The Golf R now comes in a single, fully equipped trim level. No less than 40 custom paint colors have been added. Black gloss wheels are available for the first time.

The Golf R's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes the most of its displacement, producing 288 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That's enough to take the tidy hatchback from zero to 60 mph in as little as 4.5 seconds. All-wheel drive comes standard, along with an electronic locking differential and VW's Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) suspension with three firmness settings: Comfortable, Normal, and Sport. There's also a Race driving mode that piques all systems for maximum thrills.

The Golf R starts out with a six-speed manual transmission, and a seven-speed automatic is available for $1,100. With the automatic, the Golf R earns EPA ratings of 23 miles per gallon city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 combined. Manual models are EPA-rated at 21/29/24 mpg (city/highway/combined).

The Golf R is available in a single trim: the Golf R with DCC and Navigation, which is priced from $41,290 (including the $895 destination charge). The Golf R comes with the aforementioned DCC system and navigation, plus just about everything else in the book. The interior features heated front sport seats with driver power, black leather upholstery, ambient lighting, a virtual performance monitor, push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a premium Fender sound system. Outside are 19-inch alloy wheels, full LED lighting, adaptive headlights, and automatic wipers with heated washer nozzles.

Safety technology is present in full force, including lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors.

All of this equipment leaves room for just two factory options. Gloss black wheels are available for $235, and VW offers a choice of 40 heritage paint colors for $2,500, which include Irish Green, Red Raspberry, and Curry Yellow. Oddly enough, a sunroof isn't available.

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