Volkswagen Golf 8 R Variant, too perfect?
The top model of the Golf range has a lot more competitors in the "five-door hatchback" set-up than as a break -called Variant at Volkswagen-. This four-wheel drive, ultra-sporty family estate with 320 hp and 420 Nm only has two real competitors, the Cupra Leon Sportstourer 2.0 TSI DSG 4Drive (310 hp) and the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4MATIC Shooting Brake (306 hp). In terms of powertrain -four-cylinder, 300 hp +, four-wheel drive- they are comparable. In the Mercedes, you can store 460 liters in the boot, in the Leon 620 liters and the VW can't top that with "only" 611 liters, which still makes it an extremely useful family car. There is also more than enough space in the back for large adults, in height, width and legroom.
The power-break
With 320 hp and 420 Nm, the two-liter turbo has recently been decapitated as "the most powerful engine in the Golf range". That role is now reserved for the 13 hp stronger variant of the same four-cylinder in the “20 Years” version of the Golf R. In close collaboration with the four-wheel drive and the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission, the two-liter with 320 hp makes this break a very fast boy as well. After a start with launch control, it will hit 100 km/h after no more than 4.7 seconds and only stops at 250 km/h.
The difference between the Comfort and Sport modes is rather limited, but the Race and Nürburgring settings turn the controlled family car into a real maniac on simple request! Stringing the corners together like a cannibal who fillets people on a barbecue skewer. In Drift mode, the four-wheel drive is adjusted to tolerate some rear-axle slip. The torque can not only be distributed between the front and rear axles but also between the wheels themselves by means of so-called "Torque Vectoring". Thanks to the drift mode, the outside rear wheel is given more torque than it can handle, causing it to spin. This way you can easily drift or put down a powerslide in the wet. However, in dry circumstances, you will need to bring out your pro-driving skills. The fun drift mode is not standard, but together with the Nürburgring mode, the 19-inch Estoril aluminum wheels, the larger rear spoiler, and the top speed increased to 270 km/h, it is part of the R Performance package that was fitted on our test car.
In addition to the drift mode, there is a Comfort mode. In which the engine, gearbox settings, steering wheel, and - if ordered - the adaptive dampers go to their softest position, and here you hardly notice that you are driving a performance estate! The “natural” mode of the Golf R is “Sport”. The nicest -however- is “Individual”, in which you can set almost all settings to your liking
Something we are missing on our test car is the fantastic Akrapovic exhaust that provides a more auditory experience and that was something we really liked on the hatchback. However, unlike on the five-door, it is not available on the Variant (and never was). But we really wish it would become an option on the Variant as it's incredible
Moving inside
This Golf has no shortage of power, all the more buttons. Time and time again we notice that the general interior experience in the new VW Golf -which feels excellent- seriously contrasts with the big mistake that VW committed to when it decided to ditch the physical volume and A/C controls and replace them with the clumsiest digital sliders ever. However, VW recently announced that they would return to more physical buttons on the wheel. Something we're very much looking forward to.
We wrote in our test of the hatchback that we had an average consumption of 8.2 l/100 km. Which is pretty decent for a really really hot hatchback.
Now the Variant turned out to be as economical, with an average of no more than 8.5 l/100 km. A little extra weight or different driving conditions translates into a consumption figure only slightly higher than the normal hatch.
Price tag
The Cupra Leon Break 2.0 TSI DSG 4Drive (310 hp) and the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4MATIC Shooting Brake, the only direct competitors, have a base price of respectively 49,120 and 64,130 euros, the VW Golf R Variant is up there with 55,315 euros. It is a lot more expensive than the Cupra but also a lot less expensive than the AMG.
However, it is by no means a bargain, because with some nice options such as the Nappa leather interior (with seat heating and ventilation at the front) for 3,020 euros, the must-option DCC dynamic chassis control for 920 euros, the Pack with all driver assistance systems (740 euro) and don't forget the metallic gloss paint (865 euro) you easily pass the 60.000 euro limit. Driving pleasure has become expensive.
The VW Golf 8 Variant R is a lovely car, but there's a big but, and it's not just the price tag on this fast guy. The car is just a little bit too clinical and therefore loses some of its excitement.
