Starts at $45,665
Rank
Pros
Cons
What's New for 2024?
The 2024 Golf R receives no notable changes.
FAST FACTS
"The all-wheel-drive Golf R has always been a hard sell simply because the GTI, its lesser front-drive sibling, is so damn good. But the historical record shows that the R has been a significantly faster car since the previous generation debuted way back in 2015, and it maintains that edge today thanks to a 315-horsepower turbo four that's 74 hp clear of the GTI's engine. Opt for the DSG automatic — which is mandatory as of the 2025 model year — and the R will whisk you to 60 mph in roughly 4 seconds flat, easily the quickest time in the group. This is a serious performance machine that's actually a bargain for enthusiast drivers."—Ranked #1 out of 5 Super Sport Compact Cars
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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