Hey Alex, just gonna let you know that I love how you review cars that the average viewer will actually buy as opposed to supercars all the time. Thanks for the thorough, unbiased reviews.

I would too! The Golf R is a all year round all weather road warrior! Not such a fanboy of the huge wing thing...

Why buy a car to impress others! Just impress yourself!

The reviews aren't for the fanboys and you offer detailed explanations and price comparisons.I appreciate this a lot.

Why would you get a hot hatch as a weekend “fun car” when you can get dedicated sports cars for the same price? The whole point of a hot hatch is for it to be an all-arounder.

You’re not the first reviewer to say this, but the Golf R definitely has 4 way power lumbar. The switch doesn’t look it, but it does go up and down as well as in and out.

I drove a MK7 GTI with DSG like I stole it for 4 years and 50k miles and it was bulletproof. Similar story for my brother's R and my wife's A3. It's a solid platform if you do the maintenance. The DSG elevates the car both in it's sense of immediacy and in the amount of power it can handle with a tune. The engagement you lose is more than made up for in modding potential, in my opinion.

I totally agree with you, Alex. I got the Golf R with DSG as my daily. My only complaint is about the wheel. I already bent one original 19 inch wheel and one 18 inch winter wheel...

I just drove a manual and I loved it. It's probably my next car.

Alex is right about the CIvic styling. I'm 64 years old and I'd feel like a total DORK driving one. If I were in my 20's, on the other hand, I probably would have thought the Honda was cool. The thing is, everybody looks cool in a Golf R.

You've been having major 0-60mph measurement problems lately, someone messed up the timer for sure.

Good job Alex, pumping out these reviews! I enjoy them so much.

Keep up the good work Alex! We all love the thoroughness and simplicity of your reviews! Speaking of simplicity: I think your logo will look much cooler without the "background". Basically, just keep the 2 As and the road.

The Golf R is the better daily driver + weekend fun for sure. The EA888 engine is also extremely responsive to tunes, so a simple software flash will give you sub 4 sec to 100kph. Will wipe the floor with type R and Focus RS and still be comfortable :)

Golf R over the Civic type R because...... i am over 20 years of age and want to look it. drive that honda and they will check your ID everyday at the same 7/11 even if your 50+ years old.

The Civic is hideous! Golf -R is the total package...CLASS!!

Big difference, Golf r speaks to great range of buyers, others are teens-only. Golf r speaks to those that want performance and driveability. I am picking mine up Wednesday, and this is my 2nd Golf, 1st was GTI and I loved it.

Awesome car and review. Very honest to the point. I’m getting the 7.5 2019 version of the car soon. Thanks man.👍👍

The golf r is the only choice for me. Easily tunable to around 340/350 BHP with just a remap and an uprated foam pannel filter e.g. pipercross. Not much more than $500 all in. I have seen some with over 500 BHP (See HPA, APR etc) with stock internals. I love the Jekyll and Hyde personality to it, especially with a little investment to unlock the performance.

How is Golf R driving in snow? I live in Canada which has harsh winter. This winter requires AWD car during the winter.

For the Golf R, a basic stage 1 tune (for under $1000) is a real game changer

My 2018 Soul has a DCT but its a full second slower to 60

Alex the best!!! Thanks for this review.

The very fact that Honda dealers can *consistently* sell, every single 6MT Type-R they get into the US, at or above MSRP, is a testament to the fact that it does not (and personally, should not !) come with any semblance of an Automatic shifter. It *is* sacrilege, as you stated ! But your comments on the terrible tack-ons on the Type-R body, making it a stylistic disaster, is absolutely spot-on. Also, if they introduced a version of the SH-AWD into the Type-R, that would have made it my top pick, among these alternatives.......I can even forgive the tacky plastics on its body.

You have your commentary locked down!....I'm tuned in to many other channels,of course,but to my ears they all start to sound the same because of NOT just thinking about what they want to say before saying it....if you are using cue cards it's hard to tell because your delivery is always spontaneous.

The Haldex AWD system on the Golf R doesnt engage in normal operation, thus not costing you any more fuel wasted to drivetrain loss. Yet you do still carry more weight around.

Man.......I watched this whole video and was waiting to get a comparison between the 2018 and 2019. Great review or comparison against the competition.

100% the same logic and review I would give the car after owning it since June 2018. :-)

Test drive a BMW 228 too if you're looking to spend around $40k in this segment.

2017 Golf R w/ 6sp DSG (7sp came 2018+) and this car is my soulmate. It is perfection in every way imaginable.

I understand what you are saying about the automatic vs the manual. I personally feel that I have more control in the bad weather with a manual and paired with the AWD that is the way to go. I personally own a Subaru (sadly plain Impreza) as my daily and I have the manual for the bad weather in the Northwest US that we experience. The other thought that crosses my mind is the manual really has no maintenance except for a clutch plate every 100k miles or so (at least for me). Dual clutch transmissions still make me concerned about long term (5+ years) of daily use. Just seems like more to break.

18 mpg, being driven in a sporty manner like most people will drive it, plus a 14.5 gallon fuel tank? Less than 261 miles before fill-ups sounds fun. Thanks VW for continually shrinking the fuel tank.

Really like the golf R and would certainly buy one over the competition. I do not care for the Civic's looks at all and the Subaru is in a bad need of an update. VW needs to add some colors to the R's palate though. Love the reviews, keep up the good work!

I'm a little confused: I thought the Golf R has 4Motion, which is/was front-wheel drive that sends power to the rear wheels when slip is detected. So, is it full-time 4wd or 2wd with slip diverting power to all 4? :S

if only VW brought the Scirocco to the states

Do you think that the Golf R with 18" wheels would be a better/softer ride? I test drove one last week and loved the car but even in comfort the car was just too rough over the bumps where I drive.

I think Alex nailed it in his assessment of this car. But the Type R if top performance is your only concern. Buy the Golf R if you want the best all around experience. Too bad we can't talk about the i30N.

Great review! Subaru’s AWD is touted as “true”, vs. Golf R’s (max 50% f-r split). Significant for us snow-belters? Also curious about differences between Digital Cockpit display between VW & Audi.

LOVE this video!!!! I liked that you were driving it right away!

I would still pick the 6 speed. I switched cars a few years back to an automatic and I've missed my Neon R/T ever since. I hope get a manual next time around around.

Funny you mentioned Type R so many times that I ended up checking Type R review again. :D

Great review. Alex do you think the Golf R is worth the premium over the GTI? AWD and more power are great but it doesn't seem like the Golf R is that much of a step up from the GTI.

Loving mine! Throw on a jb4 and you get sub 4 to 60 with the dsg, and keep your warranty 👍

I absolutely love the Golf-R and its styling. With a 6MT, it will fit in well with my lifestyle.

I was fortunate enough to purchase my dark gray Type R last month in Northern CA for MSRP. Although aesthetics are subjective, I only appreciate the exterior in my chosen color. It reminds me of my 2005 S2K, except it's practical, which is a benefit since I am a parent. I am mostly agnostic when it comes to cars, with the exception of classic muscle cars, which does not resonate with my tastes. Regardless, I do appreciate both VW HH options (GTI & R). Although I do think that it's time for Subaru to "up the ante" for both the WRX, as well as the STI.

Thats sad to hear. I would go for the manual transmission any day! I commute to work, 1 hour each way, 25 miles each, in stop and go traffic with a manual. Manual for life!

not sure if you mentioned it....i assume its premium gas or is it regular ?....thx.....i took one for a test drive today and wow what a fun car to drive and fast

"More interesting design on the Type R" Thats the nicest way to put it...

Looking at C&D's times... unless you really need AWD... IDK. Only 0.2s faster from 5-60 (the real test), 3 MPH faster through the quarter. GTI runs regular fuel too. I know what I'd buy

This is a very nice car. I get it sir. I would take the Civic. Reason? Fun! This segment has a bunch of winner's. But the Type R punches far above it's weight and can be a comfortable cruiser with room if needed. Plus the VW is considerably more expensive.

If I were planning on buying another ICE vehicle the Golf R would be the one.

I have yet to drive the Golf R with the DSG. I've driven other VW's with the DSG, albeit earlier generations. DSG is a great transmission, I still prefer to row my own gears. Why? It's more engaging and requires me to pay more attention to driving. I get more control over which gear I want. Clearly I'm slower 0-60 but I'm not trying to race everyone around town. A Golf R, even in manual form, is REALLY fast compared to most cars on the road these days. I did have a manual 2016 Golf R (tornado red - so pretty) and I loved it. I loved hitting gears 1-2 then 2-3 around town. So much fun, power/torque and giddy up n go!

Another quality video from you. I am looking at possibly getting a Golf R and was wondering what your thoughts are on the reliability of the newer generations of vw's.

Type R for LIFE!

Type R has one more con - transmission issue. Clutch mechanism (hydraulic) overheats if you drive for too long, fluid boils and as a result even if you press (clutch) pedal to the metal it won't fully decouple. Gear changes are no longer smooth, premature transmission wear&tear is also one of the side effects. Honda doesn;t cover it under the warranty.

In Miami Civic Type R are going $2k over list price, USED!

I like the Golf R, but with an APR stage 2 and better brakes , and the roof bars. You talk about fuel economy on a sports car? What do you need 45 mpg? I think a round figure of 30 hwy/city is fine. Anyways my 2 cents.

With this much technology in the car and VW's reputation over the last few years,,,better get the extended warranty.

The Golf R is the grown-up version of hot hatches. I like a lot the TypeR but I would buy the Golf either in manual or an automatic (definitely the DCT) because I don't like the looks of the TypeR. Too much complexity for just a tenth of a second in track use.

Great review, Alex - Sweet car...but $40k can get you some serious performance elsewhere. I also have no faith in the reliability and longevity of VW.

Sacrilegious indeed! I would ALWAYS choose the manual transmission

The perfect sporty compact car for adults who don't vape or have ear gauges. If you had a civic when you were 20 that was half red and half primer and had 2 or 3 different kinds of wheels on it at the same time - the Civic will make you very happy.

Great review as usual, Alex. However, I think you might want to consult a physician about the lead that seems to be accumulating in your right foot. When you reported that you had gotten about 18 mpg in your recent "short review" of the 2018 GTI, I assumed it was because you climbed Mt. Hood and didn't come back down. But now you're reporting the same 18 mpg for the Golf R. Have you noticed you're listing to the right when you walk? You might want to have your right foot examined. :) Seriously, I realize that when you review a car it's important to test it in all sort of conditions and drive it more aggressively than most drivers do in daily driving. For example, I've averaged about 28 mpg in my 2018 GTI over the first 3000 miles and my previous MK6 with an APR Stage I+ tune averaged about 24 mpg in mixed driving. No criticism intended for your reported results but I think it's worth noting that your results are unlikely to be duplicated by an average owner. In the past you often mentioned that your test included commuting over the 2200 ft Santa Cruz mountains. I have a feeling that your more recent tests may be a bit more "adventurous."

Type r is not faster than the golf r. Especially DSG

Hey Alex great video and a nice breakdown on an excellent hatchback. I own a focus RS and love the car just to point out that Ford did announce that they will only be producing the mustang and crossover focus for North America as of 2020 so although I’m optimistic I don’t think we’ll be seeing the upcoming focus or fiesta lineup in the near future.

Very good and fair review, the Type R is awesome especially in terms of handling, I do wish it had a better exhaust sound that matched its personality. I can think of two other Golf R alternatives, the upcoming Veloster N and the GTI. The Veloster N could be a lower priced alternative to the Type R, why the I30N is not coming to the US is a topic all of its own. The GTI is so good as is, is the R worth 10-12k more? Not sure. I have a 2017 GTI Sport with DSG, it does everything well.The R, in green though, is tempting if it was $36k and came with plaid. An outsider, used AMG GLA45's seemed to have dropped in price a lot, that is one leery engine and sounds awesome.

How do these age? I loved my 1998 Jetta GLX VR6 5spd ... 40k tho... ugh

We get it you like the Type R.

For me the aesthetics on the Honda Civic Type R are good just get rid of the rear wing. I am a lip spoiler fan and would really like that on the back instead.

Because the 2018 Golf R took so long to arrive in the US, I ended up buying a loaded 2018 Audi S3, for only $4K more than what the Golf R sells for. I'm happy.

Golf R all day long

I'm 100% in agreement. I actually work for Honda and I just can't get past the hideous plastic fake grills front and back on the type R civic. I know it would sell better if wasn't so "boy racer" (I know what you are referring too).

the gti, autobahn is a competitor as well bro

Will be buying golfr, gti or civic typeR (dark blue or black, quietest colors for it) for family of 4, everyday driving with reliability, practicality and fun. Please do a comparison

I bought a Golf R and I think you basically nailed why Alex. It is my only vehicle and I needed something that could basically do it all but was still compact for regular city driving and living. The Civic Type R was actually my second in the market, WRX STI third, and Focus RS last. Why? Because the Civic was close to the Golf's practical nature and did drive very lovely but I need AWD for winter and frankly I just think the Type R is ugly. Plus I'm a big guy and fit best in the Golf. In my ranks the STI and RS were much further behind. I find the STI just a bit more livable than the RS. The Focus RS was a real disappointment, brutally stiff riding car, I couldn't live with it as a daily.

I own a MK6 Golf R (manual). I love a manual, and look at every opportunity to drive the car as "practice". :) But my wife owns a Lexus ES, and has no interest in learning a stick. She stopped making excuses twenty years ago: " I'll learn to drive a manual when you get a nicer car". Driving her car on long road trips, where she can share in the driving, leaves me spiritually depleted. That Lexus is like a four-door Vampire sucking the joie de vivre of driving right out of my marrow. So, the MK7.5 R with a DCT and adaptive suspension. Btw, she had no complaints when I drove my mk6 R on a 6 on a short six hour road trip (then back, of course), so there is that too. Now if I can just catch her in an "anything-to-please-my-man" moment! Pray for me. Help me Obiwan Kinobe!

For some reason, I like the Golf R over the competition: 1.Maybe I’m just getting older On the other hand, I would pick the Type R over this bcoz of quality issues. Heard it a lot in youtube and forums.

0-60 in 5.6? Seems like all the ponies are not showing up. This car should run under 5 seconds to 60.

Nice review. Couldn’t agree more with your conclusions.

Alex, when are you going to do a full review of the Civic Type R? I test drove the Golf R in both the DSG auto and the manual transmissions, and the DSG with its far less driver involvement was faster, but much more boring, and not nearly as much fun to drive as the manual. You mentioned many times in this video that the Civic Type R is so much more fun to drive and capable than the competition, and when I test drove the Type R it felt so much more special to drive. For anyone who really enjoys driving, and wants the understated look of the Golf R, go with the manual transmission, unless you are seeking the fastest lap times, but the DSG will still be less fun. If you're looking for the most fun and engaging car to drive in the hot hatch segment then you really need to go with the Civic Type R.

VW GOLF R or GTI AUTOBAHN? WICH WOULD YOU TAKE OF THE 2?

You have got to change that beginning jingle.

Alex, thanks for making this really in-depth review! I just have one question, is the car in this video a manual or a DCT? The reason I ask is because you keep gushing about how much better the DCT is than the manual, making me think that you are experiencing the DCT as you shoot this video, but your 0-60 time is 5.6 seconds, which makes me think you are reviewing a manual model. Other reviews I’ve seen seem to post 4.8 seconds for the DCT model.

They need to make the GTI available in this color. That would look amazing with the red accents.

Have a bmw 340 msport xdrive now. Once lease is up. Highly thinking to pick one of these up and slap it with apr tune level 1

I like the looks of the the Golf R better than that of the Type R or the WRX. But I don't like that it doesn't come with a sunroof or fog lights, hence my preference for the GTI. The Focus RS is probably the best looking of the bunch, though. On the outside, at least.

I will probably push a VW to 80-90% of its limit around turns but will floor the gas pedal every chance I get on the highway on ramp. Not sure if a GTI with the DCT is a better choice as a daily driver.

I just drove a 2019 Golf R this evening after driving a 2019 MX5 and 2019 Mustang GT. I was really impressed by the Golf R. My wife drives a 2013 Golf and I have always liked it. But I think the Golf R is over priced. I wish it was a two door. I don't know if I can justify spending 41k on a really fast grocery getter. Bring the price down, add a few more horses and subtract two doors and I am all in.

I've run consistent sub 5 second runs at above 5,000 ft. ASL. I'm not sure where you are geographically or who is driving, but this is easily a 4.5 second car.

I these are all fun choices. It's crazy they're even zippier than V8 sports coupes. I'd pick the Golf R as well, since my daily drivers have been hatchbacks, & I live on the hilly San Francisco peninsula. Having a Civic Type R with an auto & AWD would be nice (& hopefully more reliable), but that's like making a muscle car FWD. Not quite it's character. Then again, there's an AWD Challenger GT.

I would buy the manual version of the golf R period.

I want to upgrade from my GLI to this so bad.

Hey Volkswagen, for the next redesign, would it kill you to offer some interior color for the Golf R other than "funeral black?" I want a performance car, but geesh, why do car companies think performance equals monochromatic black? I would use this for a daily driver, _some_ color option would be nice.

today's video gonna be a little different... of cause, ALEX is wearing his brand tee!

Does anyone know when the 2019 Mazda CX-9 is coming out? Alex, will you do a review on it. I am anxious to see what improvements have been made.

They really need an automatic transmission option for Civic Type R, not everybody wants to drive a manual. Golf R - can be your everyday commute car + fun on the weekends

Please Honda NEVER put a dct or auto in the type R. HE never complains about the lack of manuals? Once Honda does add an auto the manual will be discontinued.

Thank god you reviewed the DSG model!

The biggest demerit of this car is the 19-inch wheels. This is a Golf, designed for 15s-16s. The 18s on GTI are already borderline too big and struggle with potholes unless you have perfect roads where you live. Winter grip is non-existent and minus-size winter wheels are mandatory. I assume the Golf R is even worse. Yeah you can get new wheels, whatever, but a 40K car should not require immediate new wheels and tires.

Excellent review- however most of the comparison reviews of these 4 cars center on the "driving experience" -i.e. Steering feel, power etc and all of that must be looked at, of course. However part of the "driving experience" are the safety and MMI systems and operator interface. And here the GOLF R is Wayyyy ahead of the Honda and Ford- forget the STI. It is a combination of the Audi center all digital MMI (at a slightly lower resolution that is not a deal breaker.- and an Excellent VW touchscreen system in PERFECT reach and no scrolly ball. Screw the fingerprints on the slick glass- get a micro-fibre and call me in the morning. ALso you can have a screen view of the NAV map up in the all digital center binnacle ALL the time (Shows Traffic in real time too!) and to show around you and you DONT have to use your phone!- meaning your CAR PLAY or ANDROID AUTO is up on the 8" center screen- an absolute perfect blend of navigation, data and music (EXCELLENT, BUMPIN FENDER SOUND SYSTEM BTW) So for an EVERYDAY driver- with the excellent and complete set of driving aids, excellent interior- quietness, more than enough speed- a PERFECT place on the freeway, a winding country road or IN A TRAFFIC JAM! And EXCELLENT AC to cool you in the hot climates. Golf R - hands down best. However- even though the reviewer is ABSOLUTELY correct that this is the perfect DAILY driver. If I wanted a weekend cruiser... hands down the BMW M240 with my favorite the Autobox of course- but can get 6 speed also. That 6 cylinder- excellent seats Power to spare weekend perfection...yes it will cost more- but life is too short..forget the Transformer looking anime Civic or the Golf R. But for an everyday driver, under any condition, tight city or wide open country- the Golf R is as perfect as you can get. But VW for 40k why no folding mirrors? I mean really - it pisses me off and should be standard on this level of car. Many in Tight cities would buy this car, and those mirrors must fold. Id Pay extra!