See the interior and exterior of the 2026 Volkswagen Golf R from every angle. The Volkswagen Golf R may have lost its optional manual transmission when it was refreshed in 2025, but it remains one of the most competent hot hatchbacks available in the United States.
The Golf R has a traditional hatchback shape and an understated, clean design that talks at a normal volume instead of shouting. The Volkswagen has a luxurious-looking cabin, but it still relies too heavily on the touchscreen and capacitive touch controls for important functions such as temperature and fan speed.
View Price on AmazonThe Golf R’s seats are supportive, and the Euro Style package brings these cool cloth inserts with a snazzy design, but the package also removes the ventilated function and the full range of power adjustability. The best part about the Euro Style package is the titanium exhaust from Akrapovič, which brings a throatier tone to the Golf R’s turbocharged engine.
The Golf R performed well at the test track, stopping from 70 mph in 152 feet and posting 0.99 g on the skidpad. The Golf R needed just 3.9 seconds to blast to 60 mph thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. The Golf R also completed the quarter-mile in a swift 12.5 seconds at 111 mph.
The Golf R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that churns out 328 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. While we miss rowing our own gears in the Golf R, the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission upshifts quickly and is always eager to downshift.
Source: caranddriver.com
