is already spoken for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R equipment highlights: Golf R Black Edition adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R will be available with an optional Warmenau Package for model year 2026 and it's available to order now, while both the MY25 Golf R and Black Edition are both available with a panoramic sunroof. Warmenau Package: $6500 (MY26 R only) Single-item options: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing. Standard safety equipment includes: Golf GTI adds: Golf R adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R, like the wider Golf range, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Put simply, this is an R-mazing little car. Volkswagen has been polishing away at the Golf R formula for over two decades and it shows. Perhaps other than the related Audi S3, no other vehicle at this size or price point offers the same kind of all-round capability and useability. It's feels at home both in the city and on the racetrack, and while it's not necessarily the quickest or fastest hot hatch on sale, it arguably strikes the best balance. The level of adjustability in the chassis and drivetrain allows you to finetune it to just about any driving situation, and of course it's a Golf so the fundamentals are generally excellent anyway. It also is packed with just about everything the latest Golf portfolio has to offer, much of which isn't available in lower grades in Australia. Gripes? The fiddly steering wheel controls can get annoying when driving hard, and $70,000 is a lot of money for a Golf, even one as fast and as capable as this. Indeed it's not all that much cheaper than an Audi S3 with the same running gear. It's also a shame the Golf R Wagon remains off the menu for Australians. The more practical body had a cult, if niche, following Down Under, and offered a point of difference alongside all of its peers at this end of the market. Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cupra will fill the gap somewhat later this year with the Leon Sportstourer, though I imagine many would still prefer a Golf. All told though, the updated Mk8.5 Golf R is a fine compact performance car. It's the Swiss army knife of hot hatches, perhaps even more so these days than the also excellent new Golf GTI. It's as hardcore and racy as ever, without skimping on the creature comforts and daily driveability the nameplate is lauded for. The Black Edition in Grenadilla Black looks pretty mean, though I'd personally be holding out for an MY26 Lapiz Blue example with the optional Warmenau package. Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers hereMORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Content originally sourced from:
West Australian
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
2025 Volkswagen Golf R review
The Volkswagen Golf R is more than just a fast hatchback; it's a trailblazing legacy that goes back decades. Since the first-generation Golf R32 debuted back in 2002, the R-badged Golf popularised a new class of compact performance car above that of its GTI hot hatch stablemate, challenging properly fast nameplates for straight-line pace. From the singing six-cylinder originals to the thumping turbocharged fours of more recent iterations, the flagship badge in the Golf lineup has become synonymous with being the consummate high-performance hatch, transcending traditional mainstream and premium segments in terms of both performance and all-round useability. The Golf R embodies this as much as ever in its latest Mk8.5 generation, with performance and technology that rivals vehicles from the Audi S, BMW M Performance and Mercedes-AMG stables at a much more attainable price point. It's hardly cheap at $70,000 before on-road costs, and it's now much closer in price to said premium performance alternatives these days, but it's decked out with all of the latest and greatest creature comforts the German auto giant has to offer, too. From later this year you'll also be able to deck out the Golf R with lightweight factory performance options for the first time on the regular variant – including an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and genuine carbon-fibre inlays. So is this still the benchmark hardcore hot hatch for performance enthusiasts? We joined the recent Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out… Base pricing for the updated Golf R has only risen by $400 compared to the last of the Mk8 generation, starting from $70,990 before on-road costs. The Black Edition adds another $1500. That's not all that far off the related Audi S3 (from $78,000) these days, and the latest BMW M135 xDrive (from $83,600) is also within reach. Less so is the Mercedes-AMG A35 (from $89,700), but you get the picture. From the mainstream brands, a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990) offers similar turbocharged all-wheel drive performance in an arguably less liveable rally-bred package, while the Honda Civic Type R ($74,100 D/A) is currently out of stock and channels similar grunt to only its front wheels – and is noticeably more track-focused. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool We've covered the recent launches of the Mk8.5 Golf and Golf GTI, so there's not much new to report here. Perhaps the biggest difference between them and the R is the fact it doesn't revert to physical multifunction switchgear on the steering wheel – the pesky haptic touch-sensitive buttons remain. They can still be a little fiddly at times, and during more spirited driving stints including on track, I managed to mis-press the heated steering wheel button, as well as the skip track button when cornering. Beyond that it's much the same as the rest of the upgraded Golf range; there are different trims and colours, with distinctive blue highlights scattered throughout the cabin, including on the fine Nappa leather seat upholstery, steering wheel accents or the flutters of blue throughout the in-car displays. The seats themselves are similar to those in the GTI and R-Line, save for the Nappa hide, and the steering wheel is the perforated leather-trimmed sports unit from the GTI with said blue accents and touch controls. Metal mesh-effect trim accents line the dashboard and doors, and you can customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster with some unique R customisation like a racy line-bar tacho with shift lights. Later this year you'll be able to opt for genuine carbon-fibre trim accents as part of the Warmenau package. Centre stage is the new 12.9-inch 'Discover' touchscreen multimedia system, which is larger than the old display while also bringing the latest software interface already seen in the German brand's ID-branded electric models. You score the new IDA voice assistant in addition to the usual navigation, DAB+ digital radio and wireless smartphone mirroring, but the lack of factory connectivity means it isn't quite as intelligent as the internet- and AI-enabled version offered overseas. The wireless Apple CarPlay generally worked without fault when paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, though I have experienced the odd dropout when passing under one of Victoria's toll booths in other models with this system. While some of the subbed-in trimmings go a good way to making it feel more upmarket, there haven't been any wholesale changes like in the related Cupra Leon , for example, which will be applying new padded and leather-lined surfaces along the centre console for a more premium ambience. Previous gripes around the touch sliders for temperature and volume have been somewhat addressed with illumination, which helps with useability in low-light situations while also looking more sophisticated, while the hard toolbar at the base of the screen makes it easier to toggle HVAC functions as well as operate the heated front seats. The second row remains one of the most generous in the class, with more than enough room for two adults to sit behind two adults. Head, knee and leg room are all good for the segment, even behind a taller driver like 6'1″ me, though forward visibility past the chunky sports bucket seats might be a challenge for nausea-prone passengers. Niceties include a third zone of climate control with directional vents at the rear of the centre console. Further, the flock-lined door bins continue in the rear to stop bottles rattling around, and there's a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. You also get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outboard seats, and top-tethers across all three. Additionally, there's a handy ski port – quite European – in case you're needing to stow longer items through from the boot. Speaking of, there's a decent 341 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in play, expanding to 1197 litres with them folded. There's an adjustable boot floor to make a load area flat if needed, and the space-saver spare of other Golf variants has been swapped out for a tyre mobility kit. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new Golf R gets the same 'EA888' 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but compared to the old Australian-spec model it now makes 245kW of power (+10kW) and 420Nm of torque (+20Nm). This aligns our latest Golf R with European specifications, after the previous model was down 20Nm on the global version due to a lack of a petrol particulate filter (PPF). The new model picks up the exhaust filtration system like the European model and therefore gets the full-fat tune. It's also worth noting the new R is now compatible with 95 RON premium unleaded, rather than being restricted to 98-octane fuel like the old car. Further, Volkswagen's 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 4.6 seconds is down 0.2 seconds on the previous model, while the standard R Performance Package fitted to the Australian specification means the Golf R is capable of hitting a top speed of 270km/h. Our observed indicated fuel economy of 10.4-10.7L/100km was achieved on day one of the launch with a mix of B-roads and country highways, including spirited stints. On the following day after a 71km transit leg from the Blue Mountains to Sydney Motorsport Park on mostly highway and freeway, we saw a far more impressive 5.8L/100km. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Let's get to the fun part, shall we? Our drive of the new Golf R and Golf R Black Edition started in Orange, NSW, taking us through the high country to the Blue Mountains for an overnight stay, then to SMP in western Sydney the following morning. Day one was very wet and gloomy, which made for a good test of the Golf R's 4Motion AWD traction on the high-speed roads on our lengthy drive route. As you'd expect, the fast little Volksie was nothing short of excellent. Driving through what can only be described as a torrential downpour for much of the day, the Golf R was unflappable in the wet, even on winding country B-roads with mixed road surface quality accompanied by signed speed limits generally in the realm of 80-100km/h. Even in tighter bends there was little to no understeer or scrabbling for traction when pushed – within reasonable limits given the conditions, of course – giving you the confidence to still drive with intent without feeling like you were anywhere near the limit. We had a few hours behind the wheel of the Golf R Black Edition on day one, providing plenty of time to test out the different modes. Personally, I chose to cycle between Special (Nurburgring) and Comfort during the extended route. Special is basically Race with the chassis softened off a touch to suit the lumpy-bumpy Nordschleife, and in reality a lot of Australia's spaghetti-like regional roads suit this exact mode given there's a layer of added compliance needed to iron out some sharper hits and high-frequency imperfections to avoid upsetting the balance of the vehicle. In this mode the drivetrain is also put into S+, which basically dials up everything to 11. It revs right out to the redline in each gear and downshifts early with plenty of aural theatre – helped by the augmented engine sound via the speakers – and if you flick it into the manual M+ mode the Golf R will refuse to shift even if you hit the limiter. The new turbocharger preload system works its magic in this mode, maintaining boost for better response. You basically get no turbo lag, and it almost feels naturally aspirated in the way it responds so quickly and revs out so linearly. Adaptive chassis tech and variable-ratio steering mean you can dial up the feel and firmness when you want it for spirited stints, and then dial it back when you're tootling around the 'burbs or cruising on the highway. As its predecessors have done for generations, the Golf R remains a superb all-rounder. As with the GTI, I found that the steering weight felt a tad artificial and not as communicative as something like a Civic Type R, but it has a nicely fluid and accurate rack that suits the Jekyll and Hyde personalities of the Golf R quite well. I'd just like a bit more of a natural and weighted feel. I didn't find the engine's soundtrack to be overly contrived or artificial like the old Mk7's, and in its most aggressive mode the Golf R has an aggressive, high-pitched and raspy tone that sounds a little like the free-revving Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo four. You get subtle cracks or 'farts' on upshifts, a nice burbly idle, and a bit of overrun when you lift off the throttle between 3000 and 5000rpm. It certainly sounds purposeful, and is a little more raucous than the Audi S3 which shares the same drivetrain and much of the running gear underneath. At SMP we got to trial Drift mode on the skid pan before taking both the R and Black Edition out for some instructed laps on the long circuit. It's fascinating how much the different modes change the car's vibe. You can genuinely hold slides quite easily with the throttle (in a controlled environment when conditions permit), yet the Golf R also remains a sharp corner-carver on the racetrack. We started in Comfort mode and gradually worked or way up to Race and Special, really getting a good feel for the Golf R's circuit capabilities. The mix of sweeping bends and hairpins was a good test for the 4Motion AWD system as well as the brakes, and there was minimal fade from the latter after successive laps. There's good response from all driver controls at the limit, and it took a lot to induce any understeer – if anything ,the rear differential does a great job of sending torque to the outside rear wheel the bring the bum around. Volkswagen R's development driver, Benjamin 'Benny' Leuchter, even took us for a couple of hot laps at what felt like 10/10ths, included a lap in both the Special and Drift modes. As you can imagine, it was the latter that really generated the widest eyes and loudest gasps from all three journalists onboard… Mr Leuchter confirmed the Golf R Black Edition lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 47 seconds, which is around three seconds off the Civic Type R's pace but quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. Not bad. Rounding out the on-road assessment, we did find there was a bit of tyre roar finding its way into the cabin from the 235/35 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, but that's not unusual for this type of car. The R's driver assistance suite is also excellent, as you'd expect. Travel Assist remains one of the benchmark semi-autonomous functions, and the standard Area View surround camera means you shouldn't have an excuse for gutter-rashed rims – though the quality of the camera feed could be better. Also standard are helpful features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, which supplement the Golf's already very good outward visibility. The former also brakes to avoid collisions in reverse. Speaking of parking, the R features Park Assist Plus, which adds automated assistance for the accelerator, brake and gear selection over the standard Park Assist in lower Golfs, which only controls steering to help guide you into both parallel and perpendicular parking bays. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The standard R is bolstered by the Black Edition, which is limited to 300 units in Australia. Volkswagen's local arm says around half of our market's Black Edition allocation is already spoken for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R equipment highlights: Golf R Black Edition adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R will be available with an optional Warmenau Package for model year 2026 and it's available to order now, while both the MY25 Golf R and Black Edition are both available with a panoramic sunroof. Warmenau Package: $6500 (MY26 R only) Single-item options: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing. Standard safety equipment includes: Golf GTI adds: Golf R adds: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R, like the wider Golf range, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Put simply, this is an R-mazing little car. Volkswagen has been polishing away at the Golf R formula for over two decades and it shows. Perhaps other than the related Audi S3, no other vehicle at this size or price point offers the same kind of all-round capability and useability. It's feels at home both in the city and on the racetrack, and while it's not necessarily the quickest or fastest hot hatch on sale, it arguably strikes the best balance. The level of adjustability in the chassis and drivetrain allows you to finetune it to just about any driving situation, and of course it's a Golf so the fundamentals are generally excellent anyway. It also is packed with just about everything the latest Golf portfolio has to offer, much of which isn't available in lower grades in Australia. Gripes? The fiddly steering wheel controls can get annoying when driving hard, and $70,000 is a lot of money for a Golf, even one as fast and as capable as this. Indeed it's not all that much cheaper than an Audi S3 with the same running gear. It's also a shame the Golf R Wagon remains off the menu for Australians. The more practical body had a cult, if niche, following Down Under, and offered a point of difference alongside all of its peers at this end of the market. Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cupra will fill the gap somewhat later this year with the Leon Sportstourer, though I imagine many would still prefer a Golf. All told though, the updated Mk8.5 Golf R is a fine compact performance car. It's the Swiss army knife of hot hatches, perhaps even more so these days than the also excellent new Golf GTI. It's as hardcore and racy as ever, without skimping on the creature comforts and daily driveability the nameplate is lauded for. The Black Edition in Grenadilla Black looks pretty mean, though I'd personally be holding out for an MY26 Lapiz Blue example with the optional Warmenau package. Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2025 Volkswagen Golf R review
The Volkswagen Golf R is more than just a fast hatchback; it's a trailblazing legacy that goes back decades. Black Edition Credit: CarExpert Since the first-generation Golf R32 debuted back in 2002, the R-badged Golf popularised a new class of compact performance car above that of its GTI hot hatch stablemate, challenging properly fast nameplates for straight-line pace. From the singing six-cylinder originals to the thumping turbocharged fours of more recent iterations, the flagship badge in the Golf lineup has become synonymous with being the consummate high-performance hatch, transcending traditional mainstream and premium segments in terms of both performance and all-round useability. The Golf R embodies this as much as ever in its latest Mk8.5 generation, with performance and technology that rivals vehicles from the Audi S, BMW M Performance and Mercedes-AMG stables at a much more attainable price point. It's hardly cheap at $70,000 before on-road costs, and it's now much closer in price to said premium performance alternatives these days, but it's decked out with all of the latest and greatest creature comforts the German auto giant has to offer, too. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert From later this year you'll also be able to deck out the Golf R with lightweight factory performance options for the first time on the regular variant – including an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and genuine carbon-fibre inlays. So is this still the benchmark hardcore hot hatch for performance enthusiasts? We joined the recent Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out… Base pricing for the updated Golf R has only risen by $400 compared to the last of the Mk8 generation, starting from $70,990 before on-road costs. The Black Edition adds another $1500. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert That's not all that far off the related Audi S3 (from $78,000) these days, and the latest BMW M135 xDrive (from $83,600) is also within reach. Less so is the Mercedes-AMG A35 (from $89,700), but you get the picture. From the mainstream brands, a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990) offers similar turbocharged all-wheel drive performance in an arguably less liveable rally-bred package, while the Honda Civic Type R ($74,100 D/A) is currently out of stock and channels similar grunt to only its front wheels – and is noticeably more track-focused. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool We've covered the recent launches of the Mk8.5 Golf and Golf GTI, so there's not much new to report here. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Perhaps the biggest difference between them and the R is the fact it doesn't revert to physical multifunction switchgear on the steering wheel – the pesky haptic touch-sensitive buttons remain. They can still be a little fiddly at times, and during more spirited driving stints including on track, I managed to mis-press the heated steering wheel button, as well as the skip track button when cornering. Beyond that it's much the same as the rest of the upgraded Golf range; there are different trims and colours, with distinctive blue highlights scattered throughout the cabin, including on the fine Nappa leather seat upholstery, steering wheel accents or the flutters of blue throughout the in-car displays. The seats themselves are similar to those in the GTI and R-Line, save for the Nappa hide, and the steering wheel is the perforated leather-trimmed sports unit from the GTI with said blue accents and touch controls. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Metal mesh-effect trim accents line the dashboard and doors, and you can customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster with some unique R customisation like a racy line-bar tacho with shift lights. Later this year you'll be able to opt for genuine carbon-fibre trim accents as part of the Warmenau package. Centre stage is the new 12.9-inch 'Discover' touchscreen multimedia system, which is larger than the old display while also bringing the latest software interface already seen in the German brand's ID-branded electric models. You score the new IDA voice assistant in addition to the usual navigation, DAB+ digital radio and wireless smartphone mirroring, but the lack of factory connectivity means it isn't quite as intelligent as the internet- and AI-enabled version offered overseas. The wireless Apple CarPlay generally worked without fault when paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, though I have experienced the odd dropout when passing under one of Victoria's toll booths in other models with this system. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert While some of the subbed-in trimmings go a good way to making it feel more upmarket, there haven't been any wholesale changes like in the related Cupra Leon, for example, which will be applying new padded and leather-lined surfaces along the centre console for a more premium ambience. Previous gripes around the touch sliders for temperature and volume have been somewhat addressed with illumination, which helps with useability in low-light situations while also looking more sophisticated, while the hard toolbar at the base of the screen makes it easier to toggle HVAC functions as well as operate the heated front seats. The second row remains one of the most generous in the class, with more than enough room for two adults to sit behind two adults. Head, knee and leg room are all good for the segment, even behind a taller driver like 6'1″ me, though forward visibility past the chunky sports bucket seats might be a challenge for nausea-prone passengers. Niceties include a third zone of climate control with directional vents at the rear of the centre console. Further, the flock-lined door bins continue in the rear to stop bottles rattling around, and there's a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert You also get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outboard seats, and top-tethers across all three. Additionally, there's a handy ski port – quite European – in case you're needing to stow longer items through from the boot. Speaking of, there's a decent 341 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in play, expanding to 1197 litres with them folded. There's an adjustable boot floor to make a load area flat if needed, and the space-saver spare of other Golf variants has been swapped out for a tyre mobility kit. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The new Golf R gets the same 'EA888' 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but compared to the old Australian-spec model it now makes 245kW of power (+10kW) and 420Nm of torque (+20Nm). 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert This aligns our latest Golf R with European specifications, after the previous model was down 20Nm on the global version due to a lack of a petrol particulate filter (PPF). The new model picks up the exhaust filtration system like the European model and therefore gets the full-fat tune. It's also worth noting the new R is now compatible with 95 RON premium unleaded, rather than being restricted to 98-octane fuel like the old car. Further, Volkswagen's 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 4.6 seconds is down 0.2 seconds on the previous model, while the standard R Performance Package fitted to the Australian specification means the Golf R is capable of hitting a top speed of 270km/h. Our observed indicated fuel economy of 10.4-10.7L/100km was achieved on day one of the launch with a mix of B-roads and country highways, including spirited stints. On the following day after a 71km transit leg from the Blue Mountains to Sydney Motorsport Park on mostly highway and freeway, we saw a far more impressive 5.8L/100km. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Let's get to the fun part, shall we? Black Edition Credit: CarExpert Our drive of the new Golf R and Golf R Black Edition started in Orange, NSW, taking us through the high country to the Blue Mountains for an overnight stay, then to SMP in western Sydney the following morning. Day one was very wet and gloomy, which made for a good test of the Golf R's 4Motion AWD traction on the high-speed roads on our lengthy drive route. As you'd expect, the fast little Volksie was nothing short of excellent. Driving through what can only be described as a torrential downpour for much of the day, the Golf R was unflappable in the wet, even on winding country B-roads with mixed road surface quality accompanied by signed speed limits generally in the realm of 80-100km/h. Even in tighter bends there was little to no understeer or scrabbling for traction when pushed – within reasonable limits given the conditions, of course – giving you the confidence to still drive with intent without feeling like you were anywhere near the limit. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert We had a few hours behind the wheel of the Golf R Black Edition on day one, providing plenty of time to test out the different modes. Personally, I chose to cycle between Special (Nurburgring) and Comfort during the extended route. Special is basically Race with the chassis softened off a touch to suit the lumpy-bumpy Nordschleife, and in reality a lot of Australia's spaghetti-like regional roads suit this exact mode given there's a layer of added compliance needed to iron out some sharper hits and high-frequency imperfections to avoid upsetting the balance of the vehicle. In this mode the drivetrain is also put into S+, which basically dials up everything to 11. It revs right out to the redline in each gear and downshifts early with plenty of aural theatre – helped by the augmented engine sound via the speakers – and if you flick it into the manual M+ mode the Golf R will refuse to shift even if you hit the limiter. The new turbocharger preload system works its magic in this mode, maintaining boost for better response. You basically get no turbo lag, and it almost feels naturally aspirated in the way it responds so quickly and revs out so linearly. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Adaptive chassis tech and variable-ratio steering mean you can dial up the feel and firmness when you want it for spirited stints, and then dial it back when you're tootling around the 'burbs or cruising on the highway. As its predecessors have done for generations, the Golf R remains a superb all-rounder. As with the GTI, I found that the steering weight felt a tad artificial and not as communicative as something like a Civic Type R, but it has a nicely fluid and accurate rack that suits the Jekyll and Hyde personalities of the Golf R quite well. I'd just like a bit more of a natural and weighted feel. I didn't find the engine's soundtrack to be overly contrived or artificial like the old Mk7's, and in its most aggressive mode the Golf R has an aggressive, high-pitched and raspy tone that sounds a little like the free-revving Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo four. You get subtle cracks or 'farts' on upshifts, a nice burbly idle, and a bit of overrun when you lift off the throttle between 3000 and 5000rpm. It certainly sounds purposeful, and is a little more raucous than the Audi S3 which shares the same drivetrain and much of the running gear underneath. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert At SMP we got to trial Drift mode on the skid pan before taking both the R and Black Edition out for some instructed laps on the long circuit. It's fascinating how much the different modes change the car's vibe. You can genuinely hold slides quite easily with the throttle (in a controlled environment when conditions permit), yet the Golf R also remains a sharp corner-carver on the racetrack. We started in Comfort mode and gradually worked or way up to Race and Special, really getting a good feel for the Golf R's circuit capabilities. The mix of sweeping bends and hairpins was a good test for the 4Motion AWD system as well as the brakes, and there was minimal fade from the latter after successive laps. There's good response from all driver controls at the limit, and it took a lot to induce any understeer – if anything ,the rear differential does a great job of sending torque to the outside rear wheel the bring the bum around. Volkswagen R's development driver, Benjamin 'Benny' Leuchter, even took us for a couple of hot laps at what felt like 10/10ths, included a lap in both the Special and Drift modes. As you can imagine, it was the latter that really generated the widest eyes and loudest gasps from all three journalists onboard… Mr Leuchter confirmed the Golf R Black Edition lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 47 seconds, which is around three seconds off the Civic Type R's pace but quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. Not bad. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Rounding out the on-road assessment, we did find there was a bit of tyre roar finding its way into the cabin from the 235/35 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, but that's not unusual for this type of car. The R's driver assistance suite is also excellent, as you'd expect. Travel Assist remains one of the benchmark semi-autonomous functions, and the standard Area View surround camera means you shouldn't have an excuse for gutter-rashed rims – though the quality of the camera feed could be better. Also standard are helpful features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, which supplement the Golf's already very good outward visibility. The former also brakes to avoid collisions in reverse. Speaking of parking, the R features Park Assist Plus, which adds automated assistance for the accelerator, brake and gear selection over the standard Park Assist in lower Golfs, which only controls steering to help guide you into both parallel and perpendicular parking bays. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The standard R is bolstered by the Black Edition, which is limited to 300 units in Australia. Volkswagen's local arm says around half of our market's Black Edition allocation is already spoken for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert 2025 Volkswagen Golf R equipment highlights: Digital Cockpit Pro – 10.25-inch instrument cluster 12.9-inch Discover touchscreen navigation system IDA voice assistance DAB+ radio Wireless App-Connect Keyless access Alarm system Premium metallic paint 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels Adaptive Chassis Control – DCC Nappa leather-appointed upholstery Electric driver seat incl. memory function Heated, ventilated front seat Harman Kardon 480W premium audio 3-zone climate control Head-up display Rear privacy glass Matrix LED headlights Dynamic Light Assist – adaptive high beam Premium LED tail lights – 3D effect 30-colour ambient interior lighting R exterior, interior design package Area View – surround cameras Park Assist Plus Golf R Black Edition adds: Darkened VW logos – front, rear Darkened R logos – front, rear 19-inch Warmenau forged alloy wheels – Black Darkened R logos – wheel centre caps Radiator grille with black strip Exterior mirrors in black Black brake calipers Black exhaust tail pipes To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R will be available with an optional Warmenau Package for model year 2026 and it's available to order now, while both the MY25 Golf R and Black Edition are both available with a panoramic sunroof. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Warmenau Package: $6500 (MY26 R only) Akrapovic titanium exhaust system 19-inch Warmenau alloy wheels Genuine carbon interior decor Single-item options: To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment includes: 9 airbags incl. front-centre airbag Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) Adaptive cruise control with stop/go Blind-spot monitoring Cross-traffic alert – front, rear Driver fatigue monitoring Emergency Assist Multi-collision brake Lane Assist Park Assist Parking sensors – front, rear Reversing camera Safe exit warning Travel Assist Golf GTI adds: Golf R adds: Area View – surround cameras Dynamic Light Assist To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The Golf R, like the wider Golf range, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Put simply, this is an R-mazing little car. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Volkswagen has been polishing away at the Golf R formula for over two decades and it shows. Perhaps other than the related Audi S3, no other vehicle at this size or price point offers the same kind of all-round capability and useability. It's feels at home both in the city and on the racetrack, and while it's not necessarily the quickest or fastest hot hatch on sale, it arguably strikes the best balance. The level of adjustability in the chassis and drivetrain allows you to finetune it to just about any driving situation, and of course it's a Golf so the fundamentals are generally excellent anyway. It also is packed with just about everything the latest Golf portfolio has to offer, much of which isn't available in lower grades in Australia. Gripes? The fiddly steering wheel controls can get annoying when driving hard, and $70,000 is a lot of money for a Golf, even one as fast and as capable as this. Indeed it's not all that much cheaper than an Audi S3 with the same running gear. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert It's also a shame the Golf R Wagon remains off the menu for Australians. The more practical body had a cult, if niche, following Down Under, and offered a point of difference alongside all of its peers at this end of the market. Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cupra will fill the gap somewhat later this year with the Leon Sportstourer, though I imagine many would still prefer a Golf. All told though, the updated Mk8.5 Golf R is a fine compact performance car. It's the Swiss army knife of hot hatches, perhaps even more so these days than the also excellent new Golf GTI. It's as hardcore and racy as ever, without skimping on the creature comforts and daily driveability the nameplate is lauded for. The Black Edition in Grenadilla Black looks pretty mean, though I'd personally be holding out for an MY26 Lapiz Blue example with the optional Warmenau package. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Credit: CarExpert Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Volkswagen Golf Still the jack of all trades Meaningful tech updates Black Edition looks menacing in... Black Like tradesmen, it ain't cheap anymore No wagon for Australia... welp Capacitive steering wheel buttons
7NEWS
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
2025 Volkswagen Golf R review
The Volkswagen Golf R is more than just a fast hatchback; it's a trailblazing legacy that goes back decades. Since the first-generation Golf R32 debuted back in 2002, the R-badged Golf popularised a new class of compact performance car above that of its GTI hot hatch stablemate, challenging properly fast nameplates for straight-line pace. From the singing six-cylinder originals to the thumping turbocharged fours of more recent iterations, the flagship badge in the Golf lineup has become synonymous with being the consummate high-performance hatch, transcending traditional mainstream and premium segments in terms of both performance and all-round useability. The Golf R embodies this as much as ever in its latest Mk8.5 generation, with performance and technology that rivals vehicles from the Audi S, BMW M Performance and Mercedes-AMG stables at a much more attainable price point. It's hardly cheap at $70,000 before on-road costs, and it's now much closer in price to said premium performance alternatives these days, but it's decked out with all of the latest and greatest creature comforts the German auto giant has to offer, too. From later this year you'll also be able to deck out the Golf R with lightweight factory performance options for the first time on the regular variant – including an Akrapovic titanium exhaust, lightweight forged alloy wheels, and genuine carbon-fibre inlays. So is this still the benchmark hardcore hot hatch for performance enthusiasts? We joined the recent Australian media launch in New South Wales to find out… How much does the Volkswagen Golf cost? Base pricing for the updated Golf R has only risen by $400 compared to the last of the Mk8 generation, starting from $70,990 before on-road costs. The Black Edition adds another $1500. That's not all that far off the related Audi S3 (from $78,000) these days, and the latest BMW M135 xDrive (from $83,600) is also within reach. Less so is the Mercedes-AMG A35 (from $89,700), but you get the picture. From the mainstream brands, a Toyota GR Corolla (from $67,990) offers similar turbocharged all-wheel drive performance in an arguably less liveable rally-bred package, while the Honda Civic Type R ($74,100 D/A) is currently out of stock and channels similar grunt to only its front wheels – and is noticeably more track-focused. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What is the Volkswagen Golf like on the inside? We've covered the recent launches of the Mk8.5 Golf and Golf GTI, so there's not much new to report here. Perhaps the biggest difference between them and the R is the fact it doesn't revert to physical multifunction switchgear on the steering wheel – the pesky haptic touch-sensitive buttons remain. They can still be a little fiddly at times, and during more spirited driving stints including on track, I managed to mis-press the heated steering wheel button, as well as the skip track button when cornering. Beyond that it's much the same as the rest of the upgraded Golf range; there are different trims and colours, with distinctive blue highlights scattered throughout the cabin, including on the fine Nappa leather seat upholstery, steering wheel accents or the flutters of blue throughout the in-car displays. The seats themselves are similar to those in the GTI and R-Line, save for the Nappa hide, and the steering wheel is the perforated leather-trimmed sports unit from the GTI with said blue accents and touch controls. Metal mesh-effect trim accents line the dashboard and doors, and you can customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster with some unique R customisation like a racy line-bar tacho with shift lights. Later this year you'll be able to opt for genuine carbon-fibre trim accents as part of the Warmenau package. Centre stage is the new 12.9-inch 'Discover' touchscreen multimedia system, which is larger than the old display while also bringing the latest software interface already seen in the German brand's ID-branded electric models. You score the new IDA voice assistant in addition to the usual navigation, DAB+ digital radio and wireless smartphone mirroring, but the lack of factory connectivity means it isn't quite as intelligent as the internet- and AI-enabled version offered overseas. The wireless Apple CarPlay generally worked without fault when paired with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, though I have experienced the odd dropout when passing under one of Victoria's toll booths in other models with this system. While some of the subbed-in trimmings go a good way to making it feel more upmarket, there haven't been any wholesale changes like in the related Cupra Leon, for example, which will be applying new padded and leather-lined surfaces along the centre console for a more premium ambience. Previous gripes around the touch sliders for temperature and volume have been somewhat addressed with illumination, which helps with useability in low-light situations while also looking more sophisticated, while the hard toolbar at the base of the screen makes it easier to toggle HVAC functions as well as operate the heated front seats. The second row remains one of the most generous in the class, with more than enough room for two adults to sit behind two adults. Head, knee and leg room are all good for the segment, even behind a taller driver like 6'1″ me, though forward visibility past the chunky sports bucket seats might be a challenge for nausea-prone passengers. Niceties include a third zone of climate control with directional vents at the rear of the centre console. Further, the flock-lined door bins continue in the rear to stop bottles rattling around, and there's a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. You also get the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the outboard seats, and top-tethers across all three. Additionally, there's a handy ski port – quite European – in case you're needing to stow longer items through from the boot. Speaking of, there's a decent 341 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in play, expanding to 1197 litres with them folded. There's an adjustable boot floor to make a load area flat if needed, and the space-saver spare of other Golf variants has been swapped out for a tyre mobility kit. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What's under the bonnet? The new Golf R gets the same 'EA888' 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, but compared to the old Australian-spec model it now makes 245kW of power (+10kW) and 420Nm of torque (+20Nm). This aligns our latest Golf R with European specifications, after the previous model was down 20Nm on the global version due to a lack of a petrol particulate filter (PPF). The new model picks up the exhaust filtration system like the European model and therefore gets the full-fat tune. It's also worth noting the new R is now compatible with 95 RON premium unleaded, rather than being restricted to 98-octane fuel like the old car. Further, Volkswagen's 0-100km/h acceleration claim of 4.6 seconds is down 0.2 seconds on the previous model, while the standard R Performance Package fitted to the Australian specification means the Golf R is capable of hitting a top speed of 270km/h. Our observed indicated fuel economy of 10.4-10.7L/100km was achieved on day one of the launch with a mix of B-roads and country highways, including spirited stints. On the following day after a 71km transit leg from the Blue Mountains to Sydney Motorsport Park on mostly highway and freeway, we saw a far more impressive 5.8L/100km. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool How does the Volkswagen Golf drive? Let's get to the fun part, shall we? Our drive of the new Golf R and Golf R Black Edition started in Orange, NSW, taking us through the high country to the Blue Mountains for an overnight stay, then to SMP in western Sydney the following morning. Day one was very wet and gloomy, which made for a good test of the Golf R's 4Motion AWD traction on the high-speed roads on our lengthy drive route. As you'd expect, the fast little Volksie was nothing short of excellent. Driving through what can only be described as a torrential downpour for much of the day, the Golf R was unflappable in the wet, even on winding country B-roads with mixed road surface quality accompanied by signed speed limits generally in the realm of 80-100km/h. Even in tighter bends there was little to no understeer or scrabbling for traction when pushed – within reasonable limits given the conditions, of course – giving you the confidence to still drive with intent without feeling like you were anywhere near the limit. We had a few hours behind the wheel of the Golf R Black Edition on day one, providing plenty of time to test out the different modes. Personally, I chose to cycle between Special (Nurburgring) and Comfort during the extended route. Special is basically Race with the chassis softened off a touch to suit the lumpy-bumpy Nordschleife, and in reality a lot of Australia's spaghetti-like regional roads suit this exact mode given there's a layer of added compliance needed to iron out some sharper hits and high-frequency imperfections to avoid upsetting the balance of the vehicle. In this mode the drivetrain is also put into S+, which basically dials up everything to 11. It revs right out to the redline in each gear and downshifts early with plenty of aural theatre – helped by the augmented engine sound via the speakers – and if you flick it into the manual M+ mode the Golf R will refuse to shift even if you hit the limiter. The new turbocharger preload system works its magic in this mode, maintaining boost for better response. You basically get no turbo lag, and it almost feels naturally aspirated in the way it responds so quickly and revs out so linearly. Adaptive chassis tech and variable-ratio steering mean you can dial up the feel and firmness when you want it for spirited stints, and then dial it back when you're tootling around the 'burbs or cruising on the highway. As its predecessors have done for generations, the Golf R remains a superb all-rounder. As with the GTI, I found that the steering weight felt a tad artificial and not as communicative as something like a Civic Type R, but it has a nicely fluid and accurate rack that suits the Jekyll and Hyde personalities of the Golf R quite well. I'd just like a bit more of a natural and weighted feel. I didn't find the engine's soundtrack to be overly contrived or artificial like the old Mk7's, and in its most aggressive mode the Golf R has an aggressive, high-pitched and raspy tone that sounds a little like the free-revving Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre turbo four. You get subtle cracks or 'farts' on upshifts, a nice burbly idle, and a bit of overrun when you lift off the throttle between 3000 and 5000rpm. It certainly sounds purposeful, and is a little more raucous than the Audi S3 which shares the same drivetrain and much of the running gear underneath. At SMP we got to trial Drift mode on the skid pan before taking both the R and Black Edition out for some instructed laps on the long circuit. It's fascinating how much the different modes change the car's vibe. You can genuinely hold slides quite easily with the throttle (in a controlled environment when conditions permit), yet the Golf R also remains a sharp corner-carver on the racetrack. We started in Comfort mode and gradually worked or way up to Race and Special, really getting a good feel for the Golf R's circuit capabilities. The mix of sweeping bends and hairpins was a good test for the 4Motion AWD system as well as the brakes, and there was minimal fade from the latter after successive laps. There's good response from all driver controls at the limit, and it took a lot to induce any understeer – if anything ,the rear differential does a great job of sending torque to the outside rear wheel the bring the bum around. Volkswagen R's development driver, Benjamin 'Benny' Leuchter, even took us for a couple of hot laps at what felt like 10/10ths, included a lap in both the Special and Drift modes. As you can imagine, it was the latter that really generated the widest eyes and loudest gasps from all three journalists onboard… Mr Leuchter confirmed the Golf R Black Edition lapped the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes and 47 seconds, which is around three seconds off the Civic Type R's pace but quicker than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. Not bad. Rounding out the on-road assessment, we did find there was a bit of tyre roar finding its way into the cabin from the 235/35 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, but that's not unusual for this type of car. The R's driver assistance suite is also excellent, as you'd expect. Travel Assist remains one of the benchmark semi-autonomous functions, and the standard Area View surround camera means you shouldn't have an excuse for gutter-rashed rims – though the quality of the camera feed could be better. Also standard are helpful features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic assist, which supplement the Golf's already very good outward visibility. The former also brakes to avoid collisions in reverse. Speaking of parking, the R features Park Assist Plus, which adds automated assistance for the accelerator, brake and gear selection over the standard Park Assist in lower Golfs, which only controls steering to help guide you into both parallel and perpendicular parking bays. To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool What do you get? The standard R is bolstered by the Black Edition, which is limited to 300 units in Australia. Volkswagen's local arm says around half of our market's Black Edition allocation is already spoken for. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R equipment highlights: Digital Cockpit Pro – 10.25-inch instrument cluster 12.9-inch Discover touchscreen navigation system IDA voice assistance DAB+ radio Wireless App-Connect Keyless access Alarm system Premium metallic paint 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels Adaptive Chassis Control – DCC Nappa leather-appointed upholstery Electric driver seat incl. memory function Heated, ventilated front seat Harman Kardon 480W premium audio 3-zone climate control Head-up display Rear privacy glass Matrix LED headlights Dynamic Light Assist – adaptive high beam Premium LED tail lights – 3D effect 30-colour ambient interior lighting R exterior, interior design package Area View – surround cameras Park Assist Plus Golf R Black Edition adds: Darkened VW logos – front, rear Darkened R logos – front, rear 19-inch Warmenau forged alloy wheels – Black Darkened R logos – wheel centre caps Radiator grille with black strip Exterior mirrors in black Black brake calipers Black exhaust tail pipes To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Options The Golf R will be available with an optional Warmenau Package for model year 2026 and it's available to order now, while both the MY25 Golf R and Black Edition are both available with a panoramic sunroof. Warmenau Package: $6500 (MY26 R only) Akrapovic titanium exhaust system 19-inch Warmenau alloy wheels Genuine carbon interior decor Single-item options: Panoramic sunroof: $1900 To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool Is the Volkswagen Golf safe? The Volkswagen Golf has a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing. Standard safety equipment includes: 9 airbags incl. front-centre airbag Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) Adaptive cruise control with stop/go Blind-spot monitoring Cross-traffic alert – front, rear Driver fatigue monitoring Emergency Assist Multi-collision brake Lane Assist Park Assist Parking sensors – front, rear Reversing camera Safe exit warning Travel Assist Golf GTI adds: Park Assist Plus Golf R adds: Area View – surround cameras Dynamic Light Assist To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool How much does the Volkswagen Golf cost to run? The Golf R, like the wider Golf range, is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia To see how the Volkswagen Golf lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool CarExpert's Take on the Volkswagen Golf Put simply, this is an R-mazing little car. Volkswagen has been polishing away at the Golf R formula for over two decades and it shows. Perhaps other than the related Audi S3, no other vehicle at this size or price point offers the same kind of all-round capability and useability. It's feels at home both in the city and on the racetrack, and while it's not necessarily the quickest or fastest hot hatch on sale, it arguably strikes the best balance. The level of adjustability in the chassis and drivetrain allows you to finetune it to just about any driving situation, and of course it's a Golf so the fundamentals are generally excellent anyway. It also is packed with just about everything the latest Golf portfolio has to offer, much of which isn't available in lower grades in Australia. Gripes? The fiddly steering wheel controls can get annoying when driving hard, and $70,000 is a lot of money for a Golf, even one as fast and as capable as this. Indeed it's not all that much cheaper than an Audi S3 with the same running gear. It's also a shame the Golf R Wagon remains off the menu for Australians. The more practical body had a cult, if niche, following Down Under, and offered a point of difference alongside all of its peers at this end of the market. Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cupra will fill the gap somewhat later this year with the Leon Sportstourer, though I imagine many would still prefer a Golf. All told though, the updated Mk8.5 Golf R is a fine compact performance car. It's the Swiss army knife of hot hatches, perhaps even more so these days than the also excellent new Golf GTI. It's as hardcore and racy as ever, without skimping on the creature comforts and daily driveability the nameplate is lauded for. The Black Edition in Grenadilla Black looks pretty mean, though I'd personally be holding out for an MY26 Lapiz Blue example with the optional Warmenau package. Interested in buying a Volkswagen Golf? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Pros Still the jack of all trades Meaningful tech updates Black Edition looks menacing in... Black Cons
