The all-wheel-drive performance variant of the Volkswagen Golf is the Golf R.
The R name identifies Volkswagen’s top performance Golf in the modern range. It evolved from the earlier Golf R32, introduced in the Mk4 generation and named for its 3.2-litre VR6 engine. Later R models switched to turbocharged four-cylinder engines while retaining four-wheel drive and a stronger performance focus than the front-wheel-drive GTI.
The Golf R is commonly confused with the Golf R32 because R32 models were important predecessors, not the usual name for the current performance variant. GTI and GTD models are also sporty Golfs, but the GTI is a front-wheel-drive petrol hot hatch and the GTD is the diesel-oriented performance model. The R stands apart through its higher output, four-wheel-drive system and more serious acceleration capabilities.
Depending on generation and market, the Golf R has been offered as a hatchback and, in some generations, an estate or wagon. Its powertrain has typically combined a turbocharged petrol engine with Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system.