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2023 Volkswagen Golf R

Hatchback · 2.0L Turbo I4 · AWD

79/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a hatchback is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine2.0L Turbo I4
Horsepower315 hp
Torque310 lb-ft
0–60 mph4.7 sec
Top speed155 mph
DrivetrainAWD
Seats5
Combined MPG25 mpg (22 city / 30 hwy)
Range428 miles
MSRP$44,640
Body styleHatchback

The verdict

What's good

  • Grippy all-wheel drive in any weather
  • Hatchback practicality with real speed
  • Special drift mode for track fun
  • Understated looks that fly under radar

What's not

  • Frustrating touch-slider controls
  • Firm ride over bumps
  • Pricey for a Golf
  • Cramped back seat for adults

The engine

EA888

2.0L Turbo I4

VW's EA888 2.0 TSI is the definitive hot-hatch four — punchy, tunable, and torque-rich from low revs, equally at home humming in a Tiguan or screaming in a Golf R.

One of the most widely used and heavily developed engines in the world, the EA888 has powered Volkswagen Group cars across four generations and is a darling of the tuning scene.

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