volkswagen golf r 2022 Expert Review
Reviewed by Duncan Brady
Volkswagen is introducing a redesigned eighth-generation "MkVIII" Golf for 2022, and although we won't get the base car , there's some exciting news. After a couple years off , we're getting a new Golf R. It draws lineage back to the original six-cylinder Golf R32, which was introduced in 2002, and carries on as the performance pinnacle of the Golf lineup. The 2022 Golf R competes with other affordable performance cars including the Honda Civic Type R, Subaru WRX STI, Hyundai Veloster N, and Subaru BRZ.
The Volkswagen Golf R is a 2022 IntelliChoice Best Overall Value award winner.
What's New
- Redesigned exterior and interior
- More power and torque
- New AWD system with torque vectoring and Drift mode
- Stiffer suspension with updated adjustable dampers
- New 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display
The Most Powerful Golf Ever
Every Golf R will be powered by the latest iteration of Volkswagen's "EA888" 2.0-liter turbo-four developing 315 hp and 310 lb-ft. That output gives the MkVIII Golf R 27 more horses and 30 more lb-ft than its predecessor, and it's up 74 hp and 37 lb-ft on the new GTI. Like every Golf R that's come before it, the new car will be AWD only. Transmission choices include a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and a six-speed manual. The EPA rates it at 23/30 mpg city/highway with the automatic, and 20/28 mpg with the manual.
How Quick Is the Golf R?
Our 2022 Car of the Year contest included manual transmission-equipped versions of the GTI and Golf R. There, the sporty hatchbacks' 0-60 times didn't end up how you might expect: the GTI did it in 6.1 seconds, while the Golf R was slower with a 6.3-second sprint. We brought a dual-clutch automatic Golf R to our 2022 Performance Vehicle of the Year event, where it posted a quick 4.2-second 0-60 time—that's more like it.
Drift Mode and the New AWD System
Beyond increases in power and torque, the most exciting reason to check out the new Golf R is its new AWD system. With help from a new torque-vectoring rear differential, the MkVIII Golf R should be noticeably more agile than its predecessor, mitigating that car's tendency for understeer.
There's even a rear-biased Drift mode, not unlike that on the now discontinued Ford Focus RS.
Golf R 20 Years
Volkswagen is building a proper special edition of its hottest hatchback for 2022. The Golf R 20 Years is no simple decal package; the changes start with an extra 13 hp that bump output to 328 hp. Volkswagen also includes R-Performance equipment, including a rear spoiler and additional drive modes, plus the 20 Years cars get unique blue and black wheels.
Safety
Although it hasn't yet been evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA, we can learn a lot about the MkVIII Golf's safety by its performance in Euro NCAP safety testing. The eighth-gen Golf earns a five-star overall safety rating from Euro NCAP with a 95 percent rating for adult occupants, an 89 percent rating for child occupants, a 76 percent rating for vulnerable road users (pedestrian safety), and a 78 percent score for its safety assist systems.
Technology
The eighth-generation Golf R represents a significant step forward in the infotainment space. It features a 10.0-inch touchscreen display in place of the outgoing model's 8.0-inch unit, and a full digital instrument cluster is standard. An available head-up display further augment the digital experience.
