The Volkswagen Golf R 0-60 Time and Handling Capabilities Revealed

The Volkswagen Golf R is the most fun-to-drive hatchback in the world. It offers a suite of driving modes that let you unleash its 315-horsepower turbocharged engine’s full power and urgency. This combination delivers a quick 0-60 time and an impressive 310 lb-ft of torque. It’s a sports car that can put a grin on your face as you tackle each item on your to-do list.

While it’s not the fastest car on the market, the 2022 VW Golf R can get up to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds when equipped with a DSG transmission. That’s a few ticks slower than the previous Golf R, which was powered by a 288-horsepower EA888 2.0-liter turbo-four with an all-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

However, the new Golf R is a lot more than just a fast car. It’s also a car that’s capable of handling itself beautifully and confidently. It can easily scoot around our figure-eight course in just 25.4 seconds. That’s faster than the manual GTI and a couple of seconds quicker than the boosted Ford Mustang EcoBoost. Even more impressive, the Golf R’s nannies rarely show up while pushing hard.

The Golf R is a bit heavier than the GTI, but that doesn’t seem to make much difference when it comes to performance. Its suspension is tuned a little more aggressively, and it can handle more power than the GTI without getting overly stressed. It’s a real pleasure to drive, and you can tell that VW has spent quite a bit of effort fine-tuning this car.

As for the 0-60 time, the manual version of the Golf R can do it in just 4.9 seconds when equipped with the six-speed transmission. The auto versions of the Golf R are much more competitive, with both the DSG and six-speed versions capable of accelerating to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds based on expert road tests.

While the Golf R’s competitors are more than capable of keeping up with this speedster, they aren’t able to match its handling capabilities. That’s thanks to a carefully tuned suspension, the use of standard 4Motion all-wheel drive, and a suite of selectable driving modes.

If you want to experience the speed and excitement of the Golf R firsthand, be sure to contact us at Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles. We can’t wait to set you up with your very own test-drive! Just fill out the form on this page and we’ll be in touch.