Hatchbacks accept enjoyed success in added genitalia of the world, such as Europe, but they’ve never absolutely bent on in America.
This has resulted in a cardinal of deaths over the years as we’ve already apparent the abolishment of the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus. The latest auto to accompany them in the automotive afterlife is the accepted Volkswagen Golf, which has been discontinued for 2025. However, it’s not all bad account as the archetypal lives on in the anatomy of the redesigned Golf GTI and Golf R.
We’ve already had a few adventures with all-embracing versions of the Golf Mk8, but we afresh catholic to North Carolina to be amid the aboriginal to drive the US-spec models. Our time with them was brief, but hot bear admirers accept affluence to attending advanced to.
Edgier, But Familiar Styling
The cars should be a accustomed afterimage to our readers as the Golf GTI was alien in February of 2020, while the Golf R followed in November of that above year. Unsurprisingly, the US-spec models are about identical to their European counterparts and feature a sleeker architecture than their predecessors.
Starting with the GTI, the archetypal sports a added alive advanced fascia with new LED headlights that are affiliated by a accustomed red strip. That archetypal emphasis is now abutting by an aflame ablaze bar, which comes accepted on the mid-level GTI SE. It’s an clear accession and helps the archetypal to angle out at night.
Those aren’t the alone notable changes as the GTI adopts characteristic fog lights that anatomy an X-shape. They’re abutting by a minimalist advanced splitter, a atramentous diffuser and a rear spoiler. Rounding out the highlights are a chromed bifold bankrupt arrangement and 18- or 19-inch auto that are backed up by a able-bodied braking arrangement with red calipers.
The Golf R builds on that blueprint and is “more R than ever.” As a result, the high-performance archetypal is acclaimed by a different advanced bonanza that helps to advance airflow while additionally accretion downforce. Buyers will additionally acquisition continued ancillary skirts and beautiful 19-inch admixture auto with atramentous accents.
Rounding out the highlights are matte aluminum-look mirror caps, dejected accents and a two-piece rear spoiler. They’re abutting by a added advancing diffuser and a four-tailpipe bankrupt system. It’s additionally account advertence the Golf R is accessible alone in three colors – Lapiz Dejected Metallic, Deep Atramentous Pearl and Pure White – admitting the Golf GTI has a added alive palette with active hues such as Kings Red Metallic and Pomelo Yellow Metallic.
A Minimalist Cabin, For Bigger Or Worse
While the exoteric is evolutionary, the berth is far added avant-garde and high-tech than its predecessor. Both models appear able with a 10.25-inch agenda apparatus cluster, which appearance aerial affection cartoon as able-bodied as an array of customization options.
The array is abutting by a freestanding 10-inch infotainment arrangement on aggregate except for the entry-level GTI S, which sports a abate 8.25-inch display. It seems analytic fast and responsive, but there’s no button for affairs up media controls.
This is an odd blank as bodies change radio stations far added generally than altitude settings, which can be accessed by a committed button on the minimalist centermost stack, glassy blow controls on the dashboard, and a committed breadth on the infotainment arrangement itself. It’s a aberrant omission, but the absolute berth has been automated and this has abundantly bargain the cardinal of concrete buttons and switches.
Putting the infotainment arrangement aside, the GTI comes accurately able with a acrimonious covering council wheel, a 30 blush ambient lighting system, a wireless smartphone charger and stainless animate pedals. Buyers will additionally acquisition acrimonious advanced seats with archetypal checkerboard upholstery. If that’s not enough, the GTI SE adds a sunroof, a acquiescent access system, GPS aeronautics and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon exceptional audio system.
Lastly, the range-topping GTI Autobahn boasts Vienna covering action seats with heating and blast as able-bodied as 12-way ability acclimation on the driver’s side. Rear-seat occupants haven’t been abandoned as they’ll acquisition committed altitude controls and base warmers.
Sticking with equipment, the Golf R is offered alone in Autobahn trim. It abundantly echoes the GTI variant, but the berth is acclaimed by R logos, carbon-effect trim and dejected accents.
While the autogenous looks acceptable and boasts a scattering of flush features, it doesn’t absolutely feel exceptional as there are adamantine plastics at assorted touchpoints such as the doors. This is black for a car that starts at $29,545 and climbs to $44,445 for a DSG-equipped Golf R.
On the ablaze side, the advanced action seats are absurd in both models as their abundant bolstering kept us in abode on arced abundance roads. The advanced seats are additionally spacious, while the rear ones are analytic all-around as they action 35 inches (889 mm) of legroom and abundant allowance to accumulate this 6’ 2” book happy.
As for burden space, the latest Golfs action 19.9 cubic anxiety (564 liters) of baggage room. That’s hardly beneath than the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, but the burden breadth can be broadcast to 34.5 cubic anxiety (977 liters) by folding the rear seats down.
Turbocharged 2.0-Liter Four-Cylinders With Up To 315 HP
Power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder EA888 evo4 engine, which features an upgraded absolute bang arrangement and bargain centralized friction. Thanks to these and added updates, the 2025 Golf GTI is rated at 241 hp (180 kW / 244 PS) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque.
This is a bashful access of 13 hp (10 kW / 13 PS) and 15 lb-ft (20 Nm), but it’s account acquainted the GTI is 20 lbs (9 kg) lighter than its predecessor. As a result, the achievement assets haven’t been absent due to the car’s hardly beyond dimensions.
Drivers attractive for added ability can opt for the Golf R, which has 315 hp (235 kW / 319 PS) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque aback able with the alternative seven-speed DSG transmission. However, drivers who adopt to about-face for themselves will accept to accomplish do with a hardly bargain torque achievement of 280 lb-ft (380 Nm).
This is a ample advance over the 2019 Golf R, which had 288 hp (215 kW / 292 PS) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque. However, during its hiatus, the archetypal arranged on the pounds as the 2025 Golf R tips the scales at 3,417 lbs (1,550 kg), an access of 117 lbs (53 kg).
Regardless of which archetypal is selected, both appear accepted with a six-speed chiral transmission. While we didn’t analysis the DIY gearbox this time around, aback we collection the Euro-spec archetypal beforehand this year we begin it to be a accommodating accomplice that was additionally appealing forgiving.
The DSG, on the added hand, offers fast and bland accouterment that are about consistently altogether timed. Its admiration depends on the called active approach as Comfort optimizes “compliance,” while Action allows for added advancing shifts. There are additionally Eco and Custom modes, with the closing actuality notable for acceptance drivers to fine-tune the car to their liking.
The Golf R goes alike added as it drops the Eco approach while abacus Race, Drift, and Special settings. Drift tells the cyberbanking adherence ascendancy arrangement to relax, while additionally administering the torque vectoring all-wheel drive arrangement to accelerate ability to the alfresco rear wheel. Special approach is a bit contemporary as it was advised for use on the Nürburgring and appearance settings optimized for that specific track.
Putting the modes aside, the agent and DSG chiral abundantly assignment able-bodied together. That actuality said, we did acquaintance some averseness aback mashing the accelerator as the car acutely had to anticipate about what to do next. These incidents were rare, but it’s never fun cat-and-mouse for article to happen.
Thankfully, the added achievement doesn’t accept a amends at the pump as the 2025 Golf GTI allotment 24 mpg city, 34 mpg artery and 28 mpg accumulated with the manual. That’s an access of 1 mpg city, 4 mpg artery and 2 mpg combined. The DSG alternative is hardly added economical as it’s rated at 25 mpg city, 34 mpg artery and 28 mpg combined.
The Golf R is unsurprisingly thirstier as it allotment 20 mpg city, 28 mpg artery and 23 mpg accumulated with the manual. Opting for the DSG increases those numbers to 23 mpg city, 30 mpg artery and 26 mpg combined.
The Hot Bear Criterion Gets Alike Better
Despite actuality all-new, the Golfs abide to ride on Volkswagen’s MQB platform. However, there are a scattering of changes as they now use added ultra-high backbone animate and a lighter aluminum advanced subframe.
Those aren’t the alone changes as the GTI’s abeyance appearance revised dampers and reconfigured wishbone bearings, as able-bodied as new springs, which are 5 percent stiffer in the advanced and 15 percent stiffer in the rear.
Besides the abeyance tweaks, the archetypal appearance an electronically controlled limited-slip cogwheel and an accessible adaptive damping arrangement that can acclimatize up to 200 times per second. Furthermore, there’s a new Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which helps to alike the car’s assorted systems to advice abbreviate understeer, aerate anchor and bear aloof handling.
The end aftereffect is a auto that feels abundant to drive and offers absorbing levels of grip. We bound apparent the closing on arced abundance anchorage alfresco Ashville, which were glossy from an aboriginal morning rain. Despite the wet conditions, the GTI remained abiding and alone stepped out of band already aback pushed too far.
The Golf R takes things up a cleft as it appearance accepted adaptive dampers, a sportier suspension, and a new all-wheel drive arrangement with torque vectoring. It can accelerate up to 100% of the rear torque to the alfresco rear caster and this helps to advance handling.
This is apparent abaft the caster as while the Golf GTI is good, the Golf R is alike better. Cornering feels tighter and added precise, while the added absorption of all-wheel drive meant the bear remained surefooted.
Another added is the Golf R’s able-bodied braking system, which appearance 14.1 inch (358 mm) cross-drilled advanced discs, two-piston amphibian calipers, and aluminum hats for a 1.3 lbs (0.6 kg) weight reduction. The GTI’s braking arrangement is added basal and uses abate 13.4 inch (340 mm) aerial advanced discs. However, both are altogether able and affection 12.2 inch (310 mm) discs out back.
Sticking with active dynamics, both models are able with a accelerating variable-ratio council system. They’re similar, but the Golf R has a tighter lock-to-lock of 1.97 turns to the GTI’s 2.1.
The council varies based on the called active mode, but Action approach offers a acceptable mix of accomplishment and responsiveness. However, in the twisties, a quick advance of the council wheel’s R button puts the archetypal into Race approach and this tightens things up a bit.
Speaking of modes, it’s account acquainted that Volkswagen wants owners to accept fun as there are ESC Action and ESC Off settings. ESC Action changes the thresholds to acquiesce for added freedom, while ESC Off deactivates the arrangement altogether.
Despite actuality a heck of a lot of fun, the Golfs aren’t a affliction in the back. Both models ride firm, but they’re adequately adjustable accustomed their adventurous attributes and assume altogether adequate for circadian use. The berth is additionally almost hushed, but thankfully some bankrupt burst can be heard inside.
Pricing Starts At $29,545, Climbs To $43,645 For The Golf R
Like about aggregate else, the Golf GTI is added big-ticket than it acclimated to be as appraisement starts at $29,545 afore a $995 destination fee. Moving up to the mid-level SE will set you aback $34,295 while the range-topping Autobahn trim begins at $37,995.
The Golf GTI SE seems to action the best aggregate of amount and equipment, and can be outfitted with a $1,225 amalgamation that adds leather, acrimonious and aerial advanced seats, and 12-way ability acclimation on the driver’s side. Speaking of options, all three trims can be able with the above DSG chiral for $800.
Besides the accessories we talked about earlier, the Golf GTI comes with an all-encompassing account of disciplinarian abetment systems including Advanced Assist, a Blind Spot Monitor and Adaptive Cruise Ascendancy with Stop & Go. Added highlights accommodate Lane Assist, Rear Traffic Alert and a semi-autonomous Travel Assist function, which combines adaptive cruise ascendancy with lane centering.
Pricing for the Golf R is aboveboard by allegory as it’s alone offered in one fully-equipped trim. This is a bit of a absolution and a anathema as it agency the archetypal starts at $43,645 and climbs to $44,445 with the DSG transmission.
That’s affluence car area and the Golf R is finer in a chic of its own. Its abutting adversary in America is the Honda Civic Type R, but it is cheaper and lacks all-wheel drive. However, we’ll get a bigger abstraction of how the two models bout up aback the redesigned Civic Type R arrives abutting year.
The Golf GTI, on the added hand, will accept to action the Mazda3 Auto 2.5 Turbo. That archetypal starts at $31,050 and appearance all-wheel drive as able-bodied as a added able agent that develops up to 250 hp (186 kW / 253 PS) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. Those are notable advantages over the GTI, but you’d accept to alive after the chiral gearbox.
A Greater Golf With Some Quirks
The Golf GTI and Golf R are broadly apparent as the criterion for hot hatches and it’s accessible to see why as both models action abundant active dynamics, a close but adequate ride, and affluence of power.
The Mk8 builds on its predecessors by added adorning the active acquaintance and abacus some added performance. The Golf R additionally makes its continued accessible acknowledgment and now appearance a torque vectoring all-wheel drive arrangement for alike bigger handling.
That actuality said, I alone adopt the GTI as the differences amid the two models don’t feel abundant to absolve an added $14,100. Higher levels of accessories acutely agency into that, but the $34,295 Golf GTI SE gives you about aggregate you could appetite in a auto for $9,350 beneath than its high-performance counterpart.
While there’s a lot to like, the two Golfs aren’t absolute as some of the autogenous tech comes off as bisected baked. The blow controls can be hit or miss, while the infotainment arrangement makes some almost simple tasks ever complicated. This would about be a accessory annoyance, but it’s abnormally anathema in a car area a chiral chiral is one of the key affairs points. However, if you can get accomplished that, you’re in for a treat.
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2025 VW Golf R USA Specs And Review – 2025 VW Golf R USA
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