Used Volkswagen Golf R cars for sale

Volkswagen Golf R buying guide

What versions of the Volkswagen Golf R are there?

Unlike the front-wheel-drive Golf GTI, the diesel-powered Golf GTD and the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE, which are all hatchback only, the full-fat Golf R is available as both a hatch and as a practical estate. Both versions of the Golf R are five-door, five-seater cars, with the estate boasting a larger boot courtesy of its longer body.

Hatchback and estate Golf Rs both use the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, all-wheel-drive system and seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

What's the Volkswagen Golf R's interior and technology like?

There are a handful of special touches to mark the Golf R's cabin out from lesser Golf models. You'll spot flashes of blue trim on the steering wheel, dashboard and seats. This is complemented by the blue ambient lighting, which amps up the drama. You also get ultra-grippy sports seats with thick bolsters to keep you in place while cornering and faux-carbon trim on the dashboard so highlight its performance credentials. Otherwise, it's just like a regular Golf inside, with nice materials and reassuring build quality – although the slightly fiddly temperature controls you'll find in the latest Golf are carried over, too.

The Golf R's infotainment system generally works well, with most of the car's functions controlled through the centre touchscreen. Responses are quick and the menu layout is reasonably intuitive, even if some of the graphics look a little fussy compared to the best in class. The centre screen sits in the same dash-top unit that contains the driver's screen behind the steering wheel, with a configurable layout for speed and engine information. Built-in sat nav along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard.

Jumping from a normal Golf to the range-topping Golf R doesn't bring any penalty in terms of practicality. You still have a reasonably spacious cabin that can comfortably seat four adults, and just about fit a fifth in for short drives. The hatchback's 380-litre boot space is fine for most buyers and places it roughly in the middle of its class, but the estate's 611-litre cargo area cements the Golf R's position as a leader among practical performance cars.

Volkswagen Golf R engine range explained

Volkswagen Golf R 2.0 TSI 320

Under the Golf R's bonnet is the same 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine you'll find in the GTI. Here, however, it's been tuned to a positively manic 320hp. Combined with the slick-shifting seven-speed automatic gearbox and grippy all-wheel drive, the 0-62mph dash is demolished in just 4.7 seconds – a figure that would've been supercar fast just a few years ago.

Volkswagen Golf R 20 Years 2.0 TSI 333

This is a limited edition model celebrating two decades of Volkswagen's ultra-high-performance Golf R lineup. The engine gets an extra 13hp, which trims 0.1 seconds off the 0-62mph time along with a handful of other performance upgrades to improve track times.