This is the first video from CAR that I have ever seen. The magazine is the top of the heap among ALL car magazines on this planet, with both phenomenal artwork and writing, so it makes sense that the videos they produce set a gold standard.

I've owned four different GTI's (mk3, mk4, mk5 & mk7) and now I have a mk7.5 Golf R. It puts all of my previous (chipped) GTI's to shame. This is the fastest, most well balanced and practical vehicle I've ever owned for the pricepoint. It's essentially a 4-door Porsche in a hatchback configuration. Best of all, NOBODY knows what it is. It's the ultimate daily driver sleeper.

I watch this video once a week just to remind myself how awesome my car is 😂

Why is no one talking about how good of a presentator this guy is?! especially when considering he has less than 100k subs

Someone grew up watching Tiff Needell on 5th gear. The intonation in your delivery is almost an exact match (not an insult). Close your eyes and listen carefully

Hands down, one of the best reviews of a car I've seen. Anywhere. You sir, are a top class presenter destined for huge things. It was like watching something from "old Top Gear" or Fifth Gear. You have a brilliant way of delivering your lines but also keeping folks engaged. And everything you said was relevant, there was no padding or waffling. A rare quality of car reviews these days. I could watch you present & review cars for days. I'm actually in the market for a second hand Golf R MK 7.5 at the moment, and I'm so glad your video showed up in my recommendations.

Been owning 7.5R for the past 1 yr. loving every bit of it. Fast and practical.

As a car fanatic, the Golf 7.5 R review done here can make a person want to own one .. Best review seen

I owned an R for four years now. It's really a family super car for all occasions. Never mind the mundane golf hatch look. It has personality to show that it is special. Good presentation again, James.

Loved my Golf R. Had it for 3 years, took it to 380bhp. Recently moved to an RS 3 which is a step up in intoxicating noise and perceived quality but a drop down in engagement and handling finesse. Ultimately faster in a straight line the RS 3 might be, but very few cars could keep up with me in my Golf R.

30yrs ago I had a 88 GTI and a 90 GLI at the same time. I loved those cars even though they liked to fall apart and needed repair often. Two yrs ago I wanted another GTI. I was able to teach my wife how to drive manual and a few months later she drove home in a new 2018 GTI w/manual transmission and autobahn trim. We wanted the Golf R but it was about 5k more and the dealer would not budge on price. I think we got an amazing GTI, the interior is very similar to an Audi and it's so practical and fun to drive. We await the the Golf R and hope it comes here to America. We would be tempted to buy it.

Love ours, 2014 model year, Stage 3 Revo, 500hp+ and usable daily. Cars don’t get much better than this.

Another great review from the lad. It is rare to find a motoring jouno who doesn't repeat words and phrases to a noticeable degree during a film. Here we have an exception. Looking forward to the next one !

I went from a Velar 3.0d to my 7.5 R. A plunge into the hot pool. I couldn't wait for a new one, and the manager of local dealers had just taken delivery of a crazily specced R for his company car. He'd been waiting 6 months so was gutted, but he sold it to me LOL! It's got akropovic exhaust, performance pack, full leather, intel upgrade - and every other option, AND is in Nada Grey (special - hence the long wait). It was not cheap. I had a MK5 GTi when it came out, then a succession of exec stuff, and I'm delighted to be in the R. I won't remap - it's more than fast enough for me - and with the adaptable dampers, is still comfy on my 25 mile commute up the cratered and broken M11. It will certainly be in my favourite 3 of all time. Such an incredible all rounder. Oh - and I was reading Car Magazine loyally from the age of 12 to about 35. 60 in two weeks HA!

i own a golf R going for 2 years this november, upgraded from a gti and love it every time i sit behind the steering wheel, just makes me feel like a kid

2 years in to mine. absolutely love it. does everything, proper fast and 40mpg !! I no longer notice if the road is wet or dry...

After owning my MK7 R for 3 years, I truly can't think of any car that I can possibly replace it with. It's an amazing car even in stock form, even if it is a little quiet for my taste, but an aftermarket exhaust have made it the most perfect car i've owned. And its gonna get even better when it gets tuned soon.

Seriously, this guy is so articulate. I had to replay parts of this video just to hear him talk.

Great video! When buying my 2015 I drove a stock R, a stage 1 R, a GTI and a subie wrx. It’s amazing when driving the Rs back to back how much of a difference a $600 APR tune makes.....it’s HUGE! And while the WRX was fun to drive it was simply not in the same class as the VW with fit and finish. The GTI was also fun but I missed the power and the AWD from the R. And what’s really cool, after over 4 years with my stage 1 R, I still just go drive it for no reason other than to have fun.

Thank you for the mention. Great review. We still have our 2014 Golf R, although it's now over 520bhp with a 0-60s touch around the 3.0s ;)

Absolutely on point. Been driving my 16 golf R in stock form and not a single reliability issue yet. It’s a high performing car that doesn’t ask you sacrifice a single bit of daily usability. To me the R is more of a C class competitor than a hot hatch really. It is not a track day machine and was never intended to be. I do however think VW should look into a more hardcore and trackable version of the R to satisfy the enthusiasts.

Love my 2018 Golf R. The best car i have ever owned, and it's my first auto. Can't beat the 7 speed dual clutch....

I was very very close to buying one of these but opted for an M140i. It's a decision that I do not regret as good as the R is.

Superb review! I've gone from a 2014 M5 into a 2018 Golf 7.5R (ecu tune now) and whilst I miss the M5, you cannot beat the daily drivability and performance the R dishes up. Parts are inexpensive, fuel economy is decent and it looks good! Love my little race car🚗

I couldn't afford a Golf R. I had to settle with it's little brother the basic Golf, and if the way the Mk7 Golf S handles is any sign, the R must be a hidden monster. Even GTI are a beast.

Even better with a used '19 model I picked up a few months ago. Still has the standard b2b warranty through Aug of 2025. Crazy.

Great Review. Enjoyed It. Well done. Thank you James Dennison. Seems we need to be taking note of this young guys name people!

Love my 2017 MK7 R with Stage 2 ECU and DSG Tune. Can't go wrong with a Golf R.

The MK7/7.5 Golf R is the best all-around, refined, understated, every day performance car for the money... after the GTI. I say that because in every day driving the GTI is 85% of a Golf R for considerably less money. It's only when your going foot to the floor, 100% hoon when a R truly distinguishes itself from a GTI (or in the snow... because AWD). But if you can afford a R I see no wrong in going for one over a GTI.

wow the first decent vid from car since i can remember , long time for sure , great job , really good lots more please with this presenter , whats his name ?

One of the first MkIV R32s that I sold as a VW salesman many moons ago...was to an extremely well off guy who owned a handful of Ferraris. He wanted a "cheap" runabout but still wanted the car to be nice and have a bit of style. He was particularly fond of the sound of that old 3.2 VR6. Nice rig.

Great review, love the camera work! Traded my 5yr old Merc A250 Sports fwd for a golf r mk7.5 last year. It's a much better value daily hot hatch to drive, love the boring mature sensible look inside and out! Goodbye Mercedes from Australia

Miss mine so much, had one 2016-2018. I drive a car twice the price now but still pine for an R.

His presenting is brighter than my future. Wonderfully enthusistic - and measured.

Very well said. I love my R. I bought a MK6, so I could get a manual & 2 doors. It's an Awesome car!!! I plan on keeping it for life.

I want one. I have an ancient MK5 2.0 TDI GT and the R is perfect for me in every way. I will keep dreaming.

There was a car in the past that ticked all those same boxes, it also sold a good 17k more examples. The Delta HF of the 80’s and early 90’s. Drive one. They’re drama free, they just go quickly but they done make a song and dance about it like the Subaru and Mitsubishi cars that followed. They were also cheap, half the price of an Audi quattro and had all the practicality of a hatchback. Not only that but back then Lancia had as much desirability as the likes of Audi and Alfa do now. The Golf R is certainly on the crest of a wave but it’s not the first hot hatch to touch those peaks.

I love my new Mk7.5 R! Best daily driver out there, and blast to drive. My previous Mk6 GTI was a very fun car to drive, but the R is on a different level. Can’t wait to go stage 1 tune, it will be a rocket 🏎 💨

I raced one of these with a tune and downpipe in my E90 m3 from 20-160mph and we were literally door to door the entire way. I know the M3 isn’t the fastest car but it’s seriously impressive performance by the VW.

I can agree with being your forever car. I currently own a 2018 R in Ginster Yellow and its sitting at 464whp. Great daily driver all year round. I use studded tires for winter and it is just as fun as summer driving! Great car, Great presentation

*I have got some 'R' Stickers off EBay and put on my Polo, 50 HP more and 0-60 in 5.2 Seconds. Fantastic performance for 6 for £4.95 (P&P Free)*

I picked my new 2019 up last April, after a lot of research and repeated viewings of KZfaq video reviews. Lapiz Blue with the Black Pretoria wheels and carbon fibre mirror caps. I absolutely love it. Fast, handles amazingly well, great to drive when you aren't hammering it. Fit and finish is top-notch too. My :only: gripe is the piano black, or rather over-abundance of it. Too scratch-prone. Hopefully that gets sorted in the new gen.

Great review. I think the mk 7.5 is the best out of the lot including the current mk8. I added a ecu and tcu tune and it now performs like a monster with 370hp and 500nm on tap. Most of the time i drive it in comfort mode though. 😊

I regret selling my MK7 R - Ordered it new when the prices were reduced here in Sweden. Almost every option except for leather seats and sunroof, about €10,000 off what it used to cost. So I payed basically the same as I did for my previous MK7 GTI. Not sure why I got rid of it after a year, wanted something more mature. But I have regret it ever since. Might be time for an MK8 GTI

Had 2 GTI's and they still remain the best all round cars I ever owned and really fun to drive. I considered upgrading to an R but I went for a BMW 135i. BMW was a better experience at the time and better priced. I also felt that 4 wheel drive hatches are brutely fast but not that fun compared to rear wheels or even front ones. BUT! The 135i I found was not safe or controlled at higher speeds. Hatches need to be 4 wheel drive once they peak past perhaps 260bhp. I often felt if I pushed the 135i too hard it would come off the road so I never really felt I go the full juice out the car. So if I was in the market again I would go for this or a used Audi RS3.

This guy is great, hope to hear more reviews from him.

I love them so much I have two!

Yo dude you speak with such eloquence , you gonna do well in this crowded motor journalist world *(IMO your wayy better than Hammond ,Clarkson and may combined)*

I miss mine 😢 I should actually buy one next time. I know they’re literally everywhere now but I don’t care. Just too much fun.

I drive GTI mark 7 DSG 303 hp, 450 Nm. Hopefully will switch to mark 8 R. Wish it could look as good as GTI. I know, it's still Golf, but I like the look of GTI much, much more than R.

The fact I'm picking up my Golf R 17 pre facelift this week, to watch this video it's like I've been chosen the right decision coming from a Vauxhall Corsa 1.4T tuned at 185bhp. Golf R seems to hold it's value well compared to VXRs

In a world with endless speed cameras and governments hellbent on revenue from them I do need see the point of fast cars anymore. I think super plush cars are more important these days.

Own one since 2018 all flaws have been fixed under warranty(waterpump,thermostat,washerbottle)and as i am going on in live(51) its the Perfect all-rounder on the Market with Fun Factor Speed Handling without looking a Plonker behind the Wheel.Agree 100% with conclusions of this video...

You should really take a look at a BMW M140i - Rear wheel drive, 335 BHP, 3L Inline 6 Cylinder engine. Drives like a dream

I miss my R 32. 😭 same color too.

Great review ! My favorite to date ! As a 2019 Golf R owner, I appreciate your excellent review.

Enjoy mine ..DSG gearbox superb!!

Couldn't agree more, I love mine! Really wish here in Canada we got the performance pack option though.

At 6:10 the reviewer says: "There's not really any compromise involved in using one every day." Some of the cars I bought new include a 1983 GTI, 1988 GTI, 1992 Corrado VR6 (still own), and 2006 GTI. But when it came time to buy my Golf R I learned it didn't come with a spare tire, not even a wimpy one. I said getting stranded in Kansas while driving across the country is not a compromise I am willing to live with. That the Golf R is not practical as a daily driver and especially can't be used for traveling like a Tesla.

I’d like to know where you can get a Golf R at the rates he’s talking about! 🤪🤪

I wouldn't sleep well leaving one on the driveway overnight..... millennium burglars dream, same as the rs3 etc... amazing cars though

Outstanding review brother....just terrific..thanks for the great content

Thank god i managed to find a 306hp 400nm golf r 2018 mk7.5! It's a beast and I really can't find anything similar or worth changing for.

My dream car...

People compare these cars with Porsche 911's. I own both. The 911 is a better driving car and an entirely different animal. The top speeds don't matter. The VW R is a great car for most practical requirements.

Brilliant And love this new kid on the wheel

I went to 4 dealerships to test drive the Golf R and not one of them let me. So I bought one with just the reviews on KZfaq. The only the i really don’t like about it is the turning radius.

We bought a fully loaded used R. The R handles better than the plain S3 we had but more artificially, the logic is more Porsches Macan than Audi A4 or S5 Quattro style, efficient but intrusive. Within the speed limits envelope, it drives nicely and is very quite, an IQ3 must be more noisy! My wife likes the R a lot for day to day use. The Guilia Veloce Q4 280 HP my son bought cheap is more "naturally " stable, (front and rear wheels of different sizes and better Giorgio geometry) more fun, more comfort (smooth, almost Ghibli like but much lighter) and is also significantly more fuel efficient. Modern cars like those two no longer have to be stiff anvils (M3, Z4 etc) to handles proprely, thanks to latest modern dynamic softwares combining tires, suspension and chassis stiffnesses and amortization optimized in all linear and torsional directions . The right tire for the job is a must. Our Golf R was way too loaded with heavy options to be tuned up efficiently. I recommend to tune up light naked two doors stick shift with light manual seats, no garbage etc. combining more hp with less kg...so the cheaper car price pays for the extras...Here, the car warranty is preserved with the expensive ABT tuning but it's the importer's initiative. To me, the R could still be improved with the Eight's generation with a factory 400hp model offered! Area to improve include: Better fuel economy, true GPS accurate ground speed display to prevent overspeeding, ACC, automatic cruise control too sensitive to interferences and rain, but that must be normal with more and more cars with radars. Yet, all the VW electronic assist garbage is good and intelligently made save, even the " you are tired, have a coffee" warning is clever and spot on....also to improve, less diving and nose up vs longitudinal g.force, better lights with faster reacting.

Anyone else have an Audi s3? Like the golf R I just opted for an Audi s3 in Java Green, the Audi just seemed a little better finished on the interior (like the napa leather and pop up display etc ...personal preference) but both seem great 👌🏻

Do a stage 3 on a golf r. Expect 1/4 mile in high tens.

Good vid. Love VW. We've just bought an Up G.T.I and love it!

Love those alloys!

I love mine, absolutely brilliant car. Remap has upped the enjoyment level massively. Shame VW have chosen to fekk it all up with the mk8 model. What an absolute disgrace of a thing that is. My Mk7 is the end of the line for me. Completely baffled as to what to replace it with in due course.

Only bad thing about these is that everyone and their dog has one

I traded my Alfa Quadrifoglio on a 7.5 R. I love driving the Golf. I didn't love the Alfa (except to look at).

Some TV Show needs to "remap" your future - thís guy is BRILLIANT, especially considering his age!

very good review!

I've had the Mk3, Mk4, Mk6, & 2 Mk7 GTIs. My first Golf R will be the Mk8. Sadly I have to wait until the GTI is paid off first.

After watching this video, I'm glad I purchased a 1:18 scale model of this, made by Ottomobile

Beautiful camera work guys well done

great review...

This dude is awesome. Loved this video.

After my MK7 GTI, I tested a 19 Golf R and an Alfa Giulia in the same day. Did not go home with the VW. No substitute for true RWD and 50/50 weight balance. Also no sunroof in the USA R is a bummer.

Very good point re tune-ability. This was the reason I bought it over other options. Flashed an Apr stage one tune on mine and it's perfect 👌 and mine is manual so much more engaging than the dsg for my tastes.

Great review 'Tiff' - 7.5 R (310+) manual 3 door, enjoying my cake! - look forward to your review of the Golf 8 GTI and R

Great presentation. Cross between Chris Harris and Tiff.

Fun fun fun and practical at the same time! Love my mk 7R~

If you close your eyes it could be Alan Partridge doing the review when he speaks to camera

It’s a wonderful car, I love mine and can’t think of anything else in the real world I’d rather have 😊👍🏼

Wish they weren't so damn expensive...

Loving the R so much I've watched this vid twice...

The US is just catching up!!! In the 90's They started the G60 on a golf 2 and Corrado

Could you please list some of the places where it is (was) possible to acquire a Golf R in HP, PCP?

The Golf R 7.5 is my dream hothatch and I would choose it over something like an RS3 which goes to show how insane I'm about the golf R ...and I hope I get to own one day or atleast get to drive one some day and if you are someone who owns a golf 7.5R just know you're living someone else's dream 😢😂

The Audi S3 did it first in 1999

After seeing your recent review of the Golf 8R et al, thought I would look back at the 7.5R review. . .still not convinced with Mk8 package overall, which you would go for if it was a choice between the the new gen or the Golf 7.5R?

This is a great Top Gear-esque tribute to a great car - mine is two weeks old - but JESUS that guy is sitting close to the wheel! How short are his legs? If the airbag goes off his face will turn inside out.

I love every bit of the car but I just wish it came with more power🙁

I just wish the R wasn't nearly two full adults heavier than a GTI. The added weight from the Haldex setup definitely helps get power down, but 300 pounds is 300 pounds, and it's noticeable when you're really on it.

Loveeeee my R!!! Not a fan of the DSG.. I know I know faster times...