Could the Volkswagen Golf R be the Hot Hatch King?

A compact body, a short wheelbase and a lot of power. The hot-hatch follows a simple recipe, but unlike flavours that are constantly evolving and changing, the hot-hatch has stayed true to its heritage. If you think of some of the best hot-hatches available today, one of the first names that should pop into your head is the Golf, particularly the Volkswagen Golf R. It’s based on a practical hatchback, but performs like a sports car. The general checklist of whether a car can be classified as a hot hatch can be broken down into three segments – design, performance and street cred. Let’s explore what makes the Golf R one of the greatest hot-hatches of our time.

Let’s talk about performance. The Golf R already passes this test by being dubbed ‘the most powerful Golf ever made’. It earned this title through the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that resides under the bonnet, producing 228kW of power and 400Nm of torque. The Volkswagen Golf R is pretty quick in a straight line but things get a bit more interesting once you add some corners into the mix. The Golf R features adaptive chassis control along with a driving profile selection system that allows the driver to activate Race mode which beefs up the suspension, increases throttle response and adds weight to the steering wheel making you feel more engaged with the road. Looks like the Golf R ticks the hot-hatch performance box.

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