The new-generation VW Golf R may not look quite as aggressive as some of its rivals but as this review reveals, it is one heck of a performance machine.
Fitted beneath the bodywork of the hot hatch is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that has been upgraded to 315 hp and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque, significant increases of 27 hp and 30 lb-ft (41 Nm) over the old car.
Read More: 2022 VW Golf R Debuts With 315 HP, Torque Vectoring AWD, A Manual Gearbox And Drift Mode
Much like the old model, the 2022 Golf R pairs this engine with a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system and in Europe, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Buyers in the U.S. and Canada get a six-speed manual ‘box as standard. With the DSG, Volkswagen says the R needs 4.7 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 km/h). However, as this reviewer found out, it is actually much quicker than that and can hit 60 mph in 4 seconds flat and run down the quarter-mile in a mere 12.44 seconds.
It’s not just in a straight-line where the car impresses. The CarWow reviewer adds that it also corners beautifully and feels more agile and planted than the old car. That’s fitting as VW itself says the car’s new torque vectoring system helps to eliminate understeer and reduce the car’s cornering radius.
Various other changes have been made to the car to improve its handling. For example, it features a lightweight aluminum subframe and has more negative camber on the front axle to allow for higher cornering speeds and improved stability.