Jul 9, 2025
2025 Volkswagen Golf R

You could buy the GTI, and honestly, you’d be thrilled. It’s a lively, front-wheel firecracker, a true driver’s car that begs to be pushed through corners. But if you want track-ready capability, the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R is where it’s at.

1. Track-Bred Power

The new Golf R is now rated at 328 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, a boost of 13 horsepower and 15 pound-feet over the outgoing model. VW has also included all-wheel drive with a rear-axle torque vectoring system that can distribute 100% of the rear torque to whichever wheel needs it most. That means razor-sharp turn-ins when carving twisty roads.

The stick-shift gearbox is gone for 2025, but the newly standard seven-speed dual-clutch more than makes up for it with lightning-fast shifts and paddle controls that keep you engaged. VW says the new Golf R will do zero to sixty in just 4.6 seconds, and if you tick the Performance Pack box, it’ll storm to 167 mph.

2. New Tech and Tweaks

On the outside, the 2025 Golf R sports updated headlights, an illuminated VW logo, a reworked front bumper, an adaptive front-lighting system, new 19-inch forged alloy wheels, a quad-tipped exhaust (Akrapovic titanium exhaust is available), and gloss-black side mirrors that project the ‘R’ logo on the ground when you unlock the doors.

Interior updates include updated sports seats, which now come dressed in a fresh black and blue combo. There’s also a new 12.9-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster with R-specific graphics, illuminated climate and volume controls, a new ventilated 15W wireless charging pad, and four fast-charging USB-C ports (two up front, two in the back).

3. Comfort and Convenience

That track-ready bully you see tearing up the corners? Turns out that it’s pretty chill when it’s not showing off. Thanks to the adaptive damping system and seven driving modes, the 2025 Golf R can dial things way down when you want it to. Out back, there’s a mid-size sedan-rivaling 19.9 cubic feet of configurable trunk space. If you need more room, drop the 60:40 split rear seats, and you’ve got up to 34.5 cubic feet.

The Golf R usually shows up fully loaded, so you’ve got plenty of nice features right from the start. You’ll find Nappa leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear side seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a head-up display, a Harman Kardon premium sound system, a panoramic sunroof, and all the advanced safety and driver-assist features you’d want for daily commuting.

Driving might become your favorite thing again with the new Golf R. So, visit Steet Ponte Volkswagen in Yorkville, NY, and take it out for a spin today.