The Volkswagen Golf GTI was the inventor of the hot hatch segment, even though the original GTI only had 115 hp.
Fast-forward to 2017 and we find the Golf R, a true contender in the hot hatch category. 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 is 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 will tell the difference compared to a regular model with options on it. The 19” wheels are standard for the R. Other Golfs with R-Design package don’t have the same light-alloy-wheels. Differences continue on the inside, where nicely bolstered bucket seats are 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 borrowed from Audi’s Virtual Cockpit and it is customizable. The speedometer and tachometer are accompanied by other various information, including the sat-nav system squeezed in the middle on the screen.

On the center console, there is another big screen, this time with gesture controls so the owner won’t have to clean fingerprints every day. It has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

But what makes the Golf R more special is the mechanical layout. The 300 hp and the all-wheel-drive system makes it a competitor for rally-inspired cars, such as the Subaru STI or the Ford Focus RS.