Test Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary A Golf is finally fun!

Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary

driving the Volkswagen Golf in most of its sports versions it has always been effective, but in many cases lacking in emotion. At least that's how it has been for many years now. In fact, neither the Golf R32 nor R have been much fun to drive fast. Therefore, I recognize that this VW Golf R 20th Anniversary has surprised me very much.

That's right, I hadn't tried it. Golf 8 R and the references of some colleagues while we talked about cars on a plane, train or waiting room were very good. “Diego, you have to try it”. Nothing better than talking to the brand and trying this tribute to the entire R32/R saga of the compact in German, the Golf R 20th Anniversary. And it is that in 2022 they were fulfilled two decades after the box IV R32 was born, with that 6-liter 3.2-cylinder engine and its delicious atmospheric sound.

I have to say that the Golf VW I've always liked it. A car complete in every way and fast in its sports versions, each in its time. But it is true that this eighth generation has left me a bit cold in terms of exterior and interior design and adjustments. I liked the previous mkVII more visually; but I stop entertaining myself and focus.

This is the Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary

Volkswagen Golf R Akrapovic

This 20th Anniversary edition can be distinguished from a Golf R "just" at a glance, but we have to look at the details. Outside, stand out the 19-inch Estoril wheels, the gigantic roof spoiler or the eye-catching Akrapovic titanium exhausts, with four well-visible exits. also uses blue R logos and the inscription “20” concealed in the pillars of the front doors.

For its part, in the passenger compartment, for the first time, carbon inserts on the door trims and on the dashboard, accentuating that sportiness. There is no shortage of specific sports seats -but not radical- with air conditioning and electrical adjustments. They have an integrated headrest and a embroidered with the letter R in blue, a color very present throughout the interior of the car.

Volkswagen Golf R seats

In the same way, the perforated and sporty aesthetic steering wheel bears the letter R in the lower area, touch controls for the different managements, an R button that gives direct access to the sports driving modes -which we will talk about later- and some cams much larger than usual. They are plastic, but that larger size is always good.

Technique: More power and an active rear differential that changes everything

The VW Golf R 20th Anniversary includes R-Performance package as standard, which is optional in normal R. This means that we extend the maximum speed to 270 km/h two extra driving modes, which are Special and Drift. He too Torque vectoring that allows to manage the distribution of the motor torque of the rear axle in such a way that it improves the exit of the curves rounding the trajectory and making it more effective, in addition to increasing the fun.

VW Golf R engine

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If we talk about the engine, under the hood we carry the 2.0 TSI so well known within the Volkswagen Group. But in this case It does not develop 320 CV, but 333. Yes, we have 13 hp more than in the normal Golf R. The engine torque stands at 420 Nm. Of course, it has a 7-speed DSG transmission and the 4Motion all-wheel drive, hallmark of the Volkswagen R.

In terms of benefits, you can do 0 to 100 in 4,6 seconds (one tenth less than in the "normal" R) and, as we have already said, the maximum speed limitation is extended to the 270 km/h instead of staying at 250. In case you wonder; no, we have not been able to verify it...

Volkswagen Golf R dashboard

By the way, it has a particular boot mode. If instead of pressing the brake first and then the start button, we do it in reverse -press the button for a couple of seconds and then press the brake- the function Emotion start. The engine goes up to 2.500 turns at startup and leaves a few backfiring so that your neighbors hate you every morning when you wake up the 2.0 liter.

The funniest Golf in history? Probably yes

I admit that throughout this week of testing and the hundreds of kilometers traveled with the Volkswagen Golf R 20 Aniversario, I have barely activated the audio equipment. basically because I have been turned on by the Special driving mode and the exhaust sound, playing on numerous occasions to "make popcorn" hollowing the accelerator in the environment of 3.000 rpm.

Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary blue

I dare say this eighth-generation Golf R is the first that's really fun to drive. About the backfires of the exhaust does not stop being a mere curiosity to attract our attention. This car finally makes us enjoy and get involved by going fast, countering the usual understeering tendencies of four-wheel drive sports cars.

And is that you can feel the rear end rounding out of corners applying enough pressure on the accelerator. In fact, even being a bit rough, it asks you to make a slight correction with the steering wheel, putting that mischievous smile on your face. All this is due to effective rear differential with Torque Vectoring. Since I tested the Audi RS 3 a year ago, I had not felt that effectiveness and fun in equal parts in a sports car with all-wheel drive, and it is precisely that electronic management of the rear torque distribution that has generated it.

The driving modes, as if we were changing cars

VW Golf R Nurburgring mode

Since I have mentioned the topic of driving modes on a couple of occasions, we are going to review it. When we start we already have the Sport, A declaration of intentions. If we are going to travel, it is better to go to Comfort, where everything is smoothed out. Then we have the Race, which makes everything more direct, stiff and effective if the asphalt is perfect. Within the Race, the Drift and Special modes also appear.

El drift mode has been designed to send almost all of the drive torque from the rear axle to the rear wheel on the outside of the curve, greatly facilitating skidding. The stability control is deactivated and, in case it was not clear, on the screen it warns us that we should only use it in environments closed to traffic and if we have enough hands to do it safely.

The one I like the most is Special. The brand has configured this mode to be as effective as possible at the Nordscheleife at the Nürburgring, where he rolled in 7:47,31. This setup is extreme in terms of engine response, quick shifting, traction management and steering hardness, but The shocks are not as stiff as they can be., but a little softer. This guarantees the greatest contact of the wheels with the asphalt on a circuit as bumpy and with as many slopes as the German one.

Akrapović VW Golf R

Nurburgring
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Therefore, for me it is the ideal driving mode if we want to go fast on twisty roads, since rebound and possible loss of grip are reduced when the asphalt is not a carpet. Of course, you always have to keep in mind that the open road is not a circuit. Let's use our brains and don't let ourselves be clouded...

There is also a single mode that allows us to configure the different parameters to our liking, highlighting that the hardness of the shock absorbers can be regulated in no less than 15 levels.

Now yes, behind the wheel

Interior VW Golf R test

By now I think you can get an idea of ​​how much fun I've had with the Golf R 20th Anniversary. In sports modes, the response to everything is immediate and direct. I mean engine, DSG, steering and suspension. With just caressing the accelerator it already wants to shoot, it changes support very quickly, the steering is always very direct -and it also has the ideal weight- and the gearbox responds immediately.

In fact, a very remarkable detail of the change is that in sequential mode it does not automatically jump to the next relation if we reach the rev cut. It stays there, at the rev limit and only if we hit the right blade will it move on to the next one. It is something important when it comes to a car of this type, because we have greater control of the regime at all times.

Estoril Volkswagen R rims

At a fast pace it devours the straights with an interesting sound and leaving us glued to the seat. The braking capacity is very high, although it is true that this test unit has already been very demanding since it left the production line. As we have all-wheel drive, it is interesting to dial in the braking well and reach the apex of the curve with homework well done, leaving let the enormous drive do the rest once we sink the right pedal.

As I said before, does not nod too much and it catapults out of the curve, but giving that little spark of joy thanks to the selective torque distribution, which allows a very slight slippage from the rear that helps improve the car's dynamics. It reminded me a lot of the last Audi RS 3, which equips a very similar rear differential, although the Golf is more established.

Consumption: How much does a 333 hp compact sports car spend with all-wheel drive?

In the consumption section, as you can already imagine, it is not as effective as a 150 CV TDI. Eye, what at highway legal speeds it is not that it shoots up too much, being able to be below 8 liters. But of course, with this character, the Special mode at hand, and the sound emanating from the four Akrapovic outputs, it's hard to resist...

our average After a week of tests, constantly "playing" with it, it has been of 10,5 l / 100 km. Honestly, it does not seem like an exaggerated figure considering the circumstances. At a happy pace on twisty roads, looking for fun, it is not difficult to see it in the environment of 13, 14 or 15 liters. There it will depend on the rhythm and what we demand of that 2.0 TSI of 333 CV.

Volkswagen Golf R Price

Test Golf R 20 Years

And we finish with the difficult part of every aspirational car today, the price. The Volkswagen Golf R “just dry” starts at 59.200 euros according to the brand configurator. Meanwhile, this special commemorative edition for the 20th anniversary of the R saga, it goes to 71.600 euros. It is true that the jump is important, but also that the endowment of added equipment is very remarkable.

Editor's opinion

Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary
  • Editor's rating
  • 4.5 star rating
59.200 a 71.600
  • 80%

  • Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary
  • Review of:
  • Posted on:
  • Last modification:
  • Exterior design
    Publisher: 85%
  • interior design
    Publisher: 70%
  • front seats
    Publisher: 80%
  • rear seats
    Publisher: 80%
  • Trunk
    Publisher: 75%
  • Spring Suspension
    Publisher: 95%
  • Consumption
    Publisher: 75%
  • Comfort
    Publisher: 60%
  • Price
    Publisher: 30%

Pros

  • Sporty and fun dynamic behavior
  • Highly variable driving modes
  • Features and sensations

Cons

  • Very high price
  • Touch controls on the steering wheel and climate control
  • Consumption in demanding driving

Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary Gallery


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