The Volkswagen Golf GTI was the hot hatch segment’s inventor, even though the original GTI only had 115 hp.
Fast-forward to 2017 and we find the Golf R Variant, a true sleeper in the compact-segment. While the first-ever Golf R had a naturally aspirated 3.2-liter V6 engine, the 2017 R has a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline unit with almost 300 hp under the hood. It was mated either with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch).

From the outside, only the front bumper and the twin-dual exhaust could tell the difference compared to a regular model with options on it. The 19” light-alloy wheels were standard for the R. Other Golfs with the R-Design package didn’t have them. The station wagon was more subtle than its hatchback brother, since it looked like a family vehicle used for weekend shopping at IKEA. The differences with other Golf versions continued inside, where nicely bolstered bucket seats were holding the front occupants while cornering.

The leather and fabric combination seats are nice to view as well, and the R-logo embodied on the seatback is visible. The dashboard has a TFT screen carried-over from Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, and it was customizable. The speedometer and tachometer are accompanied by other various information, including the sat-nav system squeezed in the middle on the screen. Like any other decent station-wagon, it featured a split-folding rear seat seatback.

But what makes the Golf R more special is the mechanical layout. The 300 hp and the all-wheel-drive system made it a competitor for other rally-inspired cars, such as the Subaru STI, which was offered as a station-wagon as well.