Is the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R Worth the Price? 4 Pros and 2 Cons
The Golf R four-door hatchback has long been at the top of the Volkswagen performance lineup, offering a higher level of sportiness and sophistication than the related Golf GTI. With significantly more power than the GTI, all-wheel drive and just one trim level with a long list of standard equipment, the R is also considerably more expensive.
Related: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R Review: Practical Performance — for a Price
Redesigned for 2022, the Golf R returns to the U.S. after a short hiatus. It remains a worthy competitor against the likes of other high-performance compacts such as the Subaru WRX STI and Honda Civic Type R, but with a more comfortable ride and restrained styling free of big wings and the like. It’s the refined, understated alternative.
While the 2022 redesign is more evolutionary than revolutionary on the outside, the Golf R gets a more thorough update inside. The sleek new interior has a 10-inch touchscreen and does away with most of its conventional knobs and buttons. There’s also a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel.
The news is not so good for fans of the regular Golf hatchback, as the R and GTI are the only versions still offered in the U.S. That said, we’re happy to see the Golf R sold here, as it has a near-ideal combination of performance, practicality and comfort. Here are four things we like, and two that we don’t, about the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R.
For a quick roundup of the good and the bad, keep reading. For a more comprehensive critique, follow the link above to Mike Hanley’s full review.
Things We Like
1. Refined Performance
The Golf R is powered by a 315-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that provides smooth and abundant power as turbo boost builds. Standard AWD helps get all that power to the ground, and the system can transfer up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels as needed. A new torque-vectoring capability can further improve handling by fine-tuning how much of that power is sent to each rear wheel. The overall feel was light and precise, from the steering to the clutch and shifter, on our manual-equipped test car.
2. Sophisticated Suspension
The standard adaptive suspension is surprisingly absorbent in its Comfort mode, soaking up bumps well for such a performance-focused car. The ride comfort is that much more impressive given its low-profile 35-series tires. Our test car did have winter tires in consideration of our December testing, and their soft rubber compound might have benefited ride quality. Switching to Race mode firms up the suspension, provides weightier steering and lets out a more aggressive exhaust note.
3. Upscale, Understated Interior
Inside, the Golf R looks sleek and modern while still maintaining the recognizable VW look. Gone are most of the physical knobs and buttons; many functions are controlled through the 10-inch touchscreen or touch-sensitive controls. While we’re not crazy about this design trend, the screen is intuitive. The rest of the interior is easy to like, with soft-touch materials on the dash and upper doors, nicely bolstered front sport seats and plenty of room for adults front and rear.
4. Good Visibility Aided by Electronics
With a low hood and thin front roof pillars, the Golf R offers very good forward visibility. The views over the shoulder and to the rear are also good. Standard blind spot warning indicators are located in the side mirror housings and are easy to see. Other standard features include a semi-automated parking system and front and rear parking sensors.
Things We Don’t
1. Touch-Sensitive Controls
As much as we appreciate the logical layout of the 10-inch touchscreen’s menus, conventional buttons and knobs for things like climate, audio, and heated and ventilated seats are still easier to use. The Golf R’s touch-sensitive controls — especially the bar under the screen and the steering-wheel controls — can be cumbersome to use.
2. Price
There’s no need to spend a lot of time agonizing over which Golf R to order because it comes in just one well-equipped trim level; the only decision to make is whether to go with the standard six-speed manual transmission or spring for the $800 seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The downside is a hefty price tag for the class; our test car came to $44,640, including a $995 destination charge.
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