2019 Volkswagen Golf R Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　

What's new

Now available in 40 custom colors, including heritage colorsPart of the second Golf R generation introduced for 2015

　　Nearly four decades ago, Volkswagen debuted the GTI and almost single-handedly invented what we now call the hot hatch. With abundant power, sporty handling and all-wheel-drive stability, the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R is a fitting modern-day interpretation of that legacy, a car that will boost your heart rate while still offering a comfortable interior and inherent hatchback versatility.

　　For 2019, the Golf R carries over with no changes, although there is a new palette of colors (40 in all) that we find to be pretty cool. Want a Golf R in Irish Green or Nogaro Blue Pearl? VW will do it for you. And just like last year, the R comes standard with everything in the Golf arsenal, including adaptive LED headlights, a large touchscreen display and a host of driver assistance features. VW's six-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper transferable warranty is another draw.

　　Our biggest gripe with the Golf R is its lofty price tag. It's a hefty premium over the GTI, which isn't quite as capable yet remains a blast to drive. For the price of a Golf R, you're also solidly in V8-powered muscle-car territory. Yet the Golf R is a top pick for any pragmatic performance enthusiast who wants outstanding performance, impressive utility and a generous set of features.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.6 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Volkswagen Golf R (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.6 / 10
Driving	9.0
Comfort	9.0
Interior	9.0
Utility	8.0
Technology	8.5

　　

Driving

9.0

　　You'd never know by looking at it, but the Golf R provides remarkable real-world performance for a variety of drivers. The all-wheel-drive system makes the power easy to harness and adds stability in wet weather. A somewhat heavy curb weight and the lack of a proper mechanical differential are the only weak points.

　　

Acceleration

9.0

　　Without the use of launch control, the R's acceleration can be a little slow from a dead stop. But when used, launch control fires the little Golf to 60 mph in an impressively quick 4.7 seconds. Torque is everywhere, making the R real-world quick, too. Power can be found all the way to redline.

　　

Braking

9.0

　　In our brake tests, the Golf R stopped from 60 in a short 106 feet. That's partly thanks to its sticky summer tires, but the brake system itself feels strong and is capable of shrugging off the extra weight of the R. The pedal is easy to modulate for typical driving and thankfully lacks the long-travel squishiness typically found in VW models.

　　

Steering

8.0

　　While there's definitely not a lot of feel, the weighting and quickness of the steering are fitting for a hot hatch. Steering effort is totally fine in Normal mode, with Race mode tending to be heavy for heavy's sake. VW also makes some of the best steering wheels in the business.

　　

Handling

8.0

　　The Golf R is confident and stable, and it has a smart all-wheel-drive system to help you power out of turns. Stability control can be completely disabled, which reveals an inherent tendency for understeer. On a racetrack, the brake-based torque vectoring can overheat the brakes if you push too hard. You'll also overheat the tires if you push further still. This VW is a great 80 percent spirited driving car.

　　

Drivability

9.0

　　Volkswagen has been offering dual-clutch transmissions for a while now, and it shows. The R's DSG is super smooth when pulling away from a stop or in slow traffic situations. When leaving the line, the R's acceleration can be a bit languid, but once underway shifts are quick and crisp. Heavy braking gets the gearbox shifting down through the gears — very cool.

　　

Comfort

9.0

　　For a car of its performance potential, the Golf R is surprisingly comfortable. You don't have to suffer on your daily commute because you want to have a car capable of some weekend fun. The occasional stiff-legged ride is the only price to pay.

　　

Seat comfort

9.0

　　The seats are superb, offering just enough side bolstering to keep the average person in place through turns without feeling confining the rest of the time. They're very supportive over distances, too. The leather seats breathe OK, but seat ventilation is a bit conspicuous in its absence.

　　

Ride comfort

8.5

　　The ride is firm compared to a standard Golf, but it's a veritable La-Z-Boy compared to the Focus RS. Impacts around town are well-damped and rarely harsh, but everything gets a bit more severe in Race mode. Still, the adaptive dampers can deal with 95 percent of the roads, no problem.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.5

　　Tire and wind noise is minimal, especially compared to other high-powered sport compacts. The piped-in engine note has an engaging snarl, and it gets snarlier when the car is put in Race mode. Thankfully, you can also select the louder engine individually through the Custom drive mode setting.

　　

Climate control

9.0

　　Volkswagen continues to get climate controls right, with three large and easy-to-grip dials and legible buttons. Airflow from the high, center-mounted vents is more than adequate. Rear passengers get low, center-mounted vents with decent articulation.

　　

Interior

9.0

　　Yes, this Golf is a very expensive version of a compact hatchback. However, it's arguably the best compact hatchback in terms of practicality. The added R touches don't take anything away from that. You could use this car every day without guilt or compromise.

　　

Ease of use

9.0

　　The driver-centric controls are close, clearly labeled and easy to use. The climate controls are analog and among the easiest to decipher. The large touchscreen controls feature graphics and response times that are better than those offered by Honda or Ford.

　　

Getting in/getting out

9.0

　　Thanks to wide and tall doors and a moderately high driver-seat height, this car is easy to get into and out of, especially for its size. Compared to a regular Golf, the front seats are not as easy to slip in and out of due to the aggressive seat bolsters. Rear-seat access is adequate.

　　

Driving position

9.0

　　Simply put, it's excellent. There's plenty of adjustability for all manner of body types, and headroom is spacious. The angle of the steering wheel, along with its pleasing shape, is nearly perfect as well. It really does inspire confidence.

　　

Roominess

8.0

　　The cabin is large and airy. The back seat offers ample legroom, but only if the front passengers don't slide back their seats too much. Up front, the eight-way power driver's seat and extended tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel action allow very tall drivers to get comfortable.

　　

Visibility

9.0

　　There is superior visibility thanks to great sightlines all around and a high seating position. The short overhangs also help you know where the car's bumpers are, which is useful for parking. Blind-spot, lane departure and forward collision warning systems are standard.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　Unlike other high-dollar sport compacts, the regular car upon which the Golf R is based has a sleek, modern cabin with tight tolerances and satisfying switchgear. The Golf R is upgraded slightly with standard, high-quality leather and blue stitching. It definitely looks and feels the price.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　Practicality doesn't usually come with a heaping dose of performance, but the Golf R is still a Golf. The folding rear seats help take the guilt out of owning something so fun. Interior storage is decent, and items can be hidden from view.

　　

Small-item storage

8.0

　　Center console storage — in the form of cupholders or the bin under the climate control — is concealable and capable of holding a fair bit of stuff. Oddly, the front center armrest does not flip open for more storage. The size of the door pockets is decent for front and rear passengers.

　　

Cargo space

8.0

　　The cargo area has 22.8 cubic feet of space with rear seats up or 52.7 cubic feet with them down — the same as some extra-small crossover SUVs. A large and nearly vertical hatch opening ensures easy loading of bulky items. The rear seats are split 60/40 and have a pass-through.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

　　Two Isofix anchors are located on each of the outboard rear seats. They are concealed under removable and easily accessible plastic covers. Attaching a strap to either of the seatback tethers requires removing the cargo cover. The cramped back seat might make installing a rear-facing car seat difficult.

　　

Technology

8.5

　　The new infotainment system improves upon its predecessor in a number of ways, including quicker response times and a larger screen. The Golf R-specific 12.3-inch digital instrument panel makes the interior more special. All of the R's advanced driver safety aids are standard.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.5

　　High-definition graphics complement an easy-to-operate user interface. We like that you can preview artist and song info before switching radio stations. The audio quality is solid and has good power and clarity. The Audi-like digital gauge cluster is sharp and attractive, but you can't customize the display readouts.

　　

Smartphone integration

8.5

　　The Golf R supports multiple physical media inputs for listening to audio files. A CD player and SD card reader are located in the glovebox, while an auxiliary input and USB port reside under the center console. Two additional USB ports and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.

　　

Driver aids

8.5

　　There's a fairly standard assortment of driver's aids including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. Most notably, the R is the only Golf (or Volkswagen for that matter) where electronic stability control can be completely disabled.

　　

Voice control

7.0

　　The voice control system is quite good at identifying names in your contact list. If you're in the correct radio band, it's also easy to switch radio stations. Switching stations on different bands is more difficult. There isn't much natural speech detection.

　　

Which Golf R does zzdcar recommend?

　　There's only one Golf R trim level, so it really comes down to choosing one of a few dozen colors and whether you want the manual or dual-clutch automatic transmission. The automatic is more sensible, but the manual promises so much more fun.

　　

2019 Volkswagen Golf R models

　　The 2019 Volkswagen Golf R is the hot-rod edition of the Golf and GTI hatchbacks. The four-door Golf R seats five and comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (288 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque). Power is sent to all four wheels through either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (called DSG).

　　Standard features include 19-inch wheels with performance tires, an adaptive suspension, adaptive LED headlights, heated mirrors, a rear spoiler, keyless entry, push-button ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. On the tech front, the R comes with VW Car-Net communications, Bluetooth, a navigation system, a digital gauge cluster, an 8-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, and an eight-speaker Fender audio system with a CD player and satellite radio.

　　Advanced safety and driver aids include front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning and mitigation, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a lane departure warning system, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control.

　　

2019 Golf R Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$40,395
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$192/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	22.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	6 years / 72,000 miles