The History Of The Golf R

The Volkswagen Golf R is a modern name for a car that has a rich history as a hotter hot hatch. The current Mk8.5 Golf R is one of the hottest cars on the market with its turbocharged 4-cylinder that puts out 315 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque that puts power to either a 6-speed manual transmission or 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox called DSG. 

The Golf R and GTI will be dropping the manual transmission as of 2025, so 2024 is the final year to get either of those models with the ability to row your own. 

Mk3 Golf VR6

The Golf R’s roots date back to the VW Golf GTI VR6, which debuted in 1992 in Europe and 1995 in America. Once it got to the States, it cost $19,190 and featured a 2.8-liter V6 that produced 172 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque from a 5-door hatchback design. While that may not seem like a lot by today’s standards, it was a whopping 57 more horsepower and 51 extra torque than the standard GTI with its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. 

The 1995 VR6 could get from 0-to-60 mph in 6.7 seconds, according to Car and Driver, nearly 3 seconds faster than the MkIII GTI of the same era. The Golf VR6 could also stop from 70 mph to 0 in 171 feet, or 8 feet shorter than a Mustang GT. This also bested a Nissan 300ZX Turbo and Chevrolet Corvette of the same year. Unless you were buying an M3 or M5, no BMW sold at that time could compete with the VR6’s performance. 

Mk4 Golf R32

Fast-forward a few years after the remarkable VR6 to the first-ever Golf with R badging, the 2004 R32, which this time came as a three-door hatchback. This new fourth-generation Golf with a hopped-up motor would produce 240 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque from a 3.2-liter V6 combined with a 6-speed manual transmission, hence the 32 in the name. It was also the first Volkswagen hatch to show off its Haldex 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. Car and Driver said that this car would fly past 60 mph in 6 seconds flat. 

Journalists compared the new R32 to an Audi S4 and a Porsche 911 in terms of its amazing sound and performance for its base price of $29,675. The Golf R32 could come to a screeching halt from 70 mph in just 158 feet, or 6 feet less than a Nissan 350Z could at the time. The R32 drove like a sports car worth way more than what VW was selling it for. 

Mk5 Golf R32

When the 2008 Golf R32 arrived, it had a 3.2-liter V6 but only four extra horsepower and the same amount of torque as the Mk4. European buyers could get a 5-door and a 6-speed manual as an option, but the U.S. version came exclusively in 3-door form and with a 6-speed dual-clutch DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) transmission. Also, like the previous R32, the Mk5 carried on the latest tradition of having the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. 

A 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds made it a decent bit faster, and Volkswagen spent a lot of time with this latest chassis to make it more luxurious and comfortable for everyday driving. Interior materials were of higher quality, and buyers loved that the R32 wasn’t just a sporty hot hatch but also had some softer manners at times for everyday use. 

Mk6 Golf R

By 2012, Volkswagen had changed a lot with the latest Golf. The 3.2-liter V6 was dropped in favor of a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that produced 256 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque. Because of the lack of a V6, the 32 was dropped from the name, and the car became the Golf R. For the first time, customers could choose to have three or five doors. 

The manual was back; it still had AWD and three doors, and the Mk6 Golf was even more superior in terms of luxury and amenities over the previous generations. The manual Golf R was slower to 60 mph than the Mk5 R32 at 5.9 seconds but was quicker once at higher speeds. The car had even better interior quality, a more sophisticated ride with better handling, and no wheel spin at any time when launching or cornering.

Mk7 Golf R

Further evolution of the Golf R came in 2015 with the Mk7 generation, which was part of the MQB platform that everyone raves about, and for good reason, too. The interior was once again even more upscale than before. The engine was also a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with a turbocharger, but now made 290 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. 

Buyers could choose between a 6-speed manual or DSG, and the 5-door body style was back. All-wheel drive was still one of the best things about the Golf R, and in the Mk7, it was launching to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, true sports car realm. That easily matched the Mustang GT and Camaro SS at the time. Fuel mileage was significantly increased to 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, respectively. The latest Golf R also lost about 80 lbs while increasing in size to allow more usable interior volume. 

Mk8 Golf R

When it came time to reveal the all-new Golf R in 2022, it was once again more luxurious than the previous generation and had a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4. However, this time, it made 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque and still had all-wheel drive. While it was all-new and still carried the R torch of the previous generations, the brand-new Golf R became so good it had MotorTrend Magazine opining that it was perfect and asking if it was actually too good. 

Zero to 60 mph now arrives in 3.9 seconds, which was enough to beat up on Shelby GT350s roaming around the roads, as well as other Mustangs and Camaros. The current Mk8.5 Golf R is so good that it puts most sports cars to shame simply because it’s comfortable, crazy fast, has exceptionally good AWD, is great in every season, and gets 30 mpg on the highway. What more could anyone need? A 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch is available until 2025, when the only transmission choice becomes the dual-clutch transmission. 

At Bud Brown Volkswagen, we take great pride in providing the best sales and service experience possible. With dozens of new and used vehicles, our fantastic and friendly sales team and finance department will work hard to ensure you get the best possible price. Our superb service department will work tirelessly to keep your vehicle in the best possible condition to keep you and your family safe.

We look forward to serving you soon.