Drive like you used to. . .
By Gary S. Vasilash
When you think of the term “throw-back” in relation to autos, odds are it is something from the early 1960s if not even earlier.
But in an age where every OEM seems to have most of its engineering efforts focused on producing some sort of crossover (or something more robust that actually has the capability to go along with off-road looks), it isn’t in the least bit an exaggeration to describe the Volkswagen Golf R a throw-back because it is a quintessential hot-hatch, a category of car that is hanging on but diminishing in volume.
In the US the hot-hatch became something of a phenomenon in the early 1980s with vehicles like the Ford Escort GT and the Dodge Omni GLH. And there were the JDM cars, the Toyota Corolla AE86 and the Mitsubishi Starion.
One car that has been in the mix since 2004 (and know other variants preceded it) is the Volkswagen Golf. That year the company introduced the R32 and it has been keeping that going.
The present vehicle is simply the Golf R, which is now the Mk8.
The car is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 328 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. In a nod to contemporaneity, there is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with Tiptronic (a.k.a., VW’s system that allows manual shifting). When getting on the accelerator the shifts were discernable, which is a pleasant experience when many vehicles today avoid providing any sense that there is an engine under that hood.
The vehicle also has the VW “4Motion” all-wheel drive system. It not only provides power shifting between the front and rear axles as needed, but in this implementation between the two rear wheels: as much as 100% of the rear torque can go to either of the wheels back there. This shifting of where the power goes provides excellent handling when going through curves that aren’t part of a gymkhana circuit. 4Motion also minimizes torque steer when accelerating hard from a stop.
The car has a comparatively low center of gravity. It feels planted. (Well, it is planted.) It is sizeable enough so that you don’t feel threatened by pickups and full-size SUVs on the freeway (it measures 169.1 inches long, 57.8 inches high, 70.4 inches wide and has a 103.5-inch wheelbase), and small enough so that you can quickly maneuver and position as necessary.
Of course, being a contemporary vehicle it has to have interior tech. In its case there is the Volkswagen “Discover Pro MIB3” infotainment system with navigation and a 12.9-inch display as standard. If there is one thing that stands out to me as a deficiency is the lack of knobs and buttons to adjust things whether it is selecting a screen or simply wanting to change a Sirius station. Realize that the driver is probably driving the Golf R with a bit of vim, so having to select areas on a screen is not the most ergonomic approach.
Although it is absolutely clear the Golf R is fun to drive, let’s face it: most people don’t have some $50,000 for the singular purpose of fun. So it should be noted that there is 19.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the second-row seatback up and 34.5 cubic feet with it down. Yes, you can use it when going to the grocery store thereby combining fun with function.
