Justin Cupler, Automotive Editor - Introduction
While the Golf has been around seemingly forever, the high-performance Golf R did not arrive until 2012 to satisfy VW’s tuner crowd—and with an 86-horsepower edge on the base Golf, the R sure did satisfy. Heading into 2013, the Golf R is completely unchanged, with exception of a major price hike to just over $34,000.
Available with two or four doors, the hot hatchback features a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts down 256 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. This peppy four-banger pairs with a six-speed manual transmission that delivers power to all four wheels. The Golf R launches to 60 mph in a VW-claimed 5.6 seconds while netting 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
Oddly, the two-door has slightly more interior space than the four-door. Cargo room is acceptable for a compact hatch, with 14.8 cubic feet and 14.6 cubic feet of space, respectively.
Sure, the Golf R is fast, roomy and loaded with standard features, but it’s a lot of cheddar for a compact hatchback—especially one that might not be as quick as Volkswagen says it is. And some buyers may miss the option of an automatic transmission.
Which Style To Buy?
2013 Volkswagen Golf R 2-Door
The entry-level trim for the 2013 Golf R is the 2-Door model, which comes standard with: four-wheel disc brakes; cruise control; piano-black-painted, power and heated side-view mirrors; a Golf R body kit; dual-center exhaust tips; a black front grille; bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and washer system; a rear spoiler; 18-inch alloy wheels; dual-zone climate control; two 12-volt power outlets; power door locks and windows; an eight-speaker, Premium VIII touchscreen audio system with AM/FM/CD/MP3/SiriusXM capabilities, an iPod connector, Bluetooth connectivity with audio streaming and an auxiliary input; leather-wrapped and heated sport seating; a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob; and V-Tex leatherette door panels.
2013 Volkswagen Golf R 4-Door
The 4-Door trim level caps off the Golf R lineup and it comes standard with: a Golf R body kit; dual-center exhaust tips; a black front grille; bi-xenon headlights with washers and LED daytime running lights; power and heated mirrors with piano-black caps; a rear spoiler; 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in H-rated tires; heated windshield washer nozzles; dual-zone climate control; cruise control; a pair of 12-volt power outlets; power door locks and windows; a Premium VIII sound system with a touchscreen, eight speakers, Bluetooth audio streaming, AM/FM/CD/SiriusXM capabilities, iPod connectivity and an auxiliary input; leather-wrapped sport seats, steering wheel and shifter knob; heated front seats; and leatherette-wrapped door trim.
Best Alternatives
2013 Subaru Impreza WRX
Much cheaper, more powerful and only 5.3 seconds to 60 mph, but lacks base amenities and cheap interior
2013 Ford Focus ST
Over $10,000 cheaper, great mpg and sleeper look, but slower claimed 0-to-60 mph time and not as stylish
2013 Mazda MAZDASPEED3
Much cheaper, powerful engine and aggressive look, but cheaper-feeling cabin
2013 Volvo C30
Lower base price, good mpg and oddly stylish, but a little slower to 60 mph and slightly underpowered