Volkswagen Golf R

The interior of the outgoing Volkswagen Golf R wasn’t anything fancy and the new model retains almost the same features with a few enhancements. The 2023 Golf R borrows the Golf GTI’s cabin design that lends a sportier aesthetic look. The car comes with a thick-rimmed, multifunction steering wheel that controls the 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. 

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R retains the traditional fabric rear seats with funky blue detailing. It complements the blue inserts on the doors, dashboard and the steering wheel. Unlike its GTI cousin, the Golf R doesn’t have plaid seat inserts. The latter also retains the hard plastics from the standard version used lower down the cabin. Such plastics keep the production cost low and are common in entry-level hatchbacks. But for a car that’s branded as a premium member in its segment, the manufacturer should have used softer plastics. 

The front bucket seats come in perforated Nappa leather. They have blue and carbon-look accents on the side along with a blue ‘R’ logo on the backrest. The hatchback segment is fiercely competitive and the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R now comes with extra goodies like 30-color ambient lighting, a more carbon-look dashboard trim, and stainless steel pedals.

Passenger and boot space

The two front seats of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R, like all hatchbacks, are the most spacious. They are comfortable and supportive. There’s no dearth of headroom and legroom even for taller people. The adjustable steering wheel allows the driver to get into a comfortable driving position. Besides the padded door bins, the new Golf R has a nice storage space below the dashboard to keep phones and wallets. There’s also a slot right next to the gear level to keep small stuff. The glove box of the Golf R is larger than most hatchbacks.

Though Volkswagen claims that the rear seat can accommodate three adults, in reality, its best suited for four persons. Fitting in three individuals would be bit of a squeeze. Even then three occupants on the rear seat won’t be uncomfortable for in-city commuting. The seat comes child-seat anchor points that are easily locatable. The sporty front seats, when pushed back, makes the cabin a bit claustrophobic. But the seats are nicely cushioned with good back support. The rear seat gets handy pockets to keep phones and tablets. 

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R comes with a 341-liter boot space. Loading and unloading is easy. The rear seat can be folded down to yield 1,233 liters of space.  

Comfort and entertainment

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R comes with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers sharp and clear graphics. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There are four USB-C charging points, two each for the front and rear seat passengers. The 10-speaker, 480-watt Harman Kardon audio system is pretty impressive with clear sound output. 

There’s an 8.0-inch driver information display unit that offers plenty of customization options. The display is easy to read. A number of touch-sensitive controls are placed below the infotainment unit for operating the climate control system. The buttons are a bit tricky to operate. There’s no backlight in this section. The air-conditioning is powerful and cools the car in minutes. 

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R is an upgraded car but it looks very similar to the outgoing model. The Wolfsburg-headquartered company did make a few cosmetic changes to the new model’s exterior. The full-width LED lightbar in the front enhances the looks and is sure to attract eyeballs. At the back there’s an R badge, the Akrapovic quad-exhaust, and an enhanced spoiler.

The rest of the car is pretty much subtle as it has always been. The styling is familiar and the Golf R is instantly recognizable. The car doesn’t have a menacing presence. But it’s still hard to ignore the Golf R while on the move. The hatchback continues with the fluid roof design. The roofline itself is 5mm lower than the GTI though the new car rolls on 19-inch lightweight tires. The wing mirrors get chrome treatment, while the door handles are recessed. All come with lights to illuminate in dark.

What are the dimensions of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R?

The car measures 4,287mm in length, 1,789mm in breadth, and 1,444mm in height. The car has a 2,631mm wheelbase. 

What is the ground clearance of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R?

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R has a ground clearance of 134mm. Hatchbacks typically have a low ground clearance that minimizes body roll.  

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R offers a decent fuel economy. The highway mileage is around 12kmpl. In city conditions, the mileage drops to around 9kmpl. The fuel economy isn’t the best in class but isn’t bad either. 

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R?

The car comes with a 55-liter fuel tank. 

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R isn’t fast and furious. Volkswagen’s 4Motion system now comes as part of standard equipment. It does make for some fun but only if it’s the right kind of road. The Drift mode is good at times but it creates more tire traction on non-road surfaces. This can lead to faster wearing out of the tires. But the Golf R still retains the power to turn sharp bends without much of an effort.

While driving the car is agile and fun, the handling isn’t sharp. Though the engine has enough low-end torque, power delivery is a bit delayed. The steering wheel is nicely balanced and weighted and promptly responds to driver commands. The selectable drive modes can be activated by pressing the ‘R’ button on the steering. The front disc brakes are larger than the earlier version and the new car comes with variable-ratio steering and a sport exhaust system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R is available in a single version in Malaysia. It’s hauled by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter petrol engine that produces 320PS maximum power at 6,500rpm and 400Nm peak torque at 5,600rpm. The motor is mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission (AT) and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive. 

The R Performance package of the new Golf R comprises a rear spoiler, Akrapovic titanium exhaust muffler, and 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels wrapped with 235/35R19 tires. The package also includes the Drift and Special driving modes. The Drift mode was earlier excluded from the Golf R’s Malaysia-specific model. The Drift mode is recommended for driving on country roads and less-ideal surfaces. But that doesn’t make the Golf R an all-terrain car. The suspension system has been recalibrated to offer optimum contact with the road surface. The tests were carried out at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit.

The Drift and Special joins the existing Comfort, Race, Individual, and Sport drive modes. The Individual mode allows customization of parameters.

The new Golf R is mounted on an all-round independent suspension system. The car also comes with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential on both axles to aid cornering balance and traction.

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R available in diesel?

No. The car is available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter petrol engine only.

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R has the highest number of safety equipment among all cars in the Golf series. Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot detection. The 2023 Golf R comes with Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive that comprises rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a rear view camera, and automatic headlights and wipers. The lane-keep assist system isn’t over-intrusive and can be configured via the instrument panel. 

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R is yet to be tested by the ASEAN NCAP.

How many airbags does the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R have? 

The car’s passive safety kit comprise of seven airbags.

How many cameras does the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R have?

The hatchback comes with a single reverse parking camera. 

Value for money

At a starting price of RM 330,000, the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R isn’t among the most affordable hatchbacks in Malaysia. But the company has managed to strike the right balance with practicality and premium bits with the car. It’s targeted at buyers who want a bit extra from a regular hatchback. The car is pretty comfortable to travel in. And with the features on offer, the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R is worthy of buying. 

Warranty

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R comes with a five-year, unlimited km warranty. The company is offering a three-year maintenance service for the IQ.Drive system. Service intervals are scheduled at every 15,000km.

Are original spare parts of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R available in Malaysia?

All genuine spare parts of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R are available at the company’s workshops and service centers. Maintenance cost, post-warranty, is a bit higher than rivals. 

2023 Volkswagen Golf R vs Renault Megane RS Trophy

The Renault Megane RS Trophy is a direct competitor of the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R in the Malaysian hot hatchback segment. The former comes with great cabin space that makes travelling more comfortable than most vehicles in its class. The sporty looks of the Megane RS are complemented by a spirited performance from the 1.8-liter petrol powertrain. But the car has a stiff ride quality. At RM 368,888, the Megane RS is priced lower than the Golf R. 

2023 Volkswagen Golf R vs BMW 1 Series

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R and the BMW 1 Series share the same 2.0-liter petrol engine. But the BMW, being a more premium car, comes with great features compared to the Golf R and other hatchbacks. The 1 Series boasts of superb build quality and its handling is the best in class. The cabin too is more premium than the Golf R. But it suffers from a rather cramped rear seat. Price-wise, the BMW is pegged at RM 361,320. 

2023 Volkswagen Golf R vs Toyota GR Corolla

The Toyota Corolla sedan was once the world’s highest selling car and is still a mass favorite. The Japanese manufacturer probably wanted to replicate its success with the GR Corolla hatchback. The result is a high-performance car with agile dynamics. Though the suspension is stiff though travelling in the GR Corolla is otherwise comfortable. The car is priced at RM 355,000.    

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Golf R worth buying?

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R is recommended for those who want a practical, sensible and a sophisticated hatchback. The Golf R comes with a great set of driver-assist features and safety equipment. Driving it is easy, and the Golf R is a great car for city roads. No, it’s not cheap. But it isn’t meant for the average hatchback-seeker either. The Golf R is an all-rounder and worth the premium it commands over other cars in its segment.