Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Golf R review – interior

Clean design, horrendous HMI marginally improved

Evo rating
RRP
from £44,535
  • Engine still pulls, refinement and capability
  • Every dynamic element still falls short compared to past form

Slide behind the wheel and into its well bolstered seats, and the seating position is the first thing that comes to mind – it’s far from the worst offender on the market, but it sits you too high in the cabin giving that ‘sat on rather than in’ feeling. Multiple interior finishes can be specified for the interior, but the cars we tried featured R-specific faux-carbonfibre fabric on the seats, which is now looking a bit naff a decade on from when it was first introduced; we much prefer the grey Alcantara and chequered fabric option.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The steering wheel is where most of the criticism was directed with the original Mk8, with the touch pad controls far too sensitive, leading to accidental activations. While the rest of the Mk8.5 Golf range has now reverted back to physical buttons, the R makes do with the same touch pads, only with the sensitivity recalibrated in an effort to resolve the issue. Volkswagen says it didn’t opt for physical controls as it wanted to retain the dedicated R button, which would have required the costly creation of new physical controls.

Despite the updates, the same problem remains. Our first drive in the R on track saw us accidentally activate a 39mph speed limiter (not ideal on the high speed Lausitzring), with the heated steering wheel is also easily activated when all you want to do is turn a corner. Thankfully, the touch sliders beneath the improved 12.9-inch central infotainment display are now backlit, but the HMI still has plenty of room for improvement. There’s still a lack of common sense to the system, hiding critical functions like climate controls within menus that still have us pining for manual rotary controls.

Move away from the technology though, and the R is a comfortable place to be on the whole. The steering wheel has a relatively thin rim, a rarity in today’s market, with the R-exclusive extended paddles making shifting a much more pleasant experience than in the GTI models.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

£20k off a BMW M4 Competition – save a fifth on the best current M car
BMW M4 discount
News

£20k off a BMW M4 Competition – save a fifth on the best current M car

The BMW M2 is the M car of choice, at least at full price. When new M4s can be had with a 20 per cent discount, that complicates things
19 Jun 2025
Caterham 310 Encore is the end of the line for the Ford 1.6
Caterham Seven 310 Encore
News

Caterham 310 Encore is the end of the line for the Ford 1.6

It’s goodbye and goodnight for the Caterham Seven 310, with the 25-strong run of 310 Encores serving as the final farewell
11 Jun 2025
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is a hot hatch we’ve waited a decade for
Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 – front
News

The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is a hot hatch we’ve waited a decade for

Volkswagen is finally letting the Mk8 Golf GTI off its leash with a hardcore, track-honed version called the Edition 50. If it’s anywhere near as bril…
20 Jun 2025