Volkswagen Golf 8 R, R from dRift and NüRbuRgRing
Yes, we know! A lot of R’s in the title and almost as many as you can find on the Volkswagen Golf 8 R we had on test. Let’s start with a little bit of history - #respectourelders. The lifeline of the Volkswagen Golf started way back in 1974. Since then, the Golf has became one of the best selling cars in the world and has recently been given an 8th generation. The first Golf R came to life in July 2002 (MK4) as the “R32” -a 3.2-liters VR6- and on to the Golf 6 as the first 2.0-liter four-cylinder R.
Hot hatch, super hatch, and hyper hatch
The time of calling the Volkswagen Golf R a hot hatch is passed. That title is taken by the Volkswagen Golf GTI -soon to be seen on our website #teaser- and therefore the Golf 8 R is titled the “super hatch” of the line-up. To rival a hyper hatch like the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S, the Volkswagen Golf 8 R is just not enough. With its 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder producing 320 hp and 420 Nm of torque, it can embarrass an Audi S3, a Mercedes-AMG A 35 and a BMW M135. The 320 hp and 420 Nm is sent to all four wheels (4Motion) trough a 7-speed DSG-automated gearbox. In ideal conditions, this results in a 0-100 km/h-time of just 4,7 seconds with launch control on dry roads only and an optionless top speed of 250 km/h. But thanks to the R-Performance Pack, this top speed increases to 270 km/h. The 4Motion-system is one of the kind that can send power to every wheel separately.
This Golf 8 R gets 2 more driver’s settings than standard thanks to the R-Performance Pack. The classic settings consist of comfort, sport, individual and race but with that option the race is further subdivided into drift and Nürburgring. We had the heavy and frustrating task of testing this to the fullest. The drift-modus is easily activated by just acknowledging -to the software- that it is “dangerous”. After doing this, the car turns off the traction control and is willing to send more power to the back wheels. If it needs to, it will give the most of it to the outer back wheel so you can do some cool sideways action. All good in theory and on wet roads, but on the dry the levels of grip overcomes the size of my balls. So the first thing we learned: “dry road: good launch control, not the best of drifter. In the wet: great fun to drift, don’t use launch control!” Between the Nürburgring-setting and the normal race, the differences are minimal and imperceptible on a public road. The setting named after The Green Hell should sharpen up the throttle response, the transmission and steering feel but race does the same. The only thing we have noticed was a slightly louder exhaust and that honor goes completely to the Akrapovic-exhaust. An option that one really must choose.
So in the sporty settings the car really performs well and it’s fully in its element. The DSG reacts instantly on any order of the shifting pedals and often this will result in a hyperactive car in its normal setting. We are happy to report that the Golf 8 R has not lost its everyday usability. The car has acceptable levels of comfort and even with a 320 hp four-cylinder, we have averaged 8,2 liters per 100 kilometers.
Lapiz Blue Metallic …
… is the only correct color choice on the Volkswagen Golf 8R! On any R in that matter. Why is this even an option and why should you choose something else than this awesome Lapiz Blue?
The Volkswagen Golf 8 R doesn’t escape the modern touch and it even loses the “intake” around the VW logo in the front giving it a more electric-like look. Maybe a hint for future Golf R’s? Where there used to be frontal area that scoops up air, there is now a continuous LED lightbar connecting the two headlights. Since the Golf 8, these headlights got a new look and name -IQ.LIGHT- with new day-time running lights. Underneath those, there’s an aggressive-looking front bumper which reminds me of our time with the Mercedes-AMG GT in some way. Beautiful times!
Volkswagen has added 3 centimeters in length to the Golf 8. But seeing a Golf 7 R standing next to a Golf 8 R, you will wonder where they have put that 3 cm. An R-badge, big 19-inch Estoril rims, blue brake calipers and silver side mirrors are the only things that differentiate the R from the normal one. Ow, and that bigass spoiler is part of the R-Dynamic Pack. At the back, there are some new rear lights, again from the IQ-kind, that looks a little bit too sharp and too small for the back of this car. But that rear diffuser -you guessed it: R-Performance pack- and the quadruple Akrapovic-exhaust make everything better again. And did we already tell you how good that Akrapovic sounds? Awesome (for a 2.0-liter four-cylinder)!
That “USB-stick”-styled gear selector
No, please! Not again! That gear selector. That USB-stick. It works fine and does what a gear selector needs to do -select gears-, but it causes the center console -between you and your passenger- to be empty and do sh*t. The rest of the car is pretty awesome and gives a feeling of German ingenuity. From the moment you open the door with keyless entry and go onto the moment you rest your bottom on those lovely R-seats, everything feels well thought out.
A decent feeling multifunctional and headed steering wheel with good-sized -and this has been different in the past- shifting pedals is the first thing you will notice when entering the car. The second thing is the ease of using the infotainment system and digital dashboard. The soft-touch “not really” buttons for the heater and the sound in the center console while take a little bit more time to get used to. But after a while, they also work like a charm -if you have some patience.
If you have friends, you can talk ‘em with you on a little road trip thanks to a decent size back seat and boot. That boot can swallow 374 liters and I’m the living proof you can put a pram into one. So, maybe this can count as a family car after all. If you can convince your beloved partner, you can wait for the Golf 8 R variant.
“Sportscar”-killer, “Sportscar”-price
The cheapest way to drive a new Volkswagen Golf 8 R is by paying 52.215 euros (Belgium). But who is going to buy a naked Golf R? And it’s white! Lapiz Blue (+830€), 19-inch rims (+810€), Performance-exhaust (+3.745€), R-Dynamic Pack (+2.235€), … all together hitting a pricetag of 63.744,75 euros. That is still a lot of money for “just” a Volkswagen Golf. But it’s the first Golf I really do like.
