The over 40 year old Volkswagen Golf has become an icon in automotive history. As one of the most popular forms of transport for millions of drivers around the world, the VW Golf fulfills the role of daily driver, family hauler and now exhilarating sporty joy-ride, thanks to the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R. The performance tuned Golf R has numerous upgrades and improvements for the 2018 model year, including fuel saving features, interior display upgrades, a seven speed automatic transmission and some added driving technology.
SUBTLE YET SPORTY EXTERIOR
The 2018 Volkswagen Golf R continues its traditional understated exterior design, which has always been the VW way. An overall simple yet refined exterior design adorns this high performance vehicle and if it weren’t for the quad exhaust and the R badge, you would never be able to tell the true performance capabilities by the exterior design alone. Comparing the 2018 Golf R to the Ford Focus RS or the Honda Civic Type R on a purely visual level is quite drastic since the Golf R chooses to forgo the big spoilers and aftermarket-like body kits.
New for the 2018 VW Golf R are brighter LED headlights and taillights which help to conserve energy, along with a slightly different front bumper design with larger air intakes. Completing the look of this top of the line Golf, is the exclusive Violet Touch Pearl exterior colour. The 2018 Golf R offers an additional 30 unique exterior colours for the added fee of $2,995 which may seem a bit steep but it’s the price of exclusivity. How many Purple 2018 Golf Rs do you think are present in your city?
QUALITY INTERIOR
German engineering delivers once again with the Golf R’s top notch materials, attention to detail and overall high quality build. The design of the interior matches the exterior in its understated refinement and while there are no flashy highlights, a pleasing and modern interior design is still delivered.
The interior of the Golf R also showcases some subtle racing inspired features like the flat-bottomed leather wrapped steering wheel, leather stitched seating with R badging and the supportive sporty leather seating with thigh and side support.
New for 2018 is a massive 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. While it mimics the traditional analog speedometer and tachometer, this one is fully digital and much brighter. Some customization also allows for the selection of what driving information you would like displayed in the center.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The whole reason to buy a 2018 Volkswagen Golf R is for the performance, and it definitely doesn’t disappoint. Some serious engineering and performance modifications have somehow allowed VW to squeeze out 292hp from only a 2.0L four cylinder turbocharged engine. Paired to the new seven speed automatic transmission and all wheel drive, all working together propels the 2018 Golf R from 0-60 in under 5 seconds!
Driving the 2018 VW Golf R is both exhilarating and rewarding, giving the riders the pleasure of experiencing fast, powerful and responsive accelerations with lightning fast gear changes and a ton of driving technology working in the background, like the stability control, chassis control and the different driving modes that customize the driving experience even further.
The additional gear for 2018 allows the Golf R to conserve more gas by reducing the RPMs when driving at highway speeds. The new automatic engine stop-start feature also conserves a bit more gas by shutting off the engine when stopped and restarting it when ready to move. All in all this leads to a fuel economy of 10.6 L/100km in the city and 8.0 L/100km on the highway. Our test drive yielded much higher numbers, but that’s because of our spirited driving – it’s hard not to punch the gas and listen to the deep roar of the exhaust!
The 2018 VW Golf R truly delivers an inspiring and powerful performance with responsive and sporty accelerations, stiff yet precise handling and sturdy seating for passengers all while the engine and exhaust hums a subtle yet beautiful rumble.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The only true way to explain the exhilarating driving experience of the 2018 Volkswagen Golf R is to experience it for yourself. Powerful acceleration, sporty handling, high quality interior and a refined exterior all come together to create a perfect package, all wrapped up in a four door compact hatchback.
