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Volkswagen Golf R32: The ultimate hot hatch

The Volkswagen Golf R32 is one of the ultimate hot hatches – and it has room for your shopping

07 August 2008

With 240bhp, four-wheel-drive and a top speed of more than 150mph, the Volkswagen Golf R32 is one of the ultimate hot hatches – and it has room for your shopping.

As details of the all-new Volkswagen Golf MkVI are announced, Andy Goodwin looks at the Golf R32’s car history.

View our Volkswagen Golf R32 slide show

The humble hatchback was designed to be practical, easy to manufacture and economical to drive.

And then, back in the 1970s, a group of after-hours Volkswagen mechanics decided to fit a powerful engine in the Mk1 Golf and tweak its suspension, turning it into a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The hot hatch was born – the Mk1 Golf GTi had scintillating performance which could nip at the heels of the more traditional sports cars of the day – and all for a fraction of their price.

Volkswagen MkIV Golf R32

If the Mk1 Golf GTi brought the world the moniker ‘hot hatch’, the MkIV Golf R32 should be known as the ‘super hatch’ – it was the most powerful Golf ever.

Sitting under the bonnet of the R32 was a 3.2-litre V6 engine developing 240bhp – making it more than twice as powerful as the Mk1 Golf GTi.

As a result, it sprinted from 0-60mph in just 6.3 seconds and to a top speed of 153mph, with massive grip thanks to its advanced four-wheel-drive system.

The suspension was lowered and firmed up and beautiful 18-inch ‘Aristo’ alloy wheels fit perfectly into its wheelarches, giving the Golf such a planted stance it looked like it would be unmoved by a passing tornado.

To give the driver increased feedback, the steering and throttle were more reactive and a tuned exhaust provides a rousing soundtrack - arguably the most exotic ever heard in a hatchback.

Step inside and the big bucket seats with wide shoulder supports further distance the R32 from its rivals in the local car park.

And yet, the Golf R32 is still just as practical, with just as much cabin and boot space – albeit a greater thirst for petrol, averaging around 24.6mpg.

Only 750 official right-hand-drive cars were brought to the UK, so it’s a rare car and its exclusivity is ensured, which keeps prices and desirability high.

It also found itself in a niche, being less hardcore than the Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru Impreza WRX STi, but easier to drive and more luxurious.

Check out this brilliant promo video of the MkIV Volkswagen Golf R32:

Volkswagen MkV Golf R32

When the all-new MkV Volkswagen Golf was introduced to rave reviews, fans of the V6 engine only had a year to wait for a range-topping R32 variant.

With more advanced underpinnings and suspension than the previous model, it was expected to handle even better, and it didn’t disappoint.

Despite its subtle looks the MkV R32 Golf has an abundance of grip and poise on twisty roads.

Thanks to an upgraded four-wheel-drive system and electronic stability control it was even more assured on wet and greasy roads, with no nasty surprises from its chassis.

It also got massive 345mm front disc brakes, providing plenty of stopping power and little sign of fade.

Inside, the fit and finish is incredible for a £24k car, with trim and materials which feel far better than some found in exotic supercars.

Hugging seats clamp you in place behind a racing-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel, and with Volkswagen’s optional DSG semi-automatic gearbox fitted you really will feel like a touring car driver.

Operated by steering wheel paddles, it uses twin clutches to shift seamlessly between gears, improving acceleration and fuel economy.

Like the original Golf R32 it sounds absolutely sublime - quiet at a cruise, but then reaching a cacophony of cultured exhaust noise at high revs and popping on the overrun as you lift off the throttle.

You can still get your hands on one too, the MarkV Golf R32 being a full volume production model rather than a limited edition.

With prices starting at £23,745 it’s undeniably a lot of car for the money, and used examples hold their value well thanks to high demand.

View our Volkswagen Golf R32 slide show

The Future

The MkVI Volkswagen Golf is due in January 2009 and the model range is yet to be confirmed, but, initial reports and speculation suggest it will be a sad launch for fans of the Golf R32.

The 3.2-litre V6 engine at its heart is an ageing design, and even with updates to its configuration it looks unlikely to meet ever-tighter European emissions legislation in the long term.

So, the future of this engine is uncertain, along with the R32 badge - but a ‘super hatch’ version of the MkVI Golf is still a possibility.

Using a tuned version of Volkswagen’s 2-litre, turbocharged engine with more than 260bhp and four-wheel-drive the new high-performance Golf could achieve greater acceleration, while emitting less carbon dioxide and achieving better fuel economy.

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