2026 Volkswagen Golf R Review, Pricing, and Specs

Car and Driver

2 days ago

Overview
A practical sports car, the Golf R is what you get when you add more power and all-wheel drive to the already entertaining GTI hatchback. There's 328 horsepower on tap—87 more than in its sibling—and reactions are further sharpened through various chassis tweaks. This car's low-volume status means VW now only imports it with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (go back a couple years if you want a manual), and it comes in one very loaded but pricey trim. All but the speed-freakiest would likely be satisfied with a cheap-by-comparison GTI instead, but there's no denying the R's performance cred.
What's New for 2026?
The Black Edition trim offered in 2025 goes away, leaving just the standard model for this year. A new exterior hue called Graphite Gray Metallic joins the roster.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2026 Volkswagen Golf R is expected to start around $49,000.
Golf R
$49,000 (est) 0 $10k $20k $30k $40k $50k $60k $70k $80k
For 2026, the Golf R is sold in just one fully loaded trim level, making the decision rather easy. The only major choice is whether to go for the enticing Euro Style package that VW says saves around 80 pounds: it gets rid of the sunroof, swaps in manually adjustable front seats, and includes a meaner-sounding Akrapovic exhaust system that's lighter than the standard setup.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
As of 2025, the Golf R's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is rated at 328 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque; a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is the sole gearbox offered. The standard 4Motion all-wheel-drive system features a rear differential that can actively distribute torque between the left and right rear wheels for improved handling. When we drove the 2025 Golf R, we found it to be just as responsive and eager as before, and the boosted turbo-four feels equally great on either twisty roads or the racetrack.
0–60-MPH Times
Volkswagen claims the latest Golf R is capable of hitting 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Based on our previous testing, however, we feel that number may be a tad conservative. For instance, a 2022 Golf R with the seven-speed automatic transmission hit 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds in our hands. We also tested a 2023 Volkswagen Golf R as part of a 0-to-150-to-0 speed test where it sprinted to 150 mph and returned to a stop in just 40.2 seconds—well before its rivals, the Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Elantra N, which were also part of the same test.
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Volkswagen
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA hasn't released any fuel-economy information for the 2026 Golf R yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings of 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. In our 75-mph highway fuel-economy testing, part of our extensive testing regimen, the automatic Golf R averaged an impressive 34 mpg. For more information about the Golf R's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The standard Golf R interior comes with nicely bolstered high-back sport seats rendered in black leather. Opting for the Euro Style package replaces the front thrones with lighter pieces wearing fake suede with cloth inserts that go without ventilation and offer power adjustment only for recline. There are R logos and blue accents in several spots, including the stitched-leather steering wheel. Unlike the GTI, the Golf R retains frustrating touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls, which include an R button to expedite access to the drive-mode menu. The Golf's interior materials and design have been updated over the years, but the basic five-passenger-and-cargo format has remained set in stone for decades because it works.
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Volkswagen
Infotainment and Connectivity
A 12.9-inch infotainment screen dominates the middle of the dashboard. A revised menu structure teams with updated software to streamline operation, including more user-defined widgets in the home screen, and a static, full-time lower control bar keeps certain commands in view 24/7. HVAC controls are reimagined into more intuitive illuminated sliders like in other new VW products. Instrumentation is displayed in a 10.2-inch digital driver's screen; a configurable head-up display keeps critical data visible. The system includes a GPS lap timer that learns the circuit before activation and allows the user to set three waypoints to allow for comparing times over certain sections, as well as compare the fastest and slowest laps and display them concurrently. The G-meter offers three modes to zoom in on reactions and hone your performance.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Golf R offers an array of driver-assistance technology, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. For more information about the Golf R's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
Standard adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
It's unlikely that Volkswagen will alter its warranty schedule for 2026. We expect it to carry on with the existing coverage that provides an average powertrain warranty but some of the best limited warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance programs currently available in the segment.
Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 20,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2025 Volkswagen Golf R
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE
Base: Golf R, $48,325; Black Edition, $49,640
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 121 in3, 1984 cm3
Power: 328 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.5 in
Length: 169.1 in
Width: 70.4 in
Height: 57.8 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 51/41 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 35/20 ft3
Curb Weight (C/D est): 3400 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 4.0 sec
100 mph: 10.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.5 sec
Top Speed: 155 mph
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 25/22/31 mpg
More Features and Specs