Test Drive: 2016 Volkswagen Golf R

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 24, 2016

When it comes to compact, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive cars, there are two ways to go. One is the attention-grabbing Boy Racer approach of the Subaru WRX, which practically invented the category of the street-legal rally car. The other is the wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing styling of the VW Golf R, which is almost as fast in most real-world situations but won’t generate as many speeding tickets.

At first glance, it’s hard to tell the R version from the newest version of the regular Golf, which is VW’s bread-and-butter economy hatchback. The regular Golf is a cleanly styled compact hatchback that seems designed to blend in, not stand out. The R version includes special 18- or 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and special exterior and interior trim pieces, but they are subtle additions.

What matters is what’s under the skin — a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four cylinder engine that pumps out a very willing 292 horsepower, a 4Motion AWD system that keeps the car glued to the road, and your choice of a slick shifting six-speed manual or a DSG six-speed automated manual transmission.

Our test car came with the manual transmission and three driving modes — Comfort for everyday use, Race for when the road opens up, and Individual, which allows drivers to customize the throttle response and suspension settings.

As a daily driver in the Comfort mode, the Golf R was still quick and responsive, but also comfortable over rough pavement. In Race mode, it was faster and more responsive, and it cornered better in sharp curves. Customizing allows tweaks that only real gear heads will appreciate.

Over a week of mixed driving, our test car proved both entertaining and practical. Although it easily outperforms the basic Golf, it still has the same impressive amount of space that seats four adults and has enough room under the rear hatch for a weekend getaway. The interior styling was typical Volkswagen, which is to say, well thought out and made from high quality materials. Our heated leather front seats were comfortable enough for long trips, while the eight-speaker stereo (with a CD player in the glove box) helped pass the hours.

Standard equipment includes keyless ignition and entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth phone, a USB port, an SD card reader and voice controls. Several option packages are available that add such features as navigation, adaptive suspension dampers with four selectable modes, adaptive cruise control, a forward collision mitigation system with automatic emergency braking, a lane-departure warning system, a blind-spot monitoring system , a rear cross-traffic alert system, and front and rear parking sensors.

If you’re looking for fun but unwilling to spring for the R, VW still offers a GTI version of the Golf. It comes with a 210 horsepower version of the same engine and some special exterior and interior trim, but forgoes the AWD system.

The Golf R may not be as fast as the Subaru WRX (or new Ford Focus RS) on the track, but that’s not where most owners are going to take it. In day-to-day driving, it is easier to live with than a similarly equipped Mini and less expensive than an Audi A3, which shares its chassis and some mechanicals. Stealth doesn’t mean boring. It means knowing how to not get caught having fun.

2016 Volkswagen Golf R

Base price: $35,650

Price as tested: $36,470

Type: Compact hatchback

Engine: 2.0-liter inline 4 (292 hp, 280 lbs-ft)

Transmissions: Six-speed manual (as tested); DSG six-speed automated

EPA estimated mileage: 22/31 (as tested)

Overall length: 168.4 inches

Curb weight: 3,305 to 3,362 pounds

Final assembly: Wolfsburg, German