Our Cars brief update: VW Golf R (month 11), CAR+ May 2016

Updated: 20 April 2016

► Month 11 with the VW Golf R
► We introduce it to its bigger brother
► Wagon offers same power as hatch 

Volkswagen now offers a Golf R estate, finally gifting headline writers the ‘open wide and say R’ gag. It costs from £33,890 – a £2k premium over a comparable five-door – and comes only with the dual-clutch transmission.

The load-lugger drives much like its small-booted brethren, but I noticed two differences: the ride – on adaptive dampers and 19s, like my long-term R, is choppier; and the R hatch’s adjustability is gone. So rather than the back end dancing through a roundabout, the front end loads up and scrubs speed.

Good car, but unless you really need that extra space, I’d go five-door. 

Logbook: Volkswagen Golf R

Price: £31,475 
As tested: £35,640 
Miles this month: 1150 
Total miles: 13,107 
Our mpg: 29.1 
Official mpg: 39.8 
Fuel this month: £190.47
Extra costs: £0

Read more from the May 2016 issue of CAR magazine

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