It's baaaack. And it's both different and the same.
Last seen stateside in 2008 as the R32, the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R retains the expected R performance pedigree but delivers on that promise in a different way.
While the '08 featured a 3.2-liter V-6 managed exclusively by a six-speed automatic transmission, this new R opts for a 2.0-liter, turbo four, borrowed from corporate cousin Audi TTS, with power distributed to all four wheels (the only Golf that can make that claim) exclusively through a six-speed manual gear box.
Also — and this should interest performance enthusiasts who must factor in the responsibilities of parenthood in any buying decision — the hatchback-only R, for the first time ever in the U.S., can be had with four passenger doors.
We drove the more familiar two-door and still marveled at its practicality — not frequently a strong suit in the hot-hatch segment.
Room is fine up front, but it's the back seat that really impresses. Rear head room is spectacular while cheap-seat leg room, with just the slightest break from folks in front, is fine. That rear bench officially seats three, but only two can actually get comfortable.
Also, rear access was surprisingly easy, considering our car was a compact coupe. The front doors open nearly 90 degrees and the front seats tilt and scoot almost to dash, making rear ingress in this two-door much easier than you have a right to expect. Even as a two-door, R is livable as a daily driver.
On the road, R demonstrates why VW expects a roughly 10 grand premium over a base Golf GTI. A snarly exhaust note complements enthusiastic acceleration from the 256-hp turbo four while its 243 lb.-ft. of torque become fully accessible at a low 2,400 rpm. And there's no torque steer under full throttle, thanks in large part to R's four-corner traction. The upshot: you'll greet 60 mph in about 6 seconds.
The short-throw stick in this boy-racer is as smooth as you might expect from a manual shifter in a luxury tourer, with none of the mechanical 'snick" lesser compacts might provide. It's a pleasure to shake hands with R. Also, the hill-hold feature, which prevents this manual-transmission car from rolling backward on an incline, is much appreciated. (Man, I must be getting old!)
At speed, the ride is firm but never harsh while steering is sharp and braking is urgent. The cabin is reasonably quiet, but road and wind noise were evident to some extent. It's the nature of the beast.
Our car was not equipped with R's only option — a $1,500 package that, along with a sun roof and keyless entry, includes navigation and a fancier stereo — so the centerstack touch-screen and button display were fairly straight forward and easy to use.
The only real downside here, other than remarkably invisible styling for a hot hatch, is the price: nearly 35 grand to start. Never mind such direct competitors as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Mitsubishi Evo. That kind of dough will buy you everything from a Cadillac ATS to a Volvo S60.
But if boy-racer driving fun is top priority, the nice Volkswagen man would like a word with you. Just don't wait too long. VW is making only 5,000 copies of the 2012 R for stateside consumption.
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