If the 2025 Volkswagen GTI is the civilized commuter that has a spicy aspect, the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R is the entire spice rack.
With extra energy and a extra track-focused mission than the less-expensive GTI, the Golf R exists for the weekend warrior.
Like with the GTI, the Golf R loses the handbook, and it’s simply as unhappy as with the GTI. Additionally as with the GTI, there’s blended information on using haptic contact – some buttons return to the steering wheel however the automotive nonetheless lacks knobs for temperature and audio controls.
Whereas some issues are misplaced, some issues are gained – similar to extra horsepower.
(Full disclosure: Volkswagen flew me to Virginia and fed and housed me so I may drive the Golf R. The corporate additionally gave us some observe time at Summit Motorsports Park in West Virginia.)
The Golf R will get a facelift for 2025, with a brand new entrance fascia, new entrance bumper, new grille, and new headlights. The VW emblem is now illuminated and there’s now a mechanical adaptive entrance lighting system. New forged-alloy 19-inch wheels are 4 kilos (every) lighter than the earlier wheels. The mirror caps are gloss black now.
A Euro Model Package deal is now out there – this deletes the sunroof, provides a titanium exhaust, deletes most power-seat controls and the cooled seats, and provides ArtVelours seats with diamond-patterned material. VW says this bundle drops about 80 kilos of weight from the automotive.
There’s additionally a brand new Black Version trim that replaces blue accents with black, darkens the headlight parts, has black badging, and has a black exhaust. The within will get carbon-fiber décor and this bundle might be bought with the Euro Model Package deal. Each the Euro and Black have 19-inch wheels.
Inside, the adjustments are much like what’s seen on the GTI – a brand new 12.9-inch infotainment display screen, the sliders for quantity and temperature management, a one-year trial of in-car AI, a brand new ventilated wi-fi charging pad, and up to date décor.
Carrying over is the 30-color ambient lighting, Harman Kardon audio, and Nappa leather-based seating.
Underhood stays the EA888 evo4 turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine – this 12 months it positive factors 13 horsepower to take it to 328, and torque stays the identical at 295 lb-ft. Your solely transmission selection is a seven-speed DSG computerized with launch management. The Golf R stays all-wheel drive, and the system has a rear-axle, torque-vectoring differential that may ship as much as one hundred pc of torque to a person rear wheel.
There are seven drive modes: Eco, Consolation, Sport, Race, Drift, Particular, and Customized. DCC adaptive damping and an electronically locking differential are normal. In the event you’re monitoring the R, you’ll be able to scale back the soundness management’s intervention with ESC Sport or go ESC off utterly.
If the driving force places the transmission in handbook mode whereas utilizing the “Particular” or “Drift” drive modes, it’ll keep there.
The EPA has estimated gas economic system at 22 mpg metropolis, 31 freeway, and 25 mixed.
Many of the IQ.Drive superior driver-aid methods carryover – that’s journey help, entrance help, lively blind-spot monitoring, rear-traffic alert, lane help, adaptive cruise management with cease and go, and emergency help. Newly normal for this 12 months is park help plus with throttle management. Different carryover security nannies embrace dynamic highway signal show, park distance management, head-up show, and light-weight help.
Whereas the R and GTI may look the identical and share a platform and powertrain, the distinction is stark. The R is louder on highway, each by way of exhaust word and A-pillar wind noise. It rides extra stiffly. It feels extra highly effective – and it carves corners even higher than the GTI does. Typically it seems like a canine testing its proprietor’s grip on the leash – it desires to play.
And play we did, as soon as us motley crew of journalists received to Summit Motorsports Park, tucked away in West Virginia. Monitor time was a bit restricted by a must catch a flight house, however I managed two periods in every automotive.
I went GTI first as a result of it is smart to make use of the slower automotive to acclimatize oneself with the observe – on this case, Summit’s Jefferson Circuit – and when it got here time for the R, the variations remained obvious.
Whereas it’s exhausting to note the have an effect on of 13 new ponies, the R’s normal energy benefit over the GTI was appreciated within the straightaways, and the R felt extra planted and grippier in cornering. Just like the GTI, it understeered when pushed, however I didn’t work the wheel as a lot to regulate my cornering line. I felt quicker and extra assured on observe within the R. All-wheel drive and all of the electromechanical gizmos work wonders.
The handbook shift mode actually does keep in handbook, as I discovered upon pit out once I forgot to upshift and hit the rev limiter. The shifts are swift and crisp with out upsetting the chassis – and never too harsh on the road.
As a lot as I loved the R on observe, I don’t know if I’d spend the additional cash on it over the GTI if I didn’t plan on attending to the racetrack usually. The GTI is a greater road automotive, and whereas the R isn’t too high-strung to be a commuter, it does demand sufficient sacrifice by way of trip and luxury that I’d want the GTI for any on-road driving wanting, say, the Angeles Crest Freeway.
You do pay much more for the R – it’s $47,100 to get within the door. Normal options not already talked about embrace three-zone local weather management, navigation, satellite tv for pc radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, head-up show, heated entrance and rear outboard seats, keyless entry and beginning, cooled entrance seats, sunroof, 12-way energy driver seat, and driver-seat reminiscence. The Euro Model Package deal provides $3,795. To get the Black Version, you’ll lay out $48,415. Vacation spot is $1,225.
From a pure efficiency perspective, the R is a transparent step above the GTI. It pulls more durable from a cease, handles higher, sounds higher at full zoot, and it appeared to grip higher.
The query is – is that price seven grand extra? And do you need to drop nearly 4 grand extra on the Euro bundle, which saves a little bit of weight but in addition takes away some consolation and comfort options?
Alternative of choice bundle is clearly as much as the person, however irrespective of the way you’re R is provided, it’s going to be a bit much less civilized than its platform mate. And even if you happen to don’t select the Euro bundle, the R’s cabin supplies don’t really feel as particular as they need to in a automotive that’s almost 50 grand.
Or over 50 grand — the Black Version with Euro I drove was $53,731.
Plus, there’s that infuriating lack of management knobs. And whereas the automotive continues to be nice with the DSG, the lack of the handbook is price mourning.
All that mentioned, if you happen to plan to trace your VW sizzling hatch, or if in case you have entry to an important driving highway, the R is the one to get. Simply ensure you work out its wild aspect sufficient to make the additional coin price it.
In the event you do, you’ll simply justify the expense.
[Images © 2025 Tim Healey/TTAC.com]
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