Enter the new Golf R – Volkswagen’s most powerful and fastest accelerating hot-hatchback to date, boasting a hefty 300PS  and a 0-62 mph sprint time of 4.9 seconds (for DSG equipped cars).

Visually this super hot Golf is surprisingly restrained, with no red go-faster stripes to be found along its sinewy bodywork - the ‘R’ brand has always instead been more about sophisticated, understated performance. It certainly has that in spades, from the new front bumper design, with large air inlets, modified radiator grille with ‘R’ logo and newly developed daytime running lights. At the side, there are bespoke body-colour sills, and matt chrome-capped door mirrors. Black-painted brake calipers with ‘R’ logos  peak out from behind the 18-inch ‘Cadiz’ alloys wheels. At the rear, there are smoked LED tail lights, an ‘R’ diffuser and four chrome-tipped exhaust pipes – two at either side.

The classy, understated performance theme continues inside, with cloth and Alcantara sports seats, bespoke instrument dials and electric blue lighting in the doors. As with all Mark 7 Golfs - Quality of interior is high – beautifully finished fittings – soft touch plastics nearly everywhere, with glossy piano black finish on centre console. All switchgear feels well made and good to the touch.

Practicality of a regular Golf is retained – so there’s plenty of space for all occupants and a decent sized boot. Split fold seats assist in load lugging duties. Support from the front sports seats is pretty good – certainly hugging the lower body, although less so around the shoulders. Accommodation is comfortable and spacious in the rear, too.

The optional 8” Discover Navigation/infotainment system is intuitive to use – controlling many of the car’s functions – including the Driver profile selection via a combination of touch-screen and push-buttons located on the dashboard. This adjusts the characteristics of the car’s throttle response, steering weight and – if the optional Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) is fitted – varies the firmness of the dampers. ‘Comfort’ proved most bearable on UK roads, with ‘Race’ mode’s uncompromising tautness being best suited to a track day. An ‘Individual’ mode also allows the bespoke setting of each of the car’s adjustable parameters.

The Golf R has a split personality: on the one hand docile and manageable - perfect for popping down the shops. On the other it’s really quite mad… capable of scaring the life out of unsuspecting passengers. We’re talking Porsche Boxster S acceleration here!

Along with 300PS, the huge spread of torque makes it incredibly tractable at all engine speeds - pulling away in 2nd is possible and it’ll even accelerate strongly in 6th at 60 mph. Given the performance on offer, fuel economy should be pretty awful, but in fact it’s not. Drive sensibly and you’ll return somewhere between 35 mpg and the official 39.8 mpg figure on a longer journey, slightly more if you plump for the DSG auto.

The four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged EA888 TSI petrol engine (based on the one in the GTi) is a smooth performer too and when driven gently - save for the quad-exhausts booming slightly on the overrun - the R is actually a reasonably refined machine. Of course, a hard prod of the throttle sees the engine take on a purposeful roar.

In terms of actual driving dynamics, the R feels similar to the Golf GTi – that is focused, planted and composed, but not an all out hoot. For many this balance will be just right, allowing them to confidently enjoy the car’s breathtaking performance without the car feeling ‘nervous’ or unpredictable. The Haldex four wheel drive system also affords the R with substantially more grip and the ability to accelerate on full power without the steering being corrupted by torque steer – the curse of many powerful front-wheel drive hot hatches.
 

Verdict:

It’s not cheap, but Volkswagen’s Golf R offers junior Porsche performance levels, combined with all the practicality and everyday usability of a regular Golf.

 

Tech spec:

Volkswagen Golf R 6 speed manual
OTR Price: £29,000
As tested, with options: £34,265
Max Power: 300PS @5,500-6200 rpm
Max Torque: 380NM @ 1,800-5,500 rpm
Max Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Acceleration: 0-62 in 5.1 seconds – (4.9 seconds for DSG Auto)
Claimed MPG (combined): 39.8
CO2 emissions: (g/km) 165
Insurance group: 34E