10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Volkswagen Golf GTI, Golf R Edge Past Nissan Rogue PHEV
If you poured your heart and soul into researching the 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI or Golf R but didn’t pull the trigger, we have good news: Neither variant of the VW hot hatch has changed for the 2026 model year. The bad news is that if you fail to find one of the outgoing models still hanging around on the dealer lot, you’re gonna pay roughly an extra two grand more for the same car. That’s the big takeaway from our pricing report on the 2026 Golf GTI and Golf R, one of Cars.com’s most popular news articles of the past week.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Kia Telluride Triumphs as Nissan Versa Leads Cheap Charge
The performance-oriented 241-horsepower hatchback starts at $35,865 (all prices include destination) for the entry-level GTI S — nearly $2,200 more than the 2025’s starting price, representing an increase in both price and destination charge. Meanwhile, the new 328-hp Golf R with standard all-wheel drive starts at $50,730, just over $2,400 more than the outgoing version. In between, the GTI’s SE and Autobahn trims start at $40,355 and $43,755, respectively.
For full pricing details on the 2026 Golf GTI and Golf R — including a trim-by-trim breakdown of features and equipment, as well as safety tech, powertrain specs and estimated fuel economy — follow the link below to the No. 4 news story on this week’s countdown of most read articles.
If you’re shopping for practicality and efficiency over fast ’n’ fun, you’ll wanna check out Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman’s review of his quick spin in the all-new-for-2026 plug-in hybrid version of the Nissan Rogue. Generally speaking, the Rogue Plug-in Hybrid is just a rebrand of the platform-sharing Mitsubishi Outlander’s PHEV variant. It boasts an estimated 38 miles of all-electric driving range, 420 miles of total range, adequate charging speed and a quiet, well-balanced ride — though it’s not going to set any acceleration records in all-electric mode. The Auto drive mode setting produces more oomph but also more annoying engine noise, yet the Rogue PHEV offers a refreshing selection of drive modes to suit varied preferences for power saving versus gas consuming. The cabin is spacious and well appointed, and it even offers the third row that regular Rogues lack (albeit a tiny one suited only for children).
For Bragman’s full hot take from his brief drive in the 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid, follow the link below to the No. 5 article of the week.
Beyond that, we’ve got headlines on the Subaru Outback, Nissan Frontier, cheap new cars, cheap SUVs, cheap electric vehicles, cheap pickup trucks and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. Which Toyota SUV Should You Buy?
2. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
3. Are AI and Connected Services in Cars Worth It?
4. How Much Are the 2026 Volkswagen GTI and Golf R?
5. 2026 Nissan Rogue Plug-in Hybrid Quick Spin: Rogue’s Bridge to the Future
6. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now
7. 2026 Subaru Outback Review: Forget the Looks, Enjoy the Ride … and Value and Comfort
8. 2026 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X R Quick Spin: Hey, You Got Some Roush on My Nissan
9. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
10. Here Are the 10 Cheapest Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Right Now
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