Mk8 Golf R from Volkswagen - The greatest Hot Hatch

Rob Charlwood • July 11, 2022

Could the Mk8 Golf R be the BEST HOT HATCH ever?

Mk8 Golf R in Australia

Last week I had the opportunity to spend some time with the , new to Australia, Mk8 Volkswagen Golf R.


Being a current generation VW Polo GTi owner, I was super interested in how different and more refined the new Golf R would be in comparison.


Firstly I believe my 2022 VW Polo Gti is most certainly the best Polo ever built, and it's also arguably in the top 5 for all Hot hatches.


So does the Mk 8 Golf R live up to all the hype?


Well it had been torrential rain in Sydney whilst I had the Golf R, and really wasn't able to spend as much time as I would have liked in it, but on the Eve of the final day with this car, we had a beautiful night to be able to capture some amazing night photography shots of the Golf R with the City skyline in the background.


The following morning it was an early rise to get down to Stanwell Tops to capture a sunrise with the Golf R.


Sunrise was captured, it was COLD though...very cold, so the heated steering wheel and seats earned their keep for sure.


This Mk8 Golf R is most certainly the best Golf ever Built. The technology operates seamlessly with the 4Motion all wheel drive technology and the torque vectoring systems truly defies physics.


With a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged engine in the Golf R pushing out 235kW of power and 400Nm of torque and a 0–100km/h in just 4.8 seconds, this is clearly built to the “Enthusiast” market, but many of the people buying this will be small families and people using this as a daily, and rarely taking it to it’s potential. But to be honest, to actually hit the potential it needs to be on a track or a “Private Road”.


There are six available driving profiles but to make your really smile press the ‘R’ logo on the steering wheel to activate the ‘Race’ driving profile setting. 


If that’s not enough you can set one of two exclusive R Performance driving profiles – ‘Drift’ for exhilarating drifting capability away from public roads and ‘Special’, which has been tuned for the exacting conditions of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.



Is this SUPER Hot Hatch for you? Head to Sutherland Volkswagen to book a test drive and to learn more about the Mk8 Golf R, and anything you purchase at Sutherland mention Throttle Downunder at point of sale to get 2 years Servicing for free, just for being a Throttle Downunder fan.


https://www.sutherlandvolkswagen.com.au/


Watch my Review below



By Rob Charlwood April 14, 2025
Australia is a land of staggering contrasts—from the windswept cliffs of Victoria’s south coast to the rust-red heart of the Outback, from the tropical rainforests of Queensland to the serene wilderness of Tasmania. Here are five of the most unforgettable road trips you can take, each with its own cast of charming towns and must-see stops.
By Rob Charlwood April 3, 2025
Autumn Road Trip to the Snowy Mountains
By Rob Charlwood April 3, 2025
Snowy Mountains Roadtrip in my Subaru BRZ
By Rob Charlwood April 2, 2025
Autumn Road Trip to the Snowy Mountains in My Subaru BRZ to Zack's on Central Road
By Rob Charlwood March 27, 2025
Escaping the Rat Race for a Tiny House in the country
By Rob Charlwood September 5, 2024
RICK'S GARAGE - An American Style Diner on the Sunshine Coast
By Rob Charlwood August 25, 2024
2024 Mazda CX-90 in Australia
By Rob Charlwood August 25, 2024
SADDLES MOUNT WHITE, Fuel to Feast visit - Best Food Destinations Australia
By Rob Charlwood June 17, 2024
Moto Machine is Royal Enfield's newest store in Australia
By Rob Charlwood June 14, 2024
Chocolate Factory Gosford - The Factory Nougat & Chocolate
More Posts