Volkswagen Golf R review – design
Base cars have been uplifted for the 8.5 but are still understated
Not a whole lot has changed in terms of design, and while slimmer lights, tweaked bumpers and a larger rear wing have sharpened its looks, we still don’t think it’s quite as premium and tight as peak Golf R, the Mk7.
New elements such as the illuminated front badge certainly aren’t to our taste, and neither are the R centre caps, but the new 19-inch multi-spoke forged Warmenau wheels they sit in (20 per cent lighter than the alternatives) provide a visual uplift and a certain classiness to the latest Golf R.
Opt for the Black Edition and quite literally everything is finished in black, trim and wheels included, which is best avoided because it looks cheap, naff and outdated
As always with a Golf R, the choice of colours isn’t exactly expansive. Lapiz blue is present and correct as a near-£1000 option. Otherwise it’s black or white. Don’t get too excited by the two-tone option either, which just adds a black roof.
