New Golf R and GTI Clubsport: Prices & Specification

The two top dogs at Volkswagen come head to head again, as the brand-new Golf R and GTI Clubsport come on sale in the UK. Both boasting improved power output, torque, interior tech, and overall safety. If you are looking for a performance hatch that will be powerful enough to make most sports cars sweat, whilst also keeping the practicality and usability, then the new GTI or R could be for you!

Golf GTI Clubsport

The Clubsport builds off an already successful model but boosts the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine to 300PS and 400nm of torque! This makes for an almost supercar level of acceleration, getting from 0-62 in just 5.5 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating production GTI ever made. Special features for the new car include a driving mode developed especially for the demands of the Nürburgring because every hot hatch make is obsessed with that track! You also get a two-part rear spoiler, new and exclusive front bumper and splitter for greater downforce at the front axles. You can also clearly distinguish the Clubsport from the standard GTI at the rear, with its two oval tailpipes and updated diffuser.

The interior also benefits from Golf’s new Digital Cockpit Pro and Discover Media system, offering style, comfort, and convenience. You also get Clubsport-specific ArtVelours seats, and enough electronic driving-aids such as electromechanical front-axle locking differential and XDS electronic differential lock to eliminate the understeer often associated with front-wheel drive cars. Along with a larger braking system, this car will corner like a dream and stop on a dime.

But how much do Volkswagen ask for the pleasure of having their no.2 hot hatch? Answer, £37,215 is the starting price. But considering the wealth of tech that comes along with this car such as automatic emergency braking, Apple/Android CarPlay, and fully digitalised cockpit and impressive locking differentials, we don’t think this is too ridiculous.

Golf R

It’s the one that all Golfs aspire to be, the top of VW’s bestseller range, the R. Now with 320PS and 420nm available from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, installed with a 7-speed DSG box and, of course, VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. According to VW, the system has been ‘comprehensively uprated for the new generation’. They introduce R-Performance torque vectoring that distributes engine power to the 4 wheels as they need them, making it a bit harder to go off at a corner! Up to 100% of power can go to the wheel on the outside of the corner if necessary.

You can have the R-Performance pack for an extra £2,000 if you want the 19” ‘Estoril’ alloys, performance spoiler and increased top speed (168mph). This pack also adds 2 new modes that you won’t get on the standard: drift and special. Drift mode is entirely focused upon driver enjoyment away from public highways. This mode uses the full potential of the new R-Performance Torque Vectoring and enables the driver to drift! In a GOLF! The special mode is perfectly set up to tackle the Nürburgring, just in case you want to have a crack at the lap record…

You can always distinguish a Golf R from the rest of the range with its 4 tailpipes, 18” ‘Jerez’ alloys, full R body kit, and roof spoiler. Inside, you now get a bespoke heated R steering wheel which features a new R button which allows the driver direct access to the car’s newly enhanced range of drive modes without needing to take their hands away from the wheel and extended paddle shifters. And for all of this, you will have to fork up £39,270 (plus £2k for R-perf).

So, which one should you have? Well that depends on what your day-day looks like. But both of these cars have enough practicality like back seats big enough for 3 fair sized people, a boot that will suffice for more than just the weekly shop, and different driving modes depending on what mood you are in!

Find your perfect used Golf here!