2012 Volkswagen Golf R Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Volkswagen Golf R review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Golf R, and includes Volkswagen Golf R safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Volkswagen calls the 2012 Golf R “the most powerful sports performance vehicle ever sold in the U.S.” Basically, it’s a Volkswagen Golf pumped up with power and performance parts so that it can go fast and have fun.

Volkswagen has sold the Golf R in America before, but this time around it’s more powerful than ever and available in two- or four-door format. You’d better know how to operate a clutch pedal if you want to own it.

The Golf R is based on the Volkswagen GTI, and adds a more powerful turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, a performance suspension, performance brakes, and a re-tuned stability control system that allows for a greater handling limit before stepping in to save the day.

Styling modifications also separate the Golf R from the GTI, and include unique 18-inch wheels; gloss black paint on the R-badge grille, brake calipers, mirror housings, and racing-style rear diffuser; a special body kit; bi-Xenon adaptive headlights with washers and LED running lights; and center-mounted twin exhaust outlets.

Inside, the Golf R is equipped with a unique flat-bottomed steering wheel design, its own shift knob, doorsill plates, special gauges, and upgraded interior trim. The Golf R also has automatic climate control and leather upholstery, whereas the standard GTI does not.

Otherwise, the Golf R is equipped like a GTI. The standard model features the two-door body style, and is equipped with power windows, power heated side mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators, power door locks with remote keyless entry, a tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, and cruise control. The heated sport seats feature eight-way manual adjustment, and the Golf R is equipped with Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and an eight-speaker, premium touch-screen stereo with an auxiliary audio input jack and satellite radio. Floor mats, a trip computer, heated washer nozzles, and metal-finished pedals are also standard.

If that’s not enough, the Golf R is available in Sunroof and Navigation trim in both the two- and four-door body styles. This model includes a power sunroof, a navigation system, a Dynaudio premium sound system, and keyless entry with push-button starting.

Volkswagen has massaged its turbocharged, direct-injected, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine to generate 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 243 pound-feet of torque from 2,400 rpm all the way to 5,200 rpm. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, and is the only transmission available, delivering power through all four wheels thanks to VW’s 4Motion permanent all-wheel-drive system. Burning premium unleaded, the engine is expected to get 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

The 2012 VW Golf R’s suite of safety features is fairly basic for a car wearing a price tag north of $30,000. Six airbags, traction and stability control, and four-wheel vented-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist come standard. Volkswagen also includes what it labels an Intelligent Crash Response System, which turns on the hazard lights, unlocks the doors, and cuts fuel supply to the engine if the car is involved in a collision that causes the airbags to deploy.

If a collision occurs, it’s good to know that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that the Golf four-door is a Top Safety Pick based on its excellent performance in frontal-, side-, and rear-impact evaluations and in a roof crush strength test (the two-door model has not been assessed). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not performed crash tests on the Golf, but gives the four-door model a 4-Star rollover resistance rating.

As for reliability, Consumer Reports gives the Golf a better-than-average prediction while the GTI is rated average. J.D. Power and Associates disagrees, and in the market research firm’s most recent round of predictions said these models are likely to provide below average dependability over time.

Despite its hatchback configuration, the cargo volume numbers that Volkswagen provides are pretty unimpressive at 14.8 cubic-feet for the two-door and 14.6 cu-ft for the four-door. They’ve got to be measuring only the space behind the rear seat and under the cargo cover.

Volkswagen says the 2012 Golf R will accelerate to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. That’s only 1.2 seconds faster than the GTI, which costs $5,500 less, weighs 300 pounds less, gets better gas mileage and has more cargo space. Yeah, we know. We’re missing the point.

As super-cool as the new 2012 Volkswagen Golf R might be, we’re going to stick with the standard-issue GTI for now, thanks.

By Christian Wardlaw