2023 Volkswagen Golf review

What We Like

Exhilarating performance: With 315 horsepower coming from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Volkswagen Golf R is a rocket among hatchbacks. Standard all-wheel drive gives it the traction needed to launch from a standstill to 60 mph in only 4.3 seconds and also delivers an abundance of grip when cornering. If you’re seeking performance, this is a great place to start.

Hatchback practicality: Despite their rather small footprint, hatchbacks have always over-delivered when it comes to utility and convenience, and the Golf R is no different. The cargo area can hold up to 19.9 cubic feet (or about 25 grocery bags) behind the rear seats. Those seats fold almost flat to the wide cargo floor to expand capacity to 34.5 cubic feet, which rivals some subcompact SUVs.

Comfortable ride and cabin: Sporty handling typically results in a firmer ride quality and that is certainly the case with the Golf R, but not so much as to be uncomfortable or intrusive. Credit the standard adaptive suspension dampers that allow the driver to select between a softer or stiffer ride. A relatively quiet cabin and supportive seats add to the overall effect.

What Needs Improvement

Unintuitive capacitive touch controls: Rather than traditional buttons and knobs, Volkswagen opted for capacitive touch controls for the Golf R. They’re much more distracting than traditional controls since you have to pay closer attention to hit the right button. They're also far too easily activated inadvertently if you happen to brush against them.