What we know!
The updated Golf is rooted in improvements, beginning with its power – 13 more horsepower to be exact – resulting in a new total of 328 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque through all four wheels, making it THE most powerful Golf ever! That power comes from a returning 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine giving the vehicle the ability to jump from 0-60 in an improved time of 4.6 seconds. Sheer performance that propels this vehicle beyond the average hatchback is made clear through a torque-vectoring rear differential, standard adaptive suspension and an optional drift model.
The Golf R’s selectable drive modes (Comfort, Sport, Race, Special, Drift and Individual) are joined by a new Eco mode for 2025. Additional updates include an approximately 100 rpm higher shift point for Comfort mode and the disabling of the stop/start and coasting functions for the Sport mode. Also, Race mode preconditions the turbo for quick spool-up.
Thanks to an available Performance Pack, motorists behind the wheel of the 2025 Golf R can reach a top speed of 167 mph, which happens to match the available top speed of the European Arteon R Shooting Brake model. Optional wheels presented include the 19-inch Warmenau forced alloys, named for the Wolfsburg, Germany, town in which the vehicle was developed.
In the area of design updates, there is much to be excited about! The new Golf R trim boasts the same stylish upgrades as the recently-updated standard 2024 Golf model, including IQ.Light LED matrix headlights and taillights, illuminated VW badges, new front air curtains and bumper design, a matte chrome exterior mirror finnish, standard 18-inch Jerez-style wheels as well as a quad-exhaust setup.
Within the cabin, drivers enjoy the new and large 12.9-inch touchscreen with an available HUD, and an updated Digital Cockpit Pro track analysis feature, including a new G-meter and lap timer. All occupants revel in the availability and the richer sound that will result from an R Performance Akrapovic titanium exhaust system. This is presented as an upgrade, while both available exhausts have controllable flaps. A revised menu structure is paired with updated software to streamline operation including more user-defined widgets in the home screen and a
full-time lower control bar that keeps certain commands in view at all times. HVAC controls are also reimagined in this upgrade, with more intuitive illuminated sliders. There is also a new GPS lap timer that allows the user the ability to set three waypoints for comparing times over certain sections as well as to compare the fastest and slowest laps and display them concurrently.
The Golf R realizes more driver-assistant technology in the area of safety than its predecessor, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. More information on the vehicle’s crash-test results can be found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety websites.
The vehicle is presented with such key features as standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist and standard adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode.
Other exclusive design touches include R-specific door side trims, floor mats with the R logo and brushed stainless-steel pedal caps and footrest, which are part of the extensive standard equipment, along with a black headliner. Materials within have also been upgraded, while the basic five-passenger–and-cargo format has remained unchanged.
Get “Back in Black” with the Golf R’s Black Edition, which has been confirmed and entails a black-painted version of the otherwise 19-inch Estoril wheel design. The 235/35 tires feature black brake calipers behind, black exhaust tips and darkened VW badges and R logos.
In terms of what is to be expected with the Golf R hatchback, the answer is plenty! In Germany, for example, a Performance Pack is presented as an upgrade, with the same packaging anticipated for the updated U.S. model. Also expected to return, based on the fact that 2024 was the last year that a manual transmission would be available for the Golf R in the United States, is a return of the seven-speed automatic dual-clutch DSG transmission. And, due to the fact that all new models in Europe and all current U.S. models are equipped with DCC adaptive chassis damping control standard, it is expected to be the same for the 2025 model year in the U.S. this time around.
As one of the favorites in this segment, the updated Golf R carries forth the legacy upon which it’s been built, earning a spot on the Editor’s Choice list for 2025. With a makeover highlighted by an illuminated VW logo badge in the front grille, unique design elements are also found throughout this new Golf. From exclusive wheels and a stylish rear spoiler and large exhaust tips, along with a revised infotainment system, this model just may be your next best choice. Introducing the speedster – take a test drive, and reserve yours today!