Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen Golf R
Volkswagen Golf R

2017 Volkswagen Golf R

Pros: Invigorating all-wheel-drive performance with surprisingly comfortable ride; impressively refined, luxury-grade interior trimmings; practicality of four-door hatchback body style

Cons: Steep sticker price puts Golf R in competition with plenty of other compelling performance cars; occasional lag from automated manual transmission

CG Says: The 2017 Volkswagen Golf R gains standard equipment. Navigation, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning, self-dimming headlights, 19-inch wheels, and driver-selectable DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) adaptive damping suspension are now standard. The Golf R is a compact four-door hatchback with all-wheel drive. It is the top performance model in Volkswagen’s compact-car lineup and is more powerful and expensive than Golf GTI—VW’s other hot hatchback. A 292-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine pairs with either 6-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed automated manual. With its standard all-wheel-drive, high-end cabin trim, and impressive acceleration and handling, the Golf R stands far above most compact hatchbacks—even the performance-oriented ones. Trouble is, it also stands far above them in price as well. The 2017 Volkswagen Golf R costs around $40K. That’s a lot of money for a VW hatchback, but the Golf R nonetheless offers a compelling mix of performance, luxury, and practicality that’s hard to match elsewhere.

The Facts
Class Sporty/Performance Car
Body Style(s) 4-door hatchback
Passenger Count 5
Drive Wheels all-wheel drive
Manufacturer Volkswagen
Nation of Manufacture Germany
Base Prices Base: $39,375

Base Engine
turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
Horsepower
292
Std. Transmission
6-speed manual
Avail. Transmission
6-speed automated manual
EPA City Range (mpg)
22-23
EPA Hwy Range (mpg)
30-31

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