►Shop for merchandise: autogefuehl.shop/ ►Subscribe here: ua-cam.com/users/autogefuehl ►Also subscribe to our UA-cam shorts channel: www.youtube.com/@thomasautogefuhl?sub_confirmation=1 ►Follow us on Facebook / Instagram / TikTok @autogefuehl ►Sustainability in the automotive industry documentary: ua-cam.com/video/-8gNXlRGngA/v-deo.htmlsi=bCdeJZORRHNcVmV2 This is our in-depth review of the 2025 VW Golf R facelift (Golf 8.5). We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience. 00:00 Golf R facelift 00:48 DCC suspension 01:10 Engine power upgrade 02:50 Forged wheels 03:20 New rear design 03:37 Akrapovic exhaust sound 04:32 Golf R Black Edition 05:34 Acceleration and top speed 06:20 Interior quality 06:40 Steering wheel 07:30 Sports seats 08:18 Cockpit and modes 10:07 Rear seats 11:01 Trunk / boot 11:28 Towing and Chat GPT #VW #GolfR
Data & facts: VW Golf R facelift New Front with air curtains and lights, illuminated VW logo front, LED plus standard, optional IQ Light matrix LED 18“ standard, optional 19“ or 19“ forged wheels (20 percent lighter) DCC adaptive suspension standard depending on market, -20 mm Still lower in price Optional Abramovic exhaust for hatch 4,28 m 169“ 4,63 m 182“ Variant Black Edition with blacked out logos and performance pack Performance Pack adds Special and Drift mode 2.0 l 4-cyl 333 hp (+13 hp) AWD with torque vectoring 7-DSG 4,6 Sek (Variant 4,8 Sek) 0-100 km/h (0,1 sec better each) Up to vmax 270 km/h with performance pack (otherwise 250 km/h) Engine startup with higher rev: Press start button for 1,5 Sek without brake pedal and then press brake pedal 10“ digital instruments with new views and acceleration timer 13“ Infotainment update New steering wheel with bigger paddles and ergonomic form Capacitve R button on steering wheel updated against unintentional press Chat GPT integration Sport seats with integrated head restraints fabric/microfibre Real carbon fibre decor available 1,9 t towing Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
Can't wait to see what dealer markup will be on the Black Edition.. That Akrapovic exhaust won't make it Stateside like the earlier R variants. Unless it comes standard on the infamous black edition. I don't think creating a black edition is necessary. Meh. And to think the successor to the Golf R will be EV? 🤦
@@LordStaind With the integration of technology, Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, et cetera, people are getting lazier and lazier (sadly, so is their vocabulary). While some think of the English language as evolving for the newer generations, others will beg to differ.
I honestly love VW, in my country ( South Africa ) it's extremely popular. My dad owned VR6 MK3, MK4 Golf GTI, MK6 Golf GTI and R, MK7 GTI and R. He saved the MK4 for me and i love it, it has well over a Million kilometers, by now it has more lol. I can't wait to buy my own MK8 Golf !
I can't decide between a 2025 type R and this 2025 Golf R. My MK7 DCT Golf R was a 2015 and it got stolen almost 3 years ago. But I really loved it. I know that this mk8+ is a whole other beast. And now that they've addressed the terrible infotainment in the 8 as well as addressed the capacitive buttons on the wheel being accidentally pushed, it makes me really want one. However in the early 2000s I had an S2000, and I absolutely loved it. I loved the transmission, and I feel like the Type R would be a four-door, turbocharged, FWD version of the S2K. I like the looks of both of them.. but I prefer the interior quality and luxury of the golf R. I don't do any tracking, and this would be my daily. We have no snow, and perfect roads here in South Florida.... If I lived up north with snow and ice and bad roads, then obviously the golf R without a doubt. But I already had a golf R for almost 5 years, even though it was a very different driving car in terms of dynamics and power, it's still not completely new to me. Anyone have any thoughts??
This is part of a short list of items that I really dislike about the Mk8.5 and why I ended up going for the 7.5R from my MkVII GTI. The total lack of buttons, not thought out UI (the floating iPad look, the unlit haptic HVAC controls) and poorly designed headlights on the Mk8 with that 'eye-liner' look.
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Hi dear Thomas... Thanks a thousand time for doing it in english, that is top notch ;-) I can't catch a word in german even I'm from the east part of Belgium. Great review, lovely car to replace my Megane MK4 RS Trophy. Thanks for your time and quality content. Cheers.
Capacitive is so much better than physical buttons. Looks more sleek. I wish I would’ve waited. I went with the 24R since I thought they were going physical buttons
@@sebastianstoica578 yeah, but they released the GTI with the physical ones, so why take the step back with the R which is the top model in the lineup?
Who at VW is insisting on these touch buttons. The physical buttons on GTI 8.5 are so well received, why not the same on R? Seems Golf 7 will stay desirable for one more generation.
VW said they didn’t switch to physical buttons on the Golf R because of the R haptic button on the steering wheel which they would have to overhaul if they were to switch to physical buttons
Yep, ridiculous. Came here to confirm one way or another and now I'm disappointed. Same with the detestable piano black trim inside. GET RID OF THIS SHITE!!! Maybe they'll get it right for 2026. They are trying their hardest to dissuade me from buying one. It's working.
I appreciate that VW sittl makes the GTI and R for the USA market. I see cost cutting like no gas hood strut, the engine bay is not body colored, and other little things. If VW has to do these things to keep the price down without affecting reliability and performance I consider that a win. It just would be nice if VW would do these 2 things for the USA market. 1. Why oh why can't VW make a Water Pump gasket that won't leak? Seriously, don't you see how this affects your brand "Reliability" how hard can it be to make a water pump housing that won't leak after 40k miles? 2. Why only have DI fuel delivery? We have carbon issues on the intake valves here in the USA which is another expense where some have to have the intake valves media blasted at a cost of $800 some as early as 50k miles. Toyota has dual injection here in the USA so VW can't say its for emissions reasons, but rather a cost savings that is hurting VW's reputation for reliability and cost of ownership here in the USA. Other than that, Great Cars👍
I own a 2016 mk7 R and it looks way better than this. i got the gas hood strut, engine cover looks nicer and overall its just better looking. VW just getting greedier. this isnt about keeping price down since a golf R now base price is higher than it was for mine and yet you get less.
Thanks a lot for never leaving car enthusiasts waiting . No compromises here . The best reviewer is also the fastest to upload a video for a car making its debut 👍
The blue paint is awesome and so are the seats. The black edition is very cool (although I don't typically like black cars), but it will always look dirty. Overall, great car!
You know what I want in cars, a true individual mode, a mode that has an algorithm that learns about your driving style, adapts and tailors the cars response to your liking, to increase driving pleasure.
I took this over the 8R. I am not completely sold on the 8.5R just yet. Trying to justify the price hike. I may just wait a year or so and find a used one low miles CPO one owner. Paying msrp is ridiculous, imo. You can use the extra cash for mods :D
I really love the all new golf R and ordered one earlier today. Hope for it to be delivered in the beginning of October this year. Well done VW. Sold my old 7.5 Golf GTI performance a couple of years ago and really missed having it.
2024 golf R owner here, not much different in the 2025 by the looks of it. The larger middle screen is probably the only big difference but i prefer the previous screen setup that is in mine, the cockpit flows better with them lined up together facing the driver side slightly. The illuminated VW logo is another one but i can easily just buy an illuminated logo. As for the small engine upgrade, mechanically nothing has changed from 2024-2025 just a slight tune but its the same engine and same mechanically. Happy as a 2024 owner that the changes are minimum/not noticeable. That aside for anyone looking at a golf R as their next car they are an incredible daily driver fun and practical.
@@eal_ppl huh? Just a common reaction its nice to know the next model, 2025 is 99% the same as my 2024 cuz it would suck if you bought a new car and 6-8months later something 100% different came out, would make u want to trade it in lol and lose more money to upgrade. To give an example it would be like you had a 2004 ford mustang fox body and then to swap in 2005 to a S197 body style mustang. the visual difference between those is day and night.
@@DynamicAttraction I would prefer new. It's okay, if I already have prev. gen, but what's the point to buy old car, when there is new with aprox. same price?
the infotainment's been ''upgraded'' and that's it, no gas struts no electric tailgate, not even a badge on the engine cover, would it cost this much to make it a bit exclusive, this car is quite expensive
That’s one of things I’ve always mentioned when people ask me how I like my MK7 GTI. I’ve always mentioned the quality of the doors and trunk sounds. Everything has a high quality heft and solid thunk when opening and closing.
VW still cheaped out on the front brake calipers by not going for a fixed 4 piston but rather sticking with the single piston floating calipers. Also a prop rod to hold up the hood??? The Mk 7 had a single piston strut for the front. Clearly the accountants got the better of it by eliminating a $30 strut in favour of a $15 prop rod. The blue colour is awesome but I would take the Golf R Estate though
Thank you for the review as usually, this time I'm more personally interested because I have a Golf R Variant Mk 7 and the facelift version of the Mk 8 Variant will be my next car. Thank you for the information that the facelifted R also comes as a wagon because even my VW dealer wasn't sure if there would be an R Variant after the facelift. So, after your review I have definitely found my next car 😊.
VW (the second largest carmaker in the world) finally figured out how to make them without it catching fire. Still, no 40k car should come without struts. That was a Golf from 40 years ago.
I don't think weight saving is the goal. The clutch packs allows them to varies the amount of torque to each rear wheel, so they can use the rear to reduce understeer and do fun things like drift.
@@jenny80myles not what i'm asking, i know the function of clutch packs in LSDs. I ask about the removal of the spider gear. Most modern LSDs have the same clutch packs, but retain the spider gear. This is useful in normal, low power/speed turning where the spider gears act like an open diff, without unnecessary wear on the clutches
@@gumpert7611 You don't need the spider gear in a FWD platform because you don't need to maintain drive force in the rear and can just let them roll. Does that answer your question?
I just bought the 24 Elantra N in a similar shade of blue, I love my car but wow the exterior and interior improvements of this car, absolutely beautiful. I part of me wishes I would've waited, but then I'm reminded at this cost difference between them, the Elantra N offers a lot for what it is at $35K, This car top spec would be $50K. Perhaps it'll be my next one when I get bored of the EN or want to move up to something with better interior quality.
Hey, congrats on your '24 Elantra N! I currrently have my '16 Veloster Turbo and loved it for what it was. Mind you, I was coming from a 2014 GT-R!!! I'm sure you will have fun with the N, Hyundai has come a LONG way in this segment of tuner vehicles etc. At one point I did want a Veloster N, but a colleague of mine said to wait for the Mk. 8.5, and well, here I am.
Should be integrated into the dashboard, like on my RS3 8Y. They save a load of money in production by fitting that type of screen, Merc do it as well. I don't like them at all.
I love the S3. But I’ve really, really, loved my R. In part because it’s even more fun to drive than the 3, in my opinion. But also because the hatch is great to have. I use it all the time to haul things around. Especially plants - lol.
That 333 hp has me thinking how similar in weight and power this is to the legendary e46 m3. AWD and no manual option but should be great! Are the forged wheels on the lápiz blue the same weight as the forged wheels on the black edition? Or are the black edition wheels lighter?
Is this a review or just an extended infomercial? Apart from the comment on the lack of gas struts I can’t recall any actual opinions in this video, just reeling off the stats and changes VW have made.
We always present all pros and cons. Also that the Golf R is the only one still with capacitive bs buttons on the steering wheel. Not sure if you have watched full length but in every review we give the same pros and cons in the same fair and balanced way with all brands and vehicles
Still no estate here in the states because VW hates us it would seem. I'm not a big fan of the screen, it's just out there and needs to be integrated into the dash. I'm also bummed about the return of haptics. I'm also surprised that the diff is clutch packs in stead of ball/roller thrust. And is it just me or is there LESS rear passenger space in this one? Guess I'll keep my 7.5 GTi Autobahn for now. Much as I love the new hardware of this car, the haptic thing is a deal breaker for me. I miss when VW designed cars for the driver and safety including distractions from driving. I don't need an almost 200mph fidget spinner ffs.
Thomas, any updates on the sound system? I drove the Mark 8 for a week and was really disappointed at how bad music sounded. Hoping once again that they make the more comfortable fabric available for all markets.
Love my 2019 Mk7.5 R. This new facelifted Mk8.5, despite a lot of desirable updates, fails for me because a) no 3rd pedal option, b) ridiculously massive infotainment screen tacked onto the dash, c) STILL no volume control knob, no climate control dials/knobs, no steering wheel conventional controls (after returning to them on every other Golf, gimme a break), and other disappoinments bound to surface on the US-spec model. So yeah I'll continue to hang onto my '19, which suffers from none of these atrocities.
Just bought a golf R and kind of regret it already. Not the car, the car is great, just being the uk, there are cameras everywhere and police everywhere literally can’t enjoy the car at all. I’ve lived in Tenerife for long time and So fun driving out there. No point having a powerful car in England we are watched everywhere we go. Feel like selling already had it2 days.
@ You can drive up the mountains, great views, can get the most out of the car. On normal roads, I won’t go crazy, but I mean like 40 in a 30 isn’t Going to be a problem. Motor way is 70 limit equivalent but no one sticks to it.
I own the mk 7.5. When the mk 8 came out, there was nothing about that model to make me upgrade. In fact the mk 7.5 was a better looker out of all the R models. This one is tempting. But i can't see myself bying it fearing a costly one. Besides, mine runs 370hp. 👍😉
I would still prefer vw to produce scirocco mk4 over any golf but thats another topic. The car looks good on front but same old booring at the back. They could easly implement some shapes from scirocco mk3 to make it a bit more agresive and sexy. As for the features looks clean and modern but for that price i would think double before jumping on golf. That white led line im not sure how would fit in bodykit world but time will tell.
Surprised they didn't do push buttons on the steering wheel (I don't mind them but a lot of people don't like them). Shocked they put microfiber fabric on the seats!!
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This is our in-depth review of the 2025 VW Golf R facelift (Golf 8.5). We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience.
00:00 Golf R facelift
00:48 DCC suspension
01:10 Engine power upgrade
02:50 Forged wheels
03:20 New rear design
03:37 Akrapovic exhaust sound
04:32 Golf R Black Edition
05:34 Acceleration and top speed
06:20 Interior quality
06:40 Steering wheel
07:30 Sports seats
08:18 Cockpit and modes
10:07 Rear seats
11:01 Trunk / boot
11:28 Towing and Chat GPT
#VW #GolfR
I t needs to offer a manual transmission. Even if you had to pay 5000 extra for it, it would be worth it.
That's a perfect tone of blue.
Thomas blue?
Agree but still I rather Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally blue
Lapiz, Subaru and VW Monza are the best blues.
I have my arteon in that color. It’s absolutely stunning. Chips pretty easily unfortunately
BMW San Marino Blue
Data & facts:
VW Golf R facelift
New Front with air curtains and lights, illuminated VW logo front, LED plus standard, optional IQ Light matrix LED
18“ standard, optional 19“ or 19“ forged wheels (20 percent lighter)
DCC adaptive suspension standard depending on market, -20 mm
Still lower in price
Optional Abramovic exhaust for hatch
4,28 m 169“
4,63 m 182“ Variant
Black Edition with blacked out logos and performance pack
Performance Pack adds Special and Drift mode
2.0 l 4-cyl 333 hp (+13 hp) AWD with torque vectoring 7-DSG
4,6 Sek (Variant 4,8 Sek) 0-100 km/h (0,1 sec better each)
Up to vmax 270 km/h with performance pack (otherwise 250 km/h)
Engine startup with higher rev: Press start button for 1,5 Sek without brake pedal and then press brake pedal
10“ digital instruments with new views and acceleration timer
13“ Infotainment update
New steering wheel with bigger paddles and ergonomic form
Capacitve R button on steering wheel updated against unintentional press
Chat GPT integration
Sport seats with integrated head restraints fabric/microfibre
Real carbon fibre decor available
1,9 t towing
Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
Is it because the golf r was researched before the gti that it still has capacitive steering buttons? Only vw could make such a terrible decision 😢
@@AndreiAnastasescu Abramovic exhaust?😉
Can't wait to see what dealer markup will be on the Black Edition.. That Akrapovic exhaust won't make it Stateside like the earlier R variants. Unless it comes standard on the infamous black edition. I don't think creating a black edition is necessary. Meh. And to think the successor to the Golf R will be EV? 🤦
I actually gasped when you showed the black edition. I was not expecting that!
Because of how horrible black is? Can't keep it clean, can't see the design, can't see the wheels. Smart.
Black edition with the Akrapovich exhaust is solid
In Japan your autotubes are becoming popular day by day. We enjoy every time.
We send you videos from Europe. You send us Levorg STI in exchange! Thank you
This could go down in unintentional ASMR history.
Also those seats with the pattern and the blue highlights are 🔥🔥🔥
I don't usually like black cars but that Black Edition is pretty badass.
Stealthy.
A nightmare to keep them looking good though.
Thomas pumping out videos faster than i can shift. 😅
*than. "Than" and "then" similarly spelled words but completely different meanings. In this context, it is "than".
@@LordStaindI can tell what he means just fine.
@@LordStaind With the integration of technology, Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, et cetera, people are getting lazier and lazier (sadly, so is their vocabulary). While some think of the English language as evolving for the newer generations, others will beg to differ.
@LordStaind Well, english is (clearly) not my first language, so my apologies. I'll try better next time. :-)
Oh please. Tell me how many languages you can speak fluently without any errors.
I honestly love VW, in my country ( South Africa ) it's extremely popular. My dad owned VR6 MK3, MK4 Golf GTI, MK6 Golf GTI and R, MK7 GTI and R. He saved the MK4 for me and i love it, it has well over a Million kilometers, by now it has more lol. I can't wait to buy my own MK8 Golf !
I can't decide between a 2025 type R and this 2025 Golf R. My MK7 DCT Golf R was a 2015 and it got stolen almost 3 years ago.
But I really loved it.
I know that this mk8+ is a whole other beast.
And now that they've addressed the terrible infotainment in the 8 as well as addressed the capacitive buttons on the wheel being accidentally pushed, it makes me really want one.
However in the early 2000s I had an S2000, and I absolutely loved it. I loved the transmission, and I feel like the Type R would be a four-door, turbocharged, FWD version of the S2K.
I like the looks of both of them.. but I prefer the interior quality and luxury of the golf R.
I don't do any tracking, and this would be my daily. We have no snow, and perfect roads here in South Florida.... If I lived up north with snow and ice and bad roads, then obviously the golf R without a doubt.
But I already had a golf R for almost 5 years, even though it was a very different driving car in terms of dynamics and power, it's still not completely new to me.
Anyone have any thoughts??
Can't wait for the center stick-on screen era to end! They are the 50's tail fins of the 20's.
This is part of a short list of items that I really dislike about the Mk8.5 and why I ended up going for the 7.5R from my MkVII GTI. The total lack of buttons, not thought out UI (the floating iPad look, the unlit haptic HVAC controls) and poorly designed headlights on the Mk8 with that 'eye-liner' look.
Same with piano black and haptic controls instead of buttons, knobs and switches. Death to these design features.
amen brother!
This is the best channel for car reveals.
Thanks
I love your videos 🥹 they make me feel chill and happy
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love the black R
Said no one.
Hi dear Thomas... Thanks a thousand time for doing it in english, that is top notch ;-) I can't catch a word in german even I'm from the east part of Belgium. Great review, lovely car to replace my Megane MK4 RS Trophy. Thanks for your time and quality content. Cheers.
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Thomas, I'm definitely a fan of the Golf variant. That blue paint color looks amazing 😮
Same! ❤
But why not make the R with the real buttons, cmon! Capacitive buttons are such a shame (
Capacitive is so much better than physical buttons. Looks more sleek. I wish I would’ve waited. I went with the 24R since I thought they were going physical buttons
Cost cutting is always the answer.
@@sebastianstoica578 yeah, but they released the GTI with the physical ones, so why take the step back with the R which is the top model in the lineup?
@@vwmafia1360 Looks more sleek??? Who the hell wants to look at the buttons??? I want to press damn buttons
The capacitive touch on my Mk8 has been easy to use and a non issue for two years. Its sleek and stream lined.
Who at VW is insisting on these touch buttons. The physical buttons on GTI 8.5 are so well received, why not the same on R? Seems Golf 7 will stay desirable for one more generation.
VW said they didn’t switch to physical buttons on the Golf R because of the R haptic button on the steering wheel which they would have to overhaul if they were to switch to physical buttons
Yep, ridiculous. Came here to confirm one way or another and now I'm disappointed. Same with the detestable piano black trim inside. GET RID OF THIS SHITE!!! Maybe they'll get it right for 2026. They are trying their hardest to dissuade me from buying one. It's working.
@@OMGWTFLOLSMHthe piano black trim is almost standard in the VAG-cars nowadays… Don’t think they will change it to somethibg else anymore tbh
I appreciate that VW sittl makes the GTI and R for the USA market. I see cost cutting like no gas hood strut, the engine bay is not body colored, and other little things. If VW has to do these things to keep the price down without affecting reliability and performance I consider that a win. It just would be nice if VW would do these 2 things for the USA market. 1. Why oh why can't VW make a Water Pump gasket that won't leak? Seriously, don't you see how this affects your brand "Reliability" how hard can it be to make a water pump housing that won't leak after 40k miles? 2. Why only have DI fuel delivery? We have carbon issues on the intake valves here in the USA which is another expense where some have to have the intake valves media blasted at a cost of $800 some as early as 50k miles. Toyota has dual injection here in the USA so VW can't say its for emissions reasons, but rather a cost savings that is hurting VW's reputation for reliability and cost of ownership here in the USA. Other than that, Great Cars👍
I own a 2016 mk7 R and it looks way better than this. i got the gas hood strut, engine cover looks nicer and overall its just better looking. VW just getting greedier. this isnt about keeping price down since a golf R now base price is higher than it was for mine and yet you get less.
If they sold the Variant in the US I'd definitely buy one. What an exquisite car!
Absolutely...and the cloth seats, and the akrapovic exhaust option.
Thanks a lot for never leaving car enthusiasts waiting . No compromises here . The best reviewer is also the fastest to upload a video for a car making its debut 👍
Nice review, Thomas.
love your vids man
The blue paint is awesome and so are the seats. The black edition is very cool (although I don't typically like black cars), but it will always look dirty. Overall, great car!
Driving review soon!
You know what I want in cars, a true individual mode, a mode that has an algorithm that learns about your driving style, adapts and tailors the cars response to your liking, to increase driving pleasure.
The golf 7.5 r is still a good looking car
YES
So old
As an Mk7 owner I'll be the first one to tell you it's one of the designs of all time.
looks kinda outdated from the front. Rear looks good though
I took this over the 8R. I am not completely sold on the 8.5R just yet. Trying to justify the price hike. I may just wait a year or so and find a used one low miles CPO one owner. Paying msrp is ridiculous, imo. You can use the extra cash for mods :D
That black edition deserves a Batman beyond logo !
I really love the all new golf R and ordered one earlier today. Hope for it to be delivered in the beginning of October this year. Well done VW. Sold my old 7.5 Golf GTI performance a couple of years ago and really missed having it.
Enjoy 😊
What is it with embargos all dropping at the same time lately 😂 First X3 and E53 last week and today M5 and Golf R
yeah its totally crazy atm !
I'm loving it ❤
Aerodynamics 🤔
The black!! Wtf ❤❤😮 super good
An excelent,excelent review Thomas,congratulations; The car looks impressive ;I love it 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Thanks 🙏
2024 golf R owner here, not much different in the 2025 by the looks of it. The larger middle screen is probably the only big difference but i prefer the previous screen setup that is in mine, the cockpit flows better with them lined up together facing the driver side slightly. The illuminated VW logo is another one but i can easily just buy an illuminated logo. As for the small engine upgrade, mechanically nothing has changed from 2024-2025 just a slight tune but its the same engine and same mechanically. Happy as a 2024 owner that the changes are minimum/not noticeable.
That aside for anyone looking at a golf R as their next car they are an incredible daily driver fun and practical.
well, but why does it looks like you are trying to justify yourself?
@@eal_ppl huh? Just a common reaction its nice to know the next model, 2025 is 99% the same as my 2024 cuz it would suck if you bought a new car and 6-8months later something 100% different came out, would make u want to trade it in lol and lose more money to upgrade. To give an example it would be like you had a 2004 ford mustang fox body and then to swap in 2005 to a S197 body style mustang. the visual difference between those is day and night.
@@DynamicAttraction I would prefer new. It's okay, if I already have prev. gen, but what's the point to buy old car, when there is new with aprox. same price?
Wow this generation put the golf back on my wish list ❤❤❤ stunning look❤❤❤
Love the all black one when are theses available in the USA ??
the infotainment's been ''upgraded'' and that's it, no gas struts no electric tailgate, not even a badge on the engine cover, would it cost this much to make it a bit exclusive, this car is quite expensive
@@MrLoose26 I'm always surprised by the absence of gas struts in such relatively expensive cars. Insane
Who cares?? 😖
I guess that's why they're saying it'll be cheaper 😂 but yeah, engine bay looks cheap.
@@geronimooo260 Quite a few people it seems. It makes the car feel cheap. Not good.
Electric tailgate would just add unnecessary weight 😂😂 go get a soccer mom suv for that stuff
That’s one of things I’ve always mentioned when people ask me how I like my MK7 GTI. I’ve always mentioned the quality of the doors and trunk sounds. Everything has a high quality heft and solid thunk when opening and closing.
gti has physical button but golf r has touch button. Why...
Tuch button is perfect I have on my golf 8 gti it's just a matter of habit
@@almirmujkanovic2444 I had mk7.5 golf r. I love those physical buttons.
The R button. Too expensive for a bespoke mold for a low production vehicle.
Because they ordered a warehouse full of them. What else are the going to do with them?
@@TheRacingShawnoke with 7r look better but with 8 physical button is horrible
I clicked on the thumbnail because of the spectacular colour.
VW still cheaped out on the front brake calipers by not going for a fixed 4 piston but rather sticking with the single piston floating calipers. Also a prop rod to hold up the hood??? The Mk 7 had a single piston strut for the front. Clearly the accountants got the better of it by eliminating a $30 strut in favour of a $15 prop rod. The blue colour is awesome but I would take the Golf R Estate though
Even my friend's Renault Megane which costed 25k new had 2 gas struts under the hood
My MK6 gti has a piston strut
The design is really nice. Looks amazing!
That's a very nice Golf
Hallo Thomas, what does "Autogefühl" mean?
hey! Car feeling
Thank you for the review as usually, this time I'm more personally interested because I have a Golf R Variant Mk 7 and the facelift version of the Mk 8 Variant will be my next car. Thank you for the information that the facelifted R also comes as a wagon because even my VW dealer wasn't sure if there would be an R Variant after the facelift. So, after your review I have definitely found my next car 😊.
Looks fantastic
Hey, it comes with the engine cover now!!!!!!!
VW (the second largest carmaker in the world) finally figured out how to make them without it catching fire. Still, no 40k car should come without struts. That was a Golf from 40 years ago.
and no oil dipstick too apparently
Probably the most fascinating car that I have seen ever .❤
This looks amazing! Thank god VW saved the Golf with the release of the facelift. Might trade on my 7R for this guy. Black Edition all the way!
I'm glad I've waited, hoping for an Mk8.5. It's better than I hoped so I'll be calling my guy to get money on an allocation ASAP LOL
I'm also trying for an allocation, good luck to you 👊
so they removed the spider gear from the rear LSD? is there a benefit to doing that besides a negligible weight saving?
I don't think weight saving is the goal. The clutch packs allows them to varies the amount of torque to each rear wheel, so they can use the rear to reduce understeer and do fun things like drift.
@@jenny80myles not what i'm asking, i know the function of clutch packs in LSDs. I ask about the removal of the spider gear. Most modern LSDs have the same clutch packs, but retain the spider gear. This is useful in normal, low power/speed turning where the spider gears act like an open diff, without unnecessary wear on the clutches
@@gumpert7611 You don't need the spider gear in a FWD platform because you don't need to maintain drive force in the rear and can just let them roll. Does that answer your question?
@@jenny80myles ah yes that makes sense. thanks
Ordered one yesterday but unfortunately the option diamond cut wheels are not available, black ones are though, any idea why ?
Question, do you know where I can find further details on USA specs and arrival details?
That would be Volkswagen USA website and your local dealer
I just bought the 24 Elantra N in a similar shade of blue, I love my car but wow the exterior and interior improvements of this car, absolutely beautiful. I part of me wishes I would've waited, but then I'm reminded at this cost difference between them, the Elantra N offers a lot for what it is at $35K, This car top spec would be $50K. Perhaps it'll be my next one when I get bored of the EN or want to move up to something with better interior quality.
Hey, congrats on your '24 Elantra N! I currrently have my '16 Veloster Turbo and loved it for what it was. Mind you, I was coming from a 2014 GT-R!!! I'm sure you will have fun with the N, Hyundai has come a LONG way in this segment of tuner vehicles etc. At one point I did want a Veloster N, but a colleague of mine said to wait for the Mk. 8.5, and well, here I am.
was the elantra on stop sale for the transmission when u bought it? u might be able to get a rebate. the integra type s the one to get
Black one is nice but the car in that blue looks amazing
When the ipad blocks some vision of the windscreen you know it's too large and intrusive. An option for an 8inch would be appreciated.
or retractable screen would be nice. But one less thing to worry about breaking I guess. Though the ipad is quite obnoxious.
Should be integrated into the dashboard, like on my RS3 8Y. They save a load of money in production by fitting that type of screen, Merc do it as well. I don't like them at all.
I will never buy a car with a stuck on screen, must be integrated into the dash and have some buttons.
I’m not sure about the wheels. Thinking I like the preface lift better
Personally I think the wheels look better than the Pretorias. Not as nice as the Estorils tough.
Piano black plastic on the leading edge of a car. On what planet is that a good idea?
Choices choices as an Audi man should I go for the S3 or Golf R??
Golf R 100%
Golf R.
I love the S3. But I’ve really, really, loved my R. In part because it’s even more fun to drive than the 3, in my opinion. But also because the hatch is great to have. I use it all the time to haul things around. Especially plants - lol.
S3 saloon.
Unless you want physical buttons and climate controls get the Golf R.
Excellent video. Thank you. Just curious, how much does the car weigh?
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
1548 kg
That 333 hp has me thinking how similar in weight and power this is to the legendary e46 m3. AWD and no manual option but should be great!
Are the forged wheels on the lápiz blue the same weight as the forged wheels on the black edition? Or are the black edition wheels lighter?
Damn, that black edition looks sick :D Formentor need black or tribe edition but also with black headlights :) dunno how much will estate cost.
One thing I like about the Golf R it’s faster than the MINI Countryman by far now.
Sorry..you have to option the matrix light.s in n a R?? Love VW but that's ridiculous
Pretty wheels! 😮
Beautiful! 🚗
The Black version is wonderful! Can’t wait for your driving video. But NO manual 😂
Is the middle of the Black Edition different from the standard model?
Is this a review or just an extended infomercial? Apart from the comment on the lack of gas struts I can’t recall any actual opinions in this video, just reeling off the stats and changes VW have made.
We always present all pros and cons. Also that the Golf R is the only one still with capacitive bs buttons on the steering wheel. Not sure if you have watched full length but in every review we give the same pros and cons in the same fair and balanced way with all brands and vehicles
Still no estate here in the states because VW hates us it would seem. I'm not a big fan of the screen, it's just out there and needs to be integrated into the dash. I'm also bummed about the return of haptics. I'm also surprised that the diff is clutch packs in stead of ball/roller thrust.
And is it just me or is there LESS rear passenger space in this one?
Guess I'll keep my 7.5 GTi Autobahn for now. Much as I love the new hardware of this car, the haptic thing is a deal breaker for me. I miss when VW designed cars for the driver and safety including distractions from driving. I don't need an almost 200mph fidget spinner ffs.
The very Best vw!
Big screen, not fond of it… tiny shift handle, not fond of it. Fabric seats, it’s ok… the rest, I love it!!
Thomas, any updates on the sound system? I drove the Mark 8 for a week and was really disappointed at how bad music sounded. Hoping once again that they make the more comfortable fabric available for all markets.
nothing special indeed m8
I really hope we get those seats in the US
Can you deactivate/chatgpt in the car? I was all in until that part.
Liking it already!
Looks amazing!
Wow 👀 they outdid themselves
No manual transmission?
I don't fucking understand this. You already did the plastic molding for the buttons with the GTI... just share it with the Golf R?!
To create variation between models?
But yeah… capasitive ”buttons” are bad…
Have you tried the haptic buttons? I wasn’t a big fan of them either but after trying them they’re really not that bad plus they look sleeker imo
Love my 2019 Mk7.5 R. This new facelifted Mk8.5, despite a lot of desirable updates, fails for me because a) no 3rd pedal option, b) ridiculously massive infotainment screen tacked onto the dash, c) STILL no volume control knob, no climate control dials/knobs, no steering wheel conventional controls (after returning to them on every other Golf, gimme a break), and other disappoinments bound to surface on the US-spec model. So yeah I'll continue to hang onto my '19, which suffers from none of these atrocities.
Thanks for the feedback!
Black edition looks dope😮
I think it looks rather good and not all dopey as you suggest.
Interested in the price point for the black edition. Thinking dealer markup will be premium.
Just bought a golf R and kind of regret it already. Not the car, the car is great, just being the uk, there are cameras everywhere and police everywhere literally can’t enjoy the car at all. I’ve lived in Tenerife for long time and
So fun driving out there.
No point having a powerful car in England we are watched everywhere we go. Feel like selling already had it2 days.
do they control speed in Tenerife or not so much?
@ got one speed camera in the south by the airport that’s it
@ You can drive up the mountains, great views, can get the most out of the car. On normal roads, I won’t go crazy, but I mean like 40 in a 30 isn’t
Going to be a problem. Motor way is 70 limit equivalent but no one sticks to it.
Gotcha!
Beautiful car ❤
I thought VW moved on from having the ACC radar exposed like that.
I feel like having it exposed makes it more prone to getting damaged
It’s also really ugly.
@@cleevensjoseph exactly.
i love the wheels and the entire car in general 😊
So many small but great changes make this 8.5 much better than the previous.
Mir gefällt der Wagen ausgesprochen gut 💙💙
I own the mk 7.5. When the mk 8 came out, there was nothing about that model to make me upgrade. In fact the mk 7.5 was a better looker out of all the R models. This one is tempting. But i can't see myself bying it fearing a costly one. Besides, mine runs 370hp. 👍😉
When is it touching down in South Africa?
beautiful wheels
I would still prefer vw to produce scirocco mk4 over any golf but thats another topic. The car looks good on front but same old booring at the back. They could easly implement some shapes from scirocco mk3 to make it a bit more agresive and sexy. As for the features looks clean and modern but for that price i would think double before jumping on golf. That white led line im not sure how would fit in bodykit world but time will tell.
Wonder when will see them at VW dealerships in USA
Does the 2025 gti clubsport have head up display?
ua-cam.com/video/EJL-pqodaJA/v-deo.html
Yes they will take my money thank you!!!
Black! Perfect
nice, just still too conservative with ride heights could be at least 15mm lower
Look forward to buying one on the used market in about 10 years 😂
Oh, yeah. I'm glad I waited. Of COURSE their will be nit-pickers, but I will be buying one this year or next.
Surprised they didn't do push buttons on the steering wheel (I don't mind them but a lot of people don't like them). Shocked they put microfiber fabric on the seats!!