Speedier Golf - 2014 VW Golf R (Part 3)

Making sure

The R again utilises a Haldex Traction Systems (now owned by BorgWarner) AWD set-up to make sure all that grunt sticks. Now in its fifth generation, this on-demand system has a Haldex coupling nestled in the rear sub frame connected to gearbox upfront via a prop shaft. When drive torque is required on the rear axle, the control unit activates the coupling’s electro-hydraulic actuator which forces a piston to act on a clutch pack. When this closes, torque transfer to the rear diff. If AWD is not required, say when cruising a motorway, the clutch pack opens to release the prop shaft input to help improve fuel economy. The software of the control unit, which gets its information from the raft of sensors around the car, is programmed to pre-empt when slippage may occur and to activate the coupling before traction is lost on the front wheels to ensure there’s no lag in its response time. The torque transfer can be varied according to the amount of lock up from the clutch pack.

2014 Volkswagen Golf R - Tail Light

It’s a bit of a sleeper to look at but there’s a new bumper with bigger vents, the xenon lamps come with their own daytime light signature, there’s the side sills, 18-inch wheels and the smoked LED rear lights. Bigger 19s, a $2,000 option, might be worth investing in if you desire something more racy looking. The four fat pipes hanging out the back is what most people will recognize when the R passes them.

There’s not a lot that the R does without, but leather trim is $4,000 extra and while a proximity key should be standard at this price level, you do get satnav, various connectivity options, a reversing camera, sensors at both ends, alcantara and fabric trimmed sports seats, dual-zone air, and all the usual safety features. You should consider VW’s three-year $1,200 servicing plan too.

2014 Volkswagen Golf R – Exhaust

Being a Golf, the R is still a super convenient conveyor, as easy to drive as the base model and just as handy in traffic, ride quality aside. Some of the minor drawbacks include less boot space, which is down from 380 to 343L thanks to the rear diff but there’s still a space saver spare, and the R drinks half a litre more every 100km compared with the GTI but at a quoted 6.9L/100km average, it’s almost 20 per cent better than before. Realistically though you are looking at something around the 9L/100km mark, which is fairly average for a compact car, but impressive for a four seater that can hit 100km/h in under five seconds.

2014 Volkswagen Golf R – Wheel

Making a call over which speedy Golf to buy is a hard one, especially considering we are yet to drive the Performance GTI model. But if you’re not going to miss the extra ten grand, buy the R, it’s worth it, and much better value than the Audi S3 too.