Watch the leaves change color and never get older, especially for this Florida boy. Arguably one of the best places to do this in the United States is the iconic Blue Ridge Park Avenue. The winding sidewalk extends from NC all the way to Virginia , with a total length of 469 mile , and in addition to the absolutely charming scenery, it is one of the best driving roads east of Mississippi River .
You can really enjoy Parkway’s twisty apron and varied colors in any vehicle, but the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R brings the tones to life. With a powerful engine, impressive power and handsome appearance, this popular hatchback has all the right parts to make a big impression – especially in the straight line.
Impressive Power
Golf R's turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine has better power than any car in its class, giving your right foot 315 horsepower and 295 lb-ft directly. Those numbers are a big boost from last year’s 288 horses and 280 pound-feet, and they make the new Golf R much more powerful than the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Veloster N. Maximum torque reaches 1,900 RPM when using a manual transmission (2,000 RPM when using a DSG), while 60 miles per hour takes only 4.7 seconds.
Golf R rushes off the track with impressive enthusiasm, its 4Motion all-wheel drive system and summer tires (235/35) easily grabs the cold and wet sidewalks of Blue Ridge Park Road. The initial impact is great and it will force you and all four passengers into the seat back. But even better, the Golf R stays on the way to the red line—it never loses momentum.
This powertrain comes with two beautiful (but not very good) transmissions of your choice: a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG. The options of your own lineup have long throws and a mushy catch point, which makes it far less appealing than the near-perfect shifter in the Honda Civic Type R. Golf's dual clutch option doesn't feel as clear or precise as what Veloster N offers.
Dynamic dilution
What is even more disappointing is that when the driving becomes tortuous, Golf R does not have the same dynamic charm as Civic Type R or Veloster N. As with most settings, progressive variable ratio steering adds weight more or less based on driving mode, where race mode is the heaviest setting. The difference, however, is that the electric steering motor also adjusts the speed based on the speed or speed of the car, or how much torque you are on the wheel.
So, for example when nudged around the hotel parking lot in normal mode, the steering feels very light, responding to the car's low speed movement, with limited interference, allowing me to turn the steering wheel with one finger. Once you enter Parkway and activate Race mode, the variable settings increase the weight of the steering to suit a more aggressive driving style.
problem is that the extra weight does not bring more road feel; the hard-clad steering wheel can only preview the role of the tire. The electronic babysitter in the rack obviously takes on most of the hard work, and I feel like I’m throwing a Golf R around in the Forza video game, craving the touch of Civic or Veloster every moment.
This is not to say that Golf R still can’t handle it with extraordinary calmness – it does. Volkswagen’s dynamic chassis control (or DCC) and adaptive dampers are standard on this model in 2022, meaning the Golf R curves are accurate.
When the ride becomes tortuous, Golf R does not have the same dynamic charm as Civic Type R or Veloster N. Both the
control arm and anti-roll bar are 10% harder than last year, meaning that riding can be harsh occasionally, but it produces perfect body control and flat turns even on the trickiest and narrowest roads in North Carolina. Although the Golf R is all-wheel drive, the new rear differential in 2022 can deliver up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels and then transfer 100% of the torque from one side to the other for a more balanced driving feel.
exquisite design, touch technology
Visually, this car still looks a lot like golf. Volkswagen will try its best to keep the car's iconic look on the Porsche impression, while the new generation includes the awesome 19--and adds features such as new lighting fixtures and fancy light strips in the air intake grille, rear spoiler, and some different optional wheel-inch shoes as shown. Overall, though, the Golf R is still recognizable, and it is wise for the public to keep simple decisions.
cabin design is also the classic Volkswagen , using high-quality materials such as leather and metal, two supporting Nappa sports barrel seats, and interesting features such as 30-way ambient lighting. Almost everything at your fingertips feels good quality, which is impossible for some of the closest competitors of the Golf R (I'm looking at you, Hyundai Veloster N).
Golf R does surpass its competitors where – it’s easy – is in the comfort department.
Volkswagen's new IQ.Drive active safety equipment comes standard with an automatic transmission, including Travel Assist - essentially adaptive cruise control for long-distance driving - automatic emergency braking, rear intersection alarms, etc. It all runs very well on the highway, keeping the Golf R in the center of the lane and maintaining a steady speed behind the vehicle in front of it.
but some other techniques are insufficient. The Golf R uses an unnecessary complex user interface of ID.4, using a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.0-inch touch screen and a complete set of hard-to-use touch capacitive buttons. They rarely respond on the first input and are difficult to parse when driving, while the shiny black plastic on the wheels and the center stack tends to leave fingerprints.
Most importantly, activating simple features such as heating seats or deep climate control requires at least three clicks on the screen. At least wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, meaning you can avoid certain elements of the tedious interface if you want.
Golf R does surpass its competitors where – it’s easy – is in the comfort department. Dialing the drive mode dial to normal softens the suspension to a truly comfortable level, alleviates steering, and improves the engine to a docile hum. Plus those Nappa buckets are sublime, with standard heating and ventilation, perfect corner carving support and plenty of support for long drives. This is the most livable of all popular hatchbacks.
Mature five-door
2022 Volkswagen Golf R starts with a six-speed manual of $43,645 (plus a $995 destination fee) as one of the most expensive hatchbacks—the Civic R-type priced at $37,895, Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP for $45,750, and Veloster N asking for $32,500. But it is also the most powerful and comes with standard features such as DCC adaptive dampers, heated Nappa leather seats, digital cockpit and IQ.Drive.
For me, Civic Type R and Veloster N are still unparalleled from a dynamic perspective—in these same paths, under the same conditions, both will undoubtedly feel more interesting. One could even argue that a basic Volkswagen GTI (Motor1.com Best Performance Car Star Award winner) that is less than $30,000 without fancy bells and whistles will be just as pleasant.
But this does not mean that Golf R does not have its own advantages. It has an impressive sense of dynamic and stylish, but not overly noisy and is very comfortable to ride in the most docile mode. As always, the new Volkswagen Golf R remains the group’s mature hatchback – Warts and all.
Golf R Competitor:
Honda Civic R-type
Hyundai Veloster N
Mini John Cooper Works GP
FAQs
2022 Volkswagen Golf R price?
Volkswagen Golf R starts at $43,645 and comes with a six-speed manual transmission plus a $995 destination fee. The Golf R is priced at $44,445 and comes with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
What engine does the Volkswagen Golf R have?
Volkswagen Golf R comes with a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine , producing 315 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Unlike the GTI, the Golf R has a standard 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
How is the fuel economy of the Volkswagen Golf R?
2022 Volkswagen Golf R is one of the most efficient hatchbacks in its class, with 23 miles per gallon city and 30 miles on the highway, and 26 miles on combined with a seven-speed DSG transmission. The Golf R returns to 20 cities, 28 highways and 23 combined with a six-speed manual transmission.
2022 Volkswagen Golf R
Engine Turbo 2.0 liter I4
Output 315 horsepower / 295 lb-ft
Seven-speed dual-clutch
Driver type All-wheel drive
Speed 0-60 mph 4.7 seconds
Maximum speed 155 mph
Efficiency 23 city / 30 highway / 26 merge
Weight 2,972 lb
Seat 5
Cargo volume 19.9 / 34.5 cubic feet
Base price $43,645 + $995 Destination
pruning basic price 44,640
test price 45,440
