Tag Archives: volkswagen

Volkswagen released the eighth-generation Golf GTI and Golf R in the United States in 2022, and both got interesting anniversary models for 2023. I grabbed a 2023 Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary from a local dealer at a fair price and have spent the last two months putting it through its paces. The car is far from perfect, but its mix of interior space, all-wheel drive performance, and supreme hot-hatch cargo capacity put it over the top for me. 

That said, I would’ve picked up a GR Corolla for the right price. The Golf R is brutally quick and offers impressive performance tech, but it’s not as raw or entertaining to drive as the Corolla or the new Civic Type R. It’s better at hauling my kids and dog, but is it a better all-around car? Let’s get rolling and discover all the reasons why I think (hope) I made the right call. 

2023 Volkswagen Golf R price and trim levels

The Volkswagen Golf R starts at $44,740 and is on sale now. It comes in two trim levels – base and 20th Anniversary – but the latter is just an appearance change for the car. Though the R is offered in other body styles globally, America gets a hatch only, but it gets all the goodies without added-cost options. In this review, we tested the 2023 Golf R 20th Anniversary.

2023 VW Golf R: see inventory near me

Available trim levels:

• Base: $44,740
• 20th Anniversary: $45,390

Exterior paint colors

• Lapiz Blue Metallic
• Deep Black Pearl
• Pure White White

Interior colors

• Titan black w/ blue stitching

Interior options

• VW offers no interior options

Packages

• VW offers no packages or upgrades other than accessories

They’re keeping it real simple over there at Wolfsburg, I see.

For reference, the Civic Type R is roughly on par at $44,890, while its tuxedo-clad sibling, the Integra Type-S, goes for $51,995. The GR Corolla starts far lower at $35,900, and the Hyundai Elantra N, which is a teeny smidge behind this pack in terms of speed but has similar tech and features, stickers for $32,900.

2023 Volkswagen Golf R interior and tech

While VW offers plaid cloth or leather in the GTI, the Golf R gets leather in both models. The 20th Anniversary adds carbon fiber trim to the dash and a blue “R” logo to the steering wheel but is otherwise identical, other than the fact that buyers pay more to delete the sunroof. Some have complained that the eighth-gen Golf R and GTI feel cheaper inside than their predecessors, which is largely accurate. There are more hard plastics and fewer physical controls than before, and that’s a hard pill to swallow at almost $50,000.

Interior space

• Front seat legroom: 41.2 inches
• Rear seat legroom: 35 inches
• Front seat headroom: 38.5 inches
• Rear seat headroom: 38.1 inches
• Cargo space with back seats up: 19.9 cubic feet
• Cargo space with back seats down: 34.5 cubic feet

Dimensions

• Length: 168.9 inches
• Width: 70.4 inches
• Height: 57.7 inches

2023 Volkswagen Golf R engine and performance

The 2023 Golf R relies on VW’s workhorse EA888 four-cylinder engine, now in its fourth generation. The turbocharged 2.0-liter mill makes 315 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque and sends it to all four wheels through a seven-speed DSG transmission. The car comes standard with a six-speed manual, but they’re harder to find and are down 15 pound-feet of torque on the DSG. I’ve been able to get close to Car and Driver’s tested zero-to-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds, but the quickest times involve perfect conditions that I rarely have here in Maine.

In the handling department, Volkswagen improved the Golf R’s suspension and chassis, and the car comes standard with adaptive dampers. Large 14.1-inch front rotors bring everything to a stop and the car’s torque vectoring shifts torque between the wheels that need it the most.

The Golf R also includes several drive modes, such as “Race,” “Special,” and “Drift.” Even so, having a Drift mode is only really useful if the car actually drifts while using it. That’s not the case here, as the Golf R feels extremely reluctant to break traction in the so-called drifting mode.

2023 Volkswagen Golf R design

Where some hot hatches opt to shout their performance from the rooftops, the Golf R is a more subtle affair. There are no loud scoops on the hood or massive spoilers other than one prominent wing on the rear hatch. I’d prefer a sunroof, but many have knocked VW’s for being leaky and loud, so perhaps I dodged a bullet with the 20th Anniversary’s slicktop design. The car rides on 19-inch wheels clad in summer rubber, and though the wheel design is the same, the 20th Anniversary’s are painted black. The only other indications that it’s different from a GTI or standard Golf are the R logos on the quarter panels and rear hatch.

The interior design is pleasing to the eye, but there are simply too many touch controls. I’ve adjusted to them after weeks of use, but they could be jarring for someone coming out of a more analog car. The front seats are deep, sporty, and supportive and offer prominent bolstering for secure seating during rowdy driving. Back-seat passengers enjoy more legroom than the Toyota GR Corolla, and the R has more cargo space than a Porsche Macan. Go figure.

2023 Volkswagen Golf R future

The Golf GTI and R are only two years old at this point, and despite VW’s EV saber-rattling, they’ll likely stick around with gas for at least a few more years. The cars are expected to get a facelift in 2025 or 2026 that brings more physical controls and other updates, but the Golf probably won’t shift to an all-electric, or even a hybrid design for that matter, in the next couple of years. That said, VW has long said that the GTI name would make the jump to electrification at some point, so it’s only a matter of time before we see an electrified hatchback on American soil. 

Additional FAQs

Is the Golf R worth the premium over a Golf GTI?

In my case, the answer was yes. The GTI (I owned a new one for over a year) fizzles out at a point, and that’s where the R shines the most. This is true with acceleration and overall grip, as the R’s trick all-wheel drive system helps it claw out of trouble much more confidently. 

Is a Golf R expensive to maintain?

Maintaining a Golf R is more expensive than driving something like a VW Jetta or Camry. Still, it’s not as tearjerking as trying to keep up with maintenance on a Porsche or more exotic car like a Lamborghini or Ferrari. 

Which Audi has the same powertrain as the Golf R?

The Audi S3 sedan has the same turbo-four and all-wheel drive system as the Golf R, all wrapped up in a sedan body instead of a hatch.

Is the Golf R faster than the GTI?

The Golf R has 75 more horsepower, and its all-wheel drive system helps put that power to the ground much more efficiently than the front-wheel drive GTI.

Blue-collar suburbanites and highway NPCs, rejoice! The new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan has been revealed, and VW confirmed a version will be coming to the United States. Several years since its last big revamp, one of the best-selling vehicles in the United States is finally getting an all-new version, complete with hot new styling in line with the rest of the family along with fresh, high-tech powertrains.

Performance and exterior improvements

With engine choices of gas, turbodiesel, and mild-hybrid engines, the real star is the plug-in hybrid which is having a bit of a resurgence in the industry and making waves in cars like the Toyota RAV4 Prime, the Dodge Hornet, and the staff-favorite Alfa Romeo Tonale. Volkswagen has stated it will get up to 62 miles on battery alone before dipping into the gas reserve. With California requiring plug-in hybrids to be capable of at least 50 miles of all-electric range by 2035, it’s nice to see some manufacturers ahead of schedule.

You’ll find the safety tech you’d expect on a new vehicle including blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. An extensive range of option systems will also be available including a park assist with remote parking capability while the driver is outside of the vehicle using a smartphone app.

The design has been updated which is especially noticeable at the front with its super flat LED headlights and a new horizontal LED strip on the rear.

Interior improvements

Sitting in the driver’s seat, you’ll be greeted with a slew of new features. Physical buttons (praise the car gods!) have been added to the steering wheel, with a rotary dial to the center console for command over stereo volume and more. The dial has its own mini-screen as a modern and upscale touch. The dashboard appears to be using the same 15″ touchscreen found on other current VWs, including the Mk8 Golf R, ID.7, and ID.4, which offers a great deal of information near the driver’s sightline but has been criticized for binding many controls to the touchscreen and touchpad. Seats are equipped with heating and, get this, a massage function, which will be a welcome addition for long hours in traffic.

Overall interior design can be perceived as somewhat derivative and unoriginal, but there’s no denying that ruthless German efficiency. The rear seats appear flat but spacious, while the front seats are greeted by an appreciable level of color and brightwork in the dash panels, which compliment the lighter-colored upholstery option nicely. How much of this will transfer over to the North American variant is yet to be confirmed.

Volkswagen confirmed the U.S. version of the upgraded Tiguan will be longer than what’s been unveiled here, likely to satisfy our desires for more cavernous interiors. This was expected as it was the case for the previous generation. We’ll be on the lookout for an official North American announcement sometime next year.

Volkswagen is rapidly expanding its electrification efforts globally, including in the United States, with the VW ID.4. The automaker recently unveiled the new ID.7, and we anticipate unleash of the ID. Buzz van very soon. It’s shown us its vision of a small electric hatchback in the ID.2all concept car, a surprisingly Golf-looking hatchback that will sell for under €25,000, or a little over $26,000. Unfortunately, that car is unlikely to reach the US, as Americans are terrible at buying anything but enormous SUVs and trucks. However, even without a domestic launch, the car promises affordable thrills and offers clean styling.

The gas-powered VW Golf was discontinued in the US in 2021. Now all that remains are the Golf GTI and Golf R Mk8 models, two sportier takes on the standard Golf you wouldn’t be hard-pressed to find at your local car meet – I know we’ve seen our fair share at NYCars & Coffee. No doubt because of its popularity with the enthusiast market, according to Motor1.com, the GTI had outsold the standard Golf three-to-one in 2018 before getting the axe. So while we might not see the ID.2all stateside, we’ll likely get the souped-up performance variants, if the ID.2 really is the Golf’s successor.

VW ID.2all price, specs, and trim levels

We don’t know the exact pricing yet, but we expect VW to stick to that sub-€25,000 pricing model outlined with the concept car launch. There will likely be higher-priced variants offering more range and better performance. However, the base model’s 280 miles of range presents an excellent value for the price. Higher trims or battery configurations could add a few thousand to the MSRP, but there’s nothing wrong with the baseline estimate.

Volkswagen does a stellar job at including solid features and upgrades with each trim level without gouging for dollars in packages or standalone options packages. Buyers will have a choice of trim level and likely a couple of battery and powertrain options. With the ID.4, VW initially offered a standard-range model with rear-wheel drive and a Pro model with a larger battery pack and available all-wheel drive. Now, there are several trims that build on those basic configurations.

In terms of features, expect Volkswagen’s distinctive upscale interior finishes with a large screen and digital gauge cluster. Unlike some automakers, VW hasn’t completely ditched its physical HVAC controls.

The ID.2all’s size means it’ll have a tiny back seat. Though if it’s on the Golf’s level, the rear bench will be surprisingly spacious for the car. Advanced safety features are almost guaranteed, though the configuration and availability of the tech may differ depending on the country. 

Volkswagen electrified: ID.2all vs. ID.4 and ID.7

Volkswagen recently announced the ID.7 for the American market, which will join the ID. Buzz electric van and ID.4 crossover. The automaker is unlikely to release the ID.2all here because small hatchbacks don’t sell anywhere near as well as larger SUVs and trucks, and all of the American market EVs are larger than the diminutive hatchback. They’re all made by the same company, so shared DNA is inevitable. 

VW ID.2all interior and tech

Like the ID.4, the ID.2all may get LED lights and standard IQ.DRIVE safety equipment. Its price means it will likely do without some features, including wireless charging and heated seats. Higher trims may add larger wheels, ambient interior lighting, a heated steering wheel, and a sunroof. Volkswagen has a focus on sustainable materials, so the car’s interior may lean into that philosophy with the upholstery and trim made from recycled materials.

The ID.7 is a large sedan, so the differences between it and the ID.2all will be evident out of the gate. The ID.7’s interior is more upscale than we expect from the ID.2all and has much more space. At the same time, the ID.7 has a unique hatch-trunk that technically makes it a hatchback, but the space underneath it is far more generous than what we’ll see in the ID.2all.

Volkswagen news

With the imminent release of the long-awaited ID.Buzz, Volkswagen is at a critical juncture. The automaker’s earlier EVs have sold reasonably well. Here in the States, however, the ID.4 faces a concerning recall because some drivers have reported the doors opening at random times. Globally, Volkswagen has been criticized for moving too slowly on EVs and maintaining a manufacturing presence in China, where there are big questions about forced labor and human rights.

The company has also shown how complex in-house technology management can be. Its CARIAD division has chewed through leaders like a football team at a pizza buffet. These difficulties have caused delays in models from other VW Group brands, including Porsche. The software will do exciting things for VW once it’s finished, including providing the backbone for its autonomous driving program.