2022 Volkswagen Golf R Review

About 25 years ago, a certain adult beverage company ran an ad campaign. It welcomed folks to the years of their lives where they were now mature enough to appreciate the brand’s pilsner.

The campaign was a bit of a rallying cry for those that had gotten older, wiser, and had more discerning tastes. The targeted audience was a mature set that no longer wanted the same watered-down slop favored by frat kids. If I apply that same logic to performance cars, then the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is my sophisticated, mature enthusiasts’ choice.

For years I have always appreciated and respected the Golf R. But as a youngster, I believed I needed something that felt rawer to drive. Cars like the Subaru WRX STI or Mitsubishi Lancer EVO. All the pops, bangs, squeaks, rattles, and general lack of refinement gave drivers a more visceral experience. Right? Right?

Well, after a week in the new Golf R, I realized I might have been wrong. Here’s a car that can be a terror on one’s favorite twisty back road, but still retains a sophisticated look, elegant interior, and ride quality that doesn’t require a chiropractor on speed dial.

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is all new, ushering in the next generation of the compact hatchback in North America. Not all versions of the Golf have made it to our shores though as the regular car is discontinued, just leaving the sporty Golf GTI and Golf R.

I really like the exterior treatment of the new Golf R. There’s a full width led lightbar on the front that mostly drew praise from friends and colleagues, but it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Out back there is a single R badge, enhanced spoiler, and quad exhaust.

Power for the all-wheel drive 2022 Volkswagen Golf R continues to come from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It now produces a stout 315 hp and 295 lb-ft. of torque when equipped with the 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. If opting for the six-speed manual transmission like found in my test vehicle, torque drops by 15 lb-ft.

The engine has good initial punch, but it takes a moment for the little 2.0-liter to build-up boost and really unleash its full potential. Keep it in the high rpms, slide through the gears, and the Golf R is breaking speed laws in no time at all.

Fitted on the R is a set of 235/35R19 tires. They’re not the largest wheels or the widest tires in the segment, but enough to get the job done. This suits the Golf R’s no-nonsense personality. As has been the case for a while now, the Golf R handles better than any vehicle with economy hatchback roots should. It’s the same trait I found with the GTI I drove last summer, but different.

The Golf R has so much mechanical grip from its drivetrain and chassis, but with winter tires installed, it easily overmatches the soft rubber’s limits. I can only imagine how much cornering prowess this car will have when we revisit it in a few months on sunny roads, and with the proper summer tires installed.

Sometimes when a car of humble roots steps up a few classes in terms of performance and price, its interior feels woefully underwhelming and out of place. This is not the case with the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R. The interior features a clean design with styling elements that wouldn’t be out of place in luxury cars. There’s a fully digital and customizable gauge cluster as well as a large touch screen.

That Infotainment system has drawn a lot of ire and for good reason. Owners will get accustomed to it and I’ve learned most of its ins and outs. But the slow reacting haptic controls on both the steering wheel and center console, combined with no physical buttons or knobs, left me frustrated at times.

The actual software on the infotainment system is high quality though. The map is quick and clear, the audio information layout is logical, and I’m a fan of the drive mode graphics.

Equally pleasing are the front seats which I find to be comfortable and supportive. Even on long drives, I didn’t feel fatigued, and no extremities fell asleep. The rear seats are a bit tighter than I remember, but fully on par with the segment. With 35.0 inches (889 mm) of legroom, that’s much more than on offer in the back of the Toyota GR Corolla, but a bit less than found in the Honda Civic Type R.

It’s a similar story when it comes to cargo capacity. The Golf R features 19.9 cu ft (564 L) of space. Once again, that splits the less accommodating GR Corolla, and the more cavernous Civic Type R.

This brings us to the biggest issue for the Golf R, and it’s in Volkswagen’s very own showroom;. It’s the existence of the Golf GTI. With its equally new and powerful engine, the GTI is just that much closer to the Golf R in terms of performance. The engine builds power quicker at the low end and the GTI feels more responsive, even though it is not. Once up to full power, the Golf R pulls hard, and grins follow, but around the city, its advantage is less apparent.

When it comes to handling, it’s a similar story. The Golf R’s all-wheel drive system compensates for its extra weight and will out gun a GTI through a twisting country road. But the GTI feels livelier in day-to-day driving. It’s a playful puppy compared to the Golf R’s more purposeful German Sheppard demeanour. Part of this can be attributed to the weight difference. At a curb weight of 3,404 lbs. (1,550 kg), the Golf R is nearly 300 lbs. (136 kg) heavier than a similarly equipped Golf GTI.

As can be summarized from this review, I whole heartedly recommend a sporty Golf to someone looking for a sensible, practical, sophisticated hatchback that can turn into a track terror at a moment’s notice. The question is, which one? The answer comes down to two factors: personal preference and location.

Those that live in warmer, drier climates, will probably appreciate the advantages of the Golf GTI. But those that want the ultimate Golf, or experience excessive rain and/or four season a year, then the Golf R is your car.