Volkswagen Golf R 2024: The Radical Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is the car of the people. It ranks among the top 10 best-selling vehicles worldwide of all time and has always adapted to the population across generations. The lineup of the German compact car has significantly reduced over time. Today, only the GTI and R versions remain. However, in Canada, this isn't a bad thing since these two variations of the Golf rank among the best cars in their respective categories.

The Golf R doesn't offer anything significantly new for 2024. Fortunately, it remains up-to-date and continues to draw considerable interest from buyers. It's a car that combines sportiness and practicality, a highly appreciated blend. As if that weren't enough, it's also a vehicle filled with finesse and subtleties. Its finishing is impeccable, as is its assembly quality. The fact that Volkswagen is part of the same family as Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini allows the brand's engineers to offer us a high-end and particularly technically refined car, all at a more than reasonable price.

Range and Price

There's only one version available for the 2024 Golf R, starting at $51,410. I know, at first glance, it seems high, but one must not forget that the Golf R is in the league of cars like the Audi RS3 and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that you get more value for your money with the Golf R. The compact sporty hatchback from the German manufacturer offers a comprehensive standard equipment list with a 10-inch touchscreen, heads-up display, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system. One of the few options available is the DSG gearbox, which raises the price to $52,810.

Category and Competition

Even though the category of compact sports cars now has only a few names, the competition remains fierce within the segment. The Golf R has strong arguments in its favor. It might be the least flashy car in terms of aesthetics, but its assembly quality and performance make it particularly enticing, especially for the long term.

Rivals: Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Elantra N, Mini Cooper JCW, Subaru WRX, Toyota Corolla GR.

Design and Technologies

The Volkswagen Golf R is a radical car, except in terms of aesthetics. There are a few elements that give it away, like the four exhaust pipes or the aggressive rims. However, to the untrained eye, it remains a somewhat ordinary-looking hatchback, and that's precisely why I like this car so much. It's a speedster bought for personal enjoyment, not for flaunting in front of others.

The Golf R's interior offers high-quality finishing, and its design is very intriguing. There are numerous customization options, especially concerning colors and dashboard displays. Every material you touch is of good quality and quite pleasant to the touch. Let's say it's a car that evokes various positive emotions. In terms of technology, the Golf R leaves nothing to be desired and even offers a driving mode specifically designed for controlled drifting, a rarity even for this kind of car.

Performance

Under the hood, nothing changes for the 2024 Golf R, which is still powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It delivers 315 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. You have the choice between a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed DSG gearbox. In both cases, power is transmitted to all four wheels. This gives the Golf R a significant advantage over the competition. The Golf R is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.3 seconds, which is very fast for a car of this caliber. Furthermore, the Golf R isn't too thirsty. Its average fuel consumption stands at 11.8 L/100 km in the city and 8.3 L/100 km on the highway with the manual transmission, and 10.3 L/100 km in the city and 7.7 L/100 km on the highway with the DSG gearbox. After knowing this, if you're still not convinced, I don't know what else to say.

Weak Points

Only two color choices. The suspension is very firm, which isn't always pleasant on our beautiful Canadian roads.

Strengths

The Golf R's performance is highly impressive. It's a car that gives the feeling of being glued to the road, quite literally. It's also very elegant and modern. In short, it doesn't lack qualities.

Signature Feature

The Golf R is a true benchmark in its category. If you're looking for a genuine sports car capable of meeting all your daily-life needs, you won't find anything better.

Closing Statement

There aren't many small cars left in the market in 2024, but the Golf R is still very much present, and it certainly makes that known. In my opinion, it represents the best that the automotive industry has to offer. In short, it's nearly perfect. If I had to choose a car to drive for the rest of my days, the Golf R would be my top choice without any hesitation.

Jean-Sébastien Poudrier