Golf R Estate review: The hottest hatchback turns into an all conquering estate

14 July 2015 3 min read

Golf R Estate review

What is it?

The resurgence of the fast estate shows no sign of stopping and the latest arrival to this high-performance stable is the new Golf R. Carrying over all of the fundamentals from the hatchback, the R estate is the fastest, most powerful load-lugger in its class.

Over the hatchback, the estate had grown by 307mm, costs an additional £695 and is only available with the six-speed DSG gearbox. It can sprint from 0-62mph in only 5.1 seconds – that’s almost a second quicker than its closest rival the SEAT Leon ST Cupra – and can hit a top speed of 155mph.

You can thank VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system for the performance and huge amounts of grip. Yet, despite its impressive stats the R estate is also one of the roomiest models, boasting a 605 litre boot which increases to 1,620 litres with the rear bench folded flat.

What’s hot?

The first thing to note is the R estate’s ferocious straight-line speed. It may only have a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine but it develops 296bhp and the launch control system means none of that grunt is lost to wheel spin.
Because of the popularity of the DSG gearbox in the hatchback, VW decided to only offer the estate with the automatic gearbox, but changes are smooth and well timed.
Equally impressive is how capable the Golf R is in the corners. The steering is incredibly accurate and the nifty XDS+ system brakes the inside wheel when corner to help maintain speed and stability.
When you’re not taking advantage of the performance, the Golf R is capable of a complete character transformation. The low speed ride is incredibly supple and forgiving for of car of this type. Neither the Focus Estate nor Leon ST Cupra are a match for the Golf on the move.
VW’s Driver Profile system is fitted as standard, which allows the driver to flick between modes ranging from ‘comfort’ to ‘race’.
Despite its performance it’s also hugely practical, with a spacious 605-litre boot with the rear seats in place.