We take the Golf R for a spin
Wolfsburg’s performance flagship might not look very exciting, but appearances can be deceiving in the new Golf R
It’s abundantly clear that this is a lot of car for the asking price, make no bones about that. For just Dh149,500 you get a pumped-up four-pot turbo (they’ve given it extra boost, a modified cylinder head, exhaust valves, injection valves, valve springs and pistons), not to mention 4Motion all-wheel drive, a snappy DSG and loads of technology.
The latter includes an ESC system that can be turned off completely. Not that I dare. “You break it, you buy it,” said a beaming Thomas Milz, managing director of Volkswagen Middle East, and for less than Dh150K, I’d be very tempted.
With a direct variable assistance electromechanical steering that requires just 2.1 turns lock to lock, it’s also aided by one of the sharpest of throttles in the hot-hatch segment. Turbo lag is barely noticeable, so surely it’s time for it to be held in the same affection as the GTI? Well, it’s one second faster around the Nürburgring.
Is this the complete hot hatch? There’s no doubt in my mind. It is as extreme as VW gets (even though it doesn’t look like it) and it knows how to put a smile on your face as big as those 18in Cadiz alloys (19in are available, but will add weight).
Don’t go crazy with the options as your bargain R could cost closer to Dh170,000. You don’t need a sunroof, leather interior or anything else; the stock version is frighteningly good just as it is. And 380Nm of torque and 0-100kph in just 5.0 seconds is only half of the story. What we’ve grown to love about the R is that it comes into its own on the twistiest of roads. With a prodigious amount of grip courtesy of the Haldex system (it sends the grunt to whichever corner needs it most to keep it glued to the surface) the result is a car that eagerly sniffs out the corners.
There is enough power to unstick all four wheels, though it takes some doing. I did – those poor cones didn’t stand a chance. The ESC Sport mode allows you to slip and slide a tad and doesn’t cut in crudely; it knows when you are in control or when you need a hand and it sounds brutal in Race mode where those quad chrome tailpipes really come alive.
The result is an agile and powerful street fighter that’s ready for the track. Hmm, that sounds familiar...
It’s a good job that the cabin packs sports seats to hold you in place while the stainless steel pedals add a touch of glamour. The blue instrumentation – synonymous with top-shelf Golfs – carries over but the exterior is rather understated. It benefits from a beefed-up front bumper with larger air ducts, a chrome bar across the grille and a smattering of R badges.
Nope, it doesn’t seek any attention but the way it handles under full throttle means it’ll definitely get some. It’s smooth, practical and big on quality, meaning Volkswagen’s fastest Golf ever is also its best ever.
