Volkswagen Golf R (DSG) 5 Door Review: R you hot enough?

What we like:

Effortless performance

painless to tax compared to R32 predecessor

subtle yet sporty looks

premium feel

well-equipped

all-wheel drive traction

it's a hot Golf

What we dislike:

Could be more driver focused for a R-badged model

doesn't sound anything as good as the R32

doesn't feel much more special than a GTI

costly for a Golf

detuned for Singapore market

The Golf R's interior is largely similar to the GTI's bar minor detail differences. The comfortable and supportive seats are the same as the GTI's but with the ‘R' logo embossed on the head restraints. There are more ‘R' logos on the brilliant steering wheel and the doorsills. It has the same high quality dashboard as the other Golf models. The dials have a different typeface to the GTI's but feature signature R blue needles. Matte aluminium inserts adorn the dash panels - these look far more convincing than the shiny gloss ones in the R36 and R50. The R's go faster bits somehow aren't enough to hugely differentiate its cabin from the GTI's - there's just no sense of occasion in here. It's Golf, so the R has a spacious and commodious cabin that comfortably seats four.

The Golf R comes with a wide array of standard kit to reflect its premium pricing - these include bi-Xenon headlamps, electric sunroof, electric adjustments on the driver's seat, DCC and so on. Sportier types or track junkies can go for the optional front bucket seats that not only look racy but also hug better in the corners.

So is the Golf R the daddy of all hot hatches? Er, nope, not in my opinion at least - it might be the mother of all hot Golfs on paper but in execution, it simply isn't the best ever. The R somehow lacks the soul and character of the older models even though it is hugely competent in many key areas. The previous R32 feels and sounds more special - it just gives you a unique sense of occasion to drive one. Moreover, I had expected the Golf R to be significantly more driver focused than its S3 Sportback cousin to deserve the R badge but ultimately it isn't.

At the end of the day, many will still want a Golf R because it's a Volkswagen Golf - not any run-of-the-mill Golf mind you, but the flagship of the Golf range, the mother of all sixth generation Golfs so to speak. The prospect of having a highly desirable and rare hot Golf on your driveway is still far too tempting.

Credits: Story and Photos by Raymond Lai