ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2024
- Volkswagen has just updated the Golf R with a few design tweaks, an increase in power to 310hp and a raft of new performance options. However, it's also upgraded the GTI Performance pack too so that now has 245hp. The price difference between the two is a little over £3,000. So is it worth upgrading to the R or is the GTI Performance all the hot hatch you could ever need? I test both cars, time their 0-60mph times, check their in gear acceleration and generally have a blast trying to find out...
Subscribe to carwow on youtube -
th-cam.com/users/Carwow?sub_c...
Read our full Volkswagen Golf review -
www.carwow.co.uk/volkswagen/g...
Volkswagen Golf practicality review -
www.carwow.co.uk/volkswagen/g...
Volkswagen Golf infotainment and interior review -
www.carwow.co.uk/volkswagen/g...
Volkswagen Golf 360 degree video -
www.carwow.co.uk/volkswagen/g...
See the best Volkswagen Golf deals -
www.carwow.co.uk/volkswagen/g...
Awkward haggling is a thing of the past with carwow. Choose your perfect car with our configurator tool and let the country’s best dealers compete over you. Compare the five best offers by price, location and dealer ratings and choose the one that’s right for you - no hassle, no haggling, just a great deal.
Visit our site to save money on your new car - www.carwow.co.uk/ - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
the golf is faster but the golf is better looking so its the golf for me
bear grylls i dont agree, I prefer the golf
Terrible Television people are deluded obviously the golf is a way better car
I agree, but I prefer the Golf than the Golf. It's just better at being a Golf. Though the Golf is still a good Golf. Either way - Golf.
You lot are all wrong, why would you take the golf when you can have the GOLF or the G.O.L.F. In all seriousness though I would have the GOLF.
guys stop fighting, obviously the golf is better than the golf ok
I’ve owned my Mk7.5 R for over 2 years now. And in that time I have driven a Mk7.5 GTI (both cars are DSG). As much as I love the performance on the R, I would prefer to keep the GTI. For everyday use the R is just like any other golf, but you put your foot down and you’re busting speed limits before you know it. I rather have slightly less power and to be able to enjoy it more. Taking around country roads the R really comes into its own when pulling through and out of corners, but the actual handling feels dull and boring. You just get the feeling that it’s doing everything too well and there’s no thrill (for some people this might be exactly what they want). It’s a more than capable car (more capable than my abilities for sure) I just don’t find it an involving drive at all. Having said that, using launch control with family and friends is always a nice little party trick, it always leaves everyone smiling. And it is nice to have that power on tap if you do need it to shoot off the line. If you are looking at a performance golf, I would recommend the GTI for everyday use and something to have a little fun with. I got the R purely to scratch an itch, I know if I had gone for the GTI I would have always wondered “what if..”. If you do decide the R is what you want I would thoroughly recommend trying to find one with adaptive suspension (mine is fixed and it can be exceedingly uncomfortable for everyday use) and the upgraded sound system (this is applicable to any golf). I hope this helps :)
Very very helpful, I always owned the golf 7 gti, then later got a golf 7R, now I driving driving Golf 7.5 GTI and I love it very much, it even looks better than the R
@@realebogatala440 I agreed. The GTI 7.5 is so much nicer
I think the choice between these two is always the R for me. If I wanted something raw and 'involving' I wouldn't choose either of these cars, I'd choose something lighter and less refined.
@@Hankblue like?
@@zxxczczczcz Like maybe Yarris GR, WRX STi, Honda Type R. All lighter and more engaging rides in the same price bracket.
Had the 2015 GTI, enjoyed it immensely. It was in for service and my sales guy offered the R for a test drive while I waited. Needless to say, I now have 2016 R in the driveway. Couldn't be happier - best car I've ever owed. It just puts a smile on my face every time I start the engine. It has all the practicalness of a GTI, but that engine, exhaust and drivetrain puts it over the top.
Great review Matt. Being an owner of both cars, you didn't miss a thing in your comparison.
Just ordered mine, can't wait to pick it up!
Mark Nagy plus you can have lots of fun in the snow 😎
Mark Nagy the gti and r have the same engine, just a different turbo
Del Boca Vista My R is a great daily driver - no issues with stiffness. I didn't get the DSG, but it's not a problem for me, even in Toronto rush hour traffic. Only complaints, no sunroof and not a fan of auto hold feature.
Mark Nagy
A manual R. Nice choice.
I think I'm gonna get the 7.5.
4.2 seconds from the factory, wow. Good review Matt.
Imagine what a bit of Bluefin magic would bring!!
Probably 4.1 knowing their tunes.. ha. Much better tunes out there for these.. Our 7R with Stage 2 does 3.3.
Down Hill
4.6 usually he's on a decline Matt's a liar
Hatchback 0-60 in 4.2 wow!
Can't wait to get this
tanafc96 same, in like 20 years
I bought my 7R but the 2.0 TSI was way too slow so i swapped it with a vr6 and boosted it.
The reason for the faster time is that the road is not completely flat
Rs3 does 3.6 seconds for a hatchback!
the rs3 also costs a shit ton
I really like this chap's reviews, no bullshit and useful info done quickly without much waffle, and man what a great job you have!
I found the GTI to give a better tingle. Especially when it’s tuned. The wheel spin gives a thrill
0:55 they have more swirl marks than my 5 year old mk6 with 117000 kilometers
I Thought i was the only one who saw that! Really annoying if you buy a new car with a horrible paint finish.Honestly most people would'nt notice.
I suppose this is a testing car for journalists. They do not care about scratches, just go through a car-wash so the car is clean...
Yep, the cars for journalists have a rough life, so it is no wonder the paint looks somewhat abused. The cars get abused on track, in the case of the R someone maybe even thought "let's see what the 4WD can do on an unpaved road" and afterwards the cars just get a quick car wash treatment. I do not think VW will bother to give the cars the full polish/wax treatment before every review.
11000921 Bournville College shall I send them to you
11000921 Bournville College how old are you boy?
mate, you do great reviews in a very entertaining manner. I am not even the biggest car fan, checked a few for reassurance for some of the cars I am considering but two hours later going from link to link I find myself here in the hot hatches. Keep up the good work :)
Yet another great review. Thank you. Your content and presentation/review style is some of the best on TH-cam. Keep up the good work.
I think gti is enough for performance driving and more colorful than R so my choice is GTI
Not in Germany lol
Great choice
also in germany. Love my 7.5 gti
That red lide line in grid and front lights makes the gti a pimp car.
That Golf R is immense. 4.2 seconds to 60... wow. thats nearly supercar quick
VRSWeb If you put a Stage 1 remap on the Golf R then it does in in 3.7 seconds!
VRSWeb Jeep Cherokee can do 3.5
launch control is taking the driver out of the occasion.
a child or grandma can no launch a car as fast as a lifetime real racer.
Luckily manuals have a few more years.
you need to master lauch techniques or get chipped to get manuals to perform close cause manufacturers limit the rams in them.
but it can be done but only with practice and skill.
around a well known track the lighter weight may come in handy
www.caranddriver.com/honda/civic-type-r
but it IS a supercar
I'd rather drive a Golf R than a trackhawk. It's apples to oranges. But one costs more than twice (nearly 3 times) the other.
Another great Review Matt, I need to get my hands on a.... Golf
Very enjoyable to watch. No time wasted, it's all about the driving. Thanks
What a fun and informative comparison! Lots of great info. Thanks!
I prefer the GTI over the golf R. ( big fan from South Africa)
The Golf R is a fantastic road car in any conditions it just grips and goes and can handle anything. Plus the Lapiz blue looks great.
Absolutely love my R. Brutal and practical.
Only few people understand why it's important to discuss the difference between the GTI and the R-logo. I really love it
I think the Golf R is better looking. Very slight understatement is never a bad thing.
Richard McFarlane- especially for an older driver. At 55 i want performance but not flash. Plus, the gti is more of a cop magnet....
@@davestauffer8672 Either is a cop magnet in red, not as much in blue, much less in gray...
The gti and gtd look more agressive and slightly better imo. But the R looks more like a standard golf. I like that too, kind of like a sleeper
@@SteevK69 My golf r is gray (365 HP) and never been stopped or lost to an AMG :-)
@@richboy900 a wolf in sheep's clothing is always better i know because my R has 365 HP 3.6 0 to 100
I like the use of racelogic to check the manufacture figures. More videos should use this.
brightbluesmurf did you see my Alfa Giulia vs M3 vs C63. In that I use it to measure my drift angle!
I have 2015 GTI Manual with Lighting Package for over 3 years and the car is amazingly fun and with a JB4 ECU tuning, this thing is a little beast! I also own a MK II Audi TTS 2-Seat Convertible with APR Stage I and it's similar to the AWD Golf R performance with huge turbo and Rapid Acceleration with Lightening fast DSG Shifting! The TTS is faster than the GTI and faster than the Golf R, but guess what, I still miss the manual in the light GTI that gives me that smile always!
I just test drove a 2018 R, I think it's gonna be my next car! It's power seemed so usable on the street compared to my 5.0 Mustang GT.
0-60 mph 4.2 seconds? With hot hatch! Crazy! :D
Your second pronunciation of Akrapovic was correct, nice video. I think generally spec the extra for a R is worth it but at the end of the day it comes down to "wants" rather than "needs" and I want both cars but I want the R that bit more...
I absolutely love the exterior and the interior of the Golf R, simple but pretty
Don't know what it is about the Golf R but I love it so much. Saw one this morning when I returned from work, and it truly is a gorgeous car. Sounded quite nice too.
Love the coloured theme on the GTI, GTD and GTE
These modern turbo engines really are special. Back in the early noughties you'd need a 911 turbo or a Viper to get a sub 4s 0 to 60. Now a hot hatch can almost do it. Granted the double clutch box is also better than any human could ever be.
my benchmark to this day, the lamborghini diablo VT, is slower to 60 than this golf is. which means i could cross one item from my bucket list if i had one of these.
proper review with numbers and demos to back it up unlike most other boring subjective reviewers. well done Matt once again on par with Chris Harris as the best car reviewer of the Internet age ĺ
All results and all numbers were astonishing. For both GTI and R. With 65BHPs more it is no surprise that R is much quicker. But as our roads are not racing tracks GTI should suffice.
MrVoayer R is faster because of awd not hp
Are you telling me that GTI would be just as fast if only it had 4WD? Be careful there.
MrVoayer almost, awd will eliminate wheel spinning on the start. but on stage1 gti will be much faster than R on roll.
The AWD system makes up more of the 2 seconds than the 65bhp does. Applying power to the ground and grip is the more important part of the first 100 metres of launch
@@SunLoverMan you need to compare stock to stock and tuned to tuned.
i have a 2017 gti autobahn edition and I love it -- but I must say, that digital dash and new infotainment system looks LEGIT in this new 2018, however!
Been driving a golf r. Quality constantly have a smile
Carwow is the best car blog by a mile. Great review.
youre the coolest guy reviewing cars ever in my opinion! best channel for cars!
He keeps talking about the things that "stand out", but if you want to stand out you wouldn't be looking at a Golf in the first place. It's a car that's about the exact opposite of standing out. It's understated and unpretentious.
Matt, u are one of the rare UK guys who can properly pronounce Akrapovič. Well done mate.
The correct version is the second one @4:26
Greetings from Slovenia, where it is made.
Aljaz Trdina if I buy a car made in Slovinya, will I get a hooker with it?
Was a little hesitant between the GTI or the R... knew Matt would give an honest opinion when comparing both. Gotta start saving up for a Golf R... next year🙏🏻♥️
Golf R is my favorite dream car since I am little boy (R32 MK4)
Cisco Network Designer/Engineer I owned a r32 mk4. Absolutely love it except roads in NY are shit so I keep destroying my rims and my engine light won't go away.
And the VR6 before that. Very nice car to drive.
Same bro
Great video! Thought I would add that the Mk 7.5 GTI Performance isn't a pack it's it's own model.
Mat, thank you. I just ordered mine last night - a 2018 R w DSG and ...basically the car you’re driving with stock exhaust and blizzaks (winter tyres). I’m in Canada so the Haldex and extra 100kg is welcome though it will reduce my snow donuts and helicopters. That was a tough decision (!!) but your video helped me decide, despite the dark interior and no sunroof on N American Rs. Come on by if you want to try rally courses in the snow later this winter.
Dang! I love the sound of that exhaust!
Great review Matt most enjoyable.
Loved your review . I own the 2015 GTI S PP in 6 speed manual and love it . Over here in the USA the difference in price for an R is about $10k , worse gas mileage, higher repair bills and higher insurance. If I am spending R money you mightiest well jump to the Audi. I get 32 mpg in my GTI ave 80mph, 2 years 40k plus miles no major issues great car. The R might be better at the track or if you live in a snowy area , but if all you want is a little more speed you can flash your GTI for 500-$700 and have as much power as the R. I don't think that is needed as the plan GTI S PP in Manuel is a really fun and practical car.
5.7s 0-60 time is damn good for that GTI.
Another great review!👍
Great review
Putting the R engine/4WD with the GTI exterior/interior would make the perfect car. I hope they give the R more colourful details in 2020. The silver details are almost unnoticeable! RED details for the GTI, and maybe YELLOW for the R.
I just switched from Golf GTI Performance pack to Golf R
GTI much more nimble and better on fuel boot is bigger
R gets the power down very well and is very rapid however steering is heavier and you definitely feel it, its thirsty and you sacrifice mpg
Both are great motors the Gti looks way better
I have a GTI for 2 months good car but and i don't know if i change in the future for a Golf R
Hey Matt, quiet cool too know that we both tested the exact same car.. This GTI with that number plate is the one VW gave me a few months later..
Awesome vid Matt loved the R also.
Very good - and interesting - video. Many thanks Mat. But it's the same old thing - "why not get the real thing!" There was no talk of price or money, so it's a no brainer - get the real thing. It's like the Tiguan versus Ateca or Kodiaq question. If money is not mentioned, get the real thing. Spec it up to the max and get an R. Or, spec it up to the max and get a Tiguan! Like all things, "the devil's in the detail", the more expensive, better, top of the range cars, have all the nice little mini details, that you will appreciate; and nothing's been left out. Cheers.
Are you calling the Tig" the real thing"? I like mine as a great compromise car, but just ache for an 'R' or definitely tuned GTI with autobahn and PP of course.
4:22, latter one is correct, I'm from Slovenia where Akrapovič is from
Great vid matt
always do a great job! thanks
I have 2016 Golf GTD and I love the fuel consumption in it. I normally drive calm and in my city on average I have 6.8-7 l/100km. While on a morning sunday Or at night when the city is empty I get a 5.8-6 l/100km which is insane for such a nice car. (Haven’t driven outside of the city yet). I know it is slower then GTi a bit, but you do win in fuel consumption. + it is a high performance golf :), and it looks good. Also it you want good fuel consumption, you can get a GTE electric version of golf, which is about as fast as GTD (maybe a bit faster due to electric motor) but it is a plug-in hybrid. And again it looks like GTi or R
All about the sound
Golf R 7.5 is the nuts. GTI more of an involving drive though.
FloatingPoolTurdMachineTithers Nope, with the performance pack's VAQ differential you'd get more understeer in the Golf R.
errrgh so confusing!! need a Versus Vid to show us diff instead of dueling comments!! So far I get that the R is heavier, but shoots out of corners beautifully while the GTI corners so nicely. Have also read that the GTI will go no where in dampness and /or leaves cuz of FWD but that even when juiced up with a tune, the differential will make steering no problem...sad that I will have to do without a moonroof in an R, maybe I should just tune a GTI i don't think I really want all those bells and whistles anyway...does the GTI have the 4 Motion option? I think in the end, if I see a few more giant grins on faces like this guy, that will have to tell the story...
Well done Matt, spot on in my opinion.
Cheers
Keith
Excellent vid!
Love the way he get so happy with the speed, that feeling
4.2 Sec to 60mph is astounding. Wonder if America would get the very same tuned engine.
Great Review, thanks for that :)
man i love the way you speak. you are as excited as we are.
I want the GTI 😍
surprised you didn't include an easter egg, you know, since it is easter........
It's only my UK full in-depth reviews which have the Easter eggs. However, tomorrow I will upload a special Easter Egg video!
Yay:)
MatWatsonCars seem the Golf R you were driving has the ""Golf R Performance Pack - upgrade to brakes, cup tyres, limiter removed and lighter exhaust system". My question - is this upgrade pack for the Golf R now available in the U.K.? Last heard its not available in the U.K. Cheers
I just love this utube channel 👍 . Absolutely Excellent review's !!!!!!!!!the best car review channel on the internet !!!!!! Keep up the good work man 👍
You need to check out the reviews of Jason Camisa on the TH-cam channel Hagerty. Thank me later 😉
Awesome review. Happy VW decided to give the Golf R some fire power with the Cup2 tires. CTR and Focus RS beware.
RSX250 thanks
Golf R just rules all haha! Love the Rs wheels alot they make the car for me along with those exhaust tips. Imo of course.
Good to see Stacey's uncle Bryn is doing well for himself at carwow
Really good video Mat. Thanks.
Matthew Hall thanks
Love the review, Matt... brilliant. Both are awesome, but its just got to be the R, hasn't it?
Golf GTI because Jeremy Clarkson drives it as a daily driver.
Gowtham Oleti LoL😂
Gowtham Oleti seriously ?
Gowtham Oleti hahaha hell yeah! You won comment of the day for me
agreed
I'll become obese and smoke 40 cigarettes a day if we're using that logic
I'd buy the GTI. How come speed limit is blurry during the tests? Were you driving too quickly for that road? 😁
always wanted to see a comparison of these two models.. thanks
Jason Brb welcome. Pls sub
Fantastic review as usual guys!
chenzo717 nnissa
Nissantilda
The Golf R is basically marketed to the older consumer who has a bit more money in their pockets, isn't a boy racer, and doesn't want to scare the in-laws. Meaning, the subdued look of the Golf R compared to the GTI seems to be intentional in my opinion. If I were to choose, I would definitely go for the more mature looks and 4WD drive system on the R.
Jose Lora The R is faster
Awesome review. 0-60 = 4.2!! DAMN that is hot !
Love the review!
TransHerring that's why there called hot hatchbacks lol
LOL, I didn't even think of that when I posted.
Thank u for this because looking to get a golf 7.5 but still want the gti
I own a pre facelift R and yes it is at least as fast as vw says but in this video there's a little bit of gradient, so it should be like 6.0 and 4.5 on a flat road which is still insane!
I got my first car this year, 2004 Golf 5 2.0 TDI 140hp and I love it, I would enjoy owning those new Golfs but they cost more than my apartment d:'(
My first car also was a 2004 Golf V 2.0 TDI 140 :D
It ran 240000km then we sold it for a new car
So why don't you finance it? You could lease them.
This... nobody buys them outright, they're all leased.
How you getting 2 litres as your first car? Insurance must be mental, I’ve had to get a 1.2 golf because of insurance cost
I had a 2007 Volvo XC70 D4
Both beautiful, exceptionally well engineered cars but it's the GTi heritage for me, all the way! Tyres, brakes and pipes can all be changed.
Best Video about Golf ever. Thanks, it is awesome man!
Cisco Network Designer/Engineer No worries. Pls sub
love how you use the data logger
Loved my TDI, definitely thinking about upgrading to a GTI or R, love the R in that blue 😍
GTI is a great, classic machine, and 90% of the R in the real world. I upgraded mine (a 2015 Autobahn) with Bilstein coilovers and a rear sway bar, and the handling was very well balanced, basically what it should have been from the factory. I enjoyed that car as a daily driver for 4 years with zero problems and saved my pennies, then jumped to a 2019 R. Not regretting it one bit but the GTI was memorable.
Same here. I have a mk6 gt tdi with stage 1 remap and its a good laugh but really fancy a GTi now
I haven´t driven the facelifted versions. But when I drove the pre-FL Golf R, it somehow didn´t feel that more powerful compared to GTI Performance than the specs suggested, I wouldn´t say there was 70 hp difference. So in my opinion the dynamic difference in acceleration is made more by the 4WD than the more powerful engine. I guess a GTI Performance with added 4WD would be very close to an R. Oh and one more thing: the artificial sound of R was a bit annoying, I prefer the more natural sound of GTI.
This considered, plus the price difference, plus the much more attractive looks of the GTI (the R is too understaded, too similar to regular Golf with R-line optical pack), makes me think the GTI Performance is a better choice. In the price range of Golf R I would have a look at M140i, mostly because of the fantastic and characterful 6-cylinder (where the 4-pot cannot compete).
if you add 4wd to the gti you add 100kg of weight
Very enjoyable video, Mat. It would be the R for me.
Matt, do you think you will review the Ford s-max or new Peugeot 5008 when it comes out? I know not related to the video, just wish a Golf R would be parked on my driveway!
Not sure why every review compares the R to the GTI. They always compare the most expensive possible GTI spec and compare with the most inexpensive R spec and say "its just a few thousand dollars more". In the US you can pick up a GTI for around 20k new whilst the R is nearly double the price.
Yeap I bought my 2017 gti in December for 23500 (base). To me it wasn't 10k more it's almost 20k at least!! I could buy my wife a used Accord with that money
That $20k gti is also going to have way fewer options. If you want a GTI with similar options as the base golf R, you are looking at ~$37k msrp...$32k after incentives that the R won't get. But, it makes a lot more sense to compare similarly equipped cars when it comes to their price.
GTI Performance it is. No doubt.
Great content! Keep it coming😜
Andrew Williams hope you subbed
In love with gti.
The R is faster but the GTI looks better in every way.
RMGeneral moron
Get a GTI and a $500 tune and it's just as good
Tidwell proper isn’t though
Gti are more fun if you have money you tune the gti and smash the golf R
@@JustinAbroad one word. Wheelspin.
I have a pre-facelifted GTI and whilst I really like it, I don't regard it as a performance car. It is just a fab car with a bit of useable punch. My favourite vehicle is my partner's 2.5 tonne Boxer Camper with 110 bhp. O to 60 is maybe 22 seconds. It is great in town and when driving it, I feel 40 again. In the GTI, I feel what I am... a twit in his 50s. If I drove an R, I would feel and look like a fossil... funny that. Now back to my rowing machine.
XD You have a great sense of humor. ;)
I’ll take both. Great Video.
Matt is awesome he made me buy a golf r and I am in love with it
In my country the cupra 300 is priced 2k£ more than a base GTI with halogen headlights and 17 inch wheels, the cupra has 19 inch wheels, full LED headlights, adaptive suspension and much more standard equipment
Julian J
In my country the CUPRA and R is not even offered... Only the FR and GTI
yOUdONTkNOW what is your country
Mrdjan Jozic israel
Mrdjan Jozic
Denmark btw I was wrong the CUPRA is offered just recently but the R is still not offered
Seat and Octavias are cheaper yes but the second hand price is also lower when it's time to sell so i bet that 2k£ you get back with a Golf in the end.
The Golf R is such a beautiful, sporty, nicely made, and just awesome car. Although the GTi isnt bad either.
Thanks nice review. I agree with you about so much of this- the GTI is a great car but you laughter and smiles say a lot about the R- proof is in the pudding I guess!
A car with more power is faster ? has the world gone crazy ? , but loved the video !.... I know contradicting myself there haha, matt is always such a good presenter !