2022 Volkswagen Golf R

2022 Volkswagen Golf R Review

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　After taking two years off, Volkswagen's hottest hatch returns to the U.S. market. The Golf R and its GTI sibling are the sole eighth-generation Golf variants to make it across the pond since the standard Golf has been discontinued for the U.S. Just as before, the Golf R is a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive version of VW's iconic hatchback. For 2022, its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine now makes 315 horsepower, up 27 hp from the previous generation. The extra power and torque are immediately noticeable, and the R rushes to its 7,000-rpm redline from anything above 4,000 rpm quicker and with far more gusto than the GTI.

　　The Golf R also has a new all-wheel-drive system. In addition to the expected weather-beating and traction-enhancing abilities, the Golf R's new system has torque-vectoring capability at the rear wheels. It automatically shifts more engine torque to the outside rear wheel when turning to make the car more agile. There's even a special Drift mode that sends all of the available rear power to one wheel to let you do some nifty tail-out power slides (when you're on a racetrack, of course).

　　We like the Golf R's standard Driver Cockpit digital instrument panel, but the rest of the new interior lacks the more upscale feel of previous R models. The center stack's streamlined interface looks cool, but every physical control has been replaced with either a wonky touch-sensitive pad or a menu in the infotainment display. These changes are initially maddening, and the frustration is only mildly toned down once you get used to everything. We get that touch controls represent a neat leap forward, but fussing with a touch-sensitive temperature slider while trying to keep your eyes on the road simply isn't intuitive or safe enough.

　　As with previous incarnations, the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is a bit of a niche choice. It offers superior performance and utility compared to the Honda Civic Si and Subaru WRX, but at a higher price. Alternatively, you might cross-shop it with luxury picks such as the related Audi S3 or the Mercedes-Benz CLA AMG 35. Either way we think the Golf R is a solid choice if you want a fun-to-drive compact that's also a great all-arounder.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

　　How does the Golf R drive? The Golf R uses one of the best turbocharged four-cylinder engines around. Our automatic-equipped Golf R test car ripped from 0 to 60 mph in a scant 4.3 seconds and cleared the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds at 108.3 mph. Those are outstanding acceleration times for a hot hatch or compact performance sedan. The engine is powerful and smooth, and the dual-clutch transmission's shifts feel far more refined than those from traditional automatics in some rivals.

　　Braking and handling impressed too. The Golf R stopped from 60 mph in just 105 feet and pulled 0.99 g on the skidpad, again among the best we've ever seen from any compact. The standard adaptive suspension does a wonderful job of keeping body motions well in check, and standard all-wheel drive means traction is never an issue. The car feels light and nimble thanks to that well-tuned suspension as well as responsive steering that translates more road feel than the closely related Volkswagen GTI. It's not the sharpest or most dynamic car in its class, but it's not too far off the benchmark. Some editors found the steering to be a bit heavy in Sport mode, but it lightens up at low speeds, which makes the Golf R a breeze to park.

Comfort

　　How comfortable is the Golf R? The Golf R's adaptive suspension dampers help improve not only handling but ride comfort too. There's a distinct difference between Comfort and Sport settings, though the latter is still reasonably compliant. The Golf R's seats are also great. They offer excellent support, with fixed bolsters that hug without squeezing too tight. The front seats are both heated and ventilated; the rear outboard seats are heated too. Padding in both rows is supportive but not overly firm.

　　The Golf R is relatively quiet, with only a mild amount of wind and road noise at highway speeds. The exhaust is adjustable, though even in its loudest setting you won't have trouble talking to your passengers. The exhaust note is beefy for a four-cylinder engine, and there's a lovely bit of turbo whine at full blast.

　　Our biggest complaint is the car's climate control system. While the standard three-zone automatic climate control is a plus, controlling and adjusting the setting can be cumbersome and frustrating. In fact, you can't even see the capacitive touch controls at night as Volkswagen (incorrectly) believed it didn't need backlighting. Using voice commands is a crutch, not a solution. At least the air conditioning blows cold.

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