Following the 2019 model year, VW dropped the Golf R. For the 2022 model year, the Golf R returns with an all-new, albeit familiar, design inside and out, marking the debut of its newest generation.
The 2022 Golf R's exterior will bring a brand-new look, but it won't be a revolutionary change for the hot hatchback. It'll hit showrooms as a five-door model, once again, and gain a revamped front end that'll include a new, sportier bumper, redesigned headlights, and a thinner grille with LED backlighting. Around back, the upright liftgate will remain, but the backside will be otherwise all-new with wider taillights that feature new graphics, an all-new bumper with gloss-black insert, and an updated quad-exit exhaust. The 2022 Golf R will also include 19-inch wheels, unique side skirts, matte-chrome mirror caps, a 0.8-inch-lower ride height relative to the other eighth-gen Golf models, and more.
Inside, the 2022 VW Golf R will feature a thinner dash, a rising center console, more digitalized control features, a new Discover Pro infotainment system, a configurable digital instrument cluster, a 10-inch touchscreen with a unique R splash screen, updated sport seats with available Nappa leather and "R" logo, blue contrast stitching, carbon-fiber-look accents, specific door trim, stainless steel pedals, a 30-color ambient light system, and more.
Under its hood, the 2022 Golf R will retain its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but its power will grow to 315 horsepower (27-hp gain) and 310 pound-feet of torque (30-lb-ft gain). This potent four-pot's power will flow through either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and out to all four wheels via an all-new all-wheel-drive system that adjusts the power from the front and rear and left and right wheels. This powertrain will add up to a 4.7-second 0-62 mph time and a 155 mph top speed.
The Golf R will also gain a new variable-ratio steering system for enhanced performance when needed and comfort when it's not necessary. Larger front brakes will help reign in this hot hatchback.
There is no information on the 2022 VW Golf R's safety gear. However, the 2020 VW Golf included standard automatic emergency braking and other optional safety gear, like blind-spot monitors. We expect this to remain the same in the 2022 Golf R.
