Hot hatch battle: Focus RS vs Civic Type R vs M140i vs RS 3 vs Golf R vs AMG A 45

Volkswagen Golf R

The Golf R is the boyfriend you’d hoped your daughter might bring home. It’s successful at school, sporty, but entirely sensible and won’t dump anyone at a party for a casual fling.

It treads that very fine line between showing it’s more than just an ordinary Golf and showing off. Some will like that, others might prefer the more obvious battledress of the Honda, Ford or Mercedes.

It’s equally subtle beneath the surface. This is the least potent car here. But it’s what you do with it that counts, right?

Driving enjoyment 8/10

The Volkswagen Golf is widely considered the best car in its class. But what happens when you want to go faster?
A new Performance Pack has just been announced by VW, but not in time for our test. So this is a standard Golf R five-door with a manual gearbox, the optional (£830) Dynamic Chassis Control and larger, 19in alloy wheels.

Its 306bhp, 2-litre turbo engine could be presumed to be lacking a little muscle in this company, but let’s be clear: over 300bhp in a family hatchback is more than enough to have a good time.

This is a nice engine, with a crisp snarl and sharp throttle response, and it likes to rev, holding peak power all the way from 5,500rpm to 6,500rpm. It zips from 0-62mph in 5.1sec and the manual gearbox may lack the Honda’s precision but it’s smooth and never obstructive when shifting in a hurry.

The Golf R works terrifically well on the road. And let’s face it, that’s where owners will spend the vast majority of their time driving. There’s comfort when you want it and sportier responses when a nice stretch of road lies ahead. And even when you do switch the dampers from Comfort to Normal and then to Sport, things never get harsh, as they do in the Ford, Honda and Mercedes.

Unlike the Audi and Mercedes, the VW does a good job of telling the driver how close the tyres are to losing their grip on the road surface, which means you can drive the car in confidence no matter what the conditions.

There may not be the poise of the Ford and Honda but when you just want to commute to the office, the VW is a much more likeable thing. If you’re looking for an all-rounder, look no further than the Golf R.

Interior and practicality 9/10

Sliding behind the seat of the Golf R is as comforting as walking into your favourite restaurant. VW’s designers have managed to avoid chintz, yet it still feels sporty from the driver’s seat, and the quality of the cabin is almost as good as things get in this class.

It’s restrained, and everything works so intuitively. Achieving that simplicity can’t have been easy but it makes living with this car a pain-free experience. In some of the others, notably the Honda and Ford, you end up cursing the infotainment systems, which are a muddle compared with VW’s.

You also get space for a family. Five people can sit in here in comparative comfort, and the boot is a healthy 343 litres.

Value for money 10/10

If it was our money being spent, this is most likely where it would go. At £33,365 Golf R represents good value for money, given the driving experience, four-wheel drive hardware and classy interior. But it’s not our money; it’s yours. Spend it wisely.

Verdict ★★★★☆

The sensible choice.

Second opinion

Will Dron says: “One of the oldest of the bunch and down on power compared with the rest. That’s noticeable but pull out of corners is impressive thanks to its four-wheel drive system. It’s less grippy through the turns than the rivals here, though, so you can’t carry as much speed through. The engine note is pleasantly audible but not over the top, while the interior is comfortable and the ride (in comfort mode) is not overly stiff, making this a great daily driver and the best all-rounder. As James says, if it were my money…”

2017 Volkswagen Golf R 5dr

• Price from £33,365
• Engine 1984cc, 4-cylinder turbo
• Power 306bhp @ 5500rpm
• Torque 280lb ft @ 2000rpm
• Transmission 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
• Acceleration 0-62mph: 5.1sec
• Top speed 155mph
• Fuel / CO2 37.7mpg / 180g/km