Volkswagen Golf R

Design & Quality

The sportiness of the Golf R is visible inside the cabin quite clearly, as there are elements of tech and driver focus. There is this all-new 12.9-inch touchscreen with MIB4 software and ChatGPT-integrated voice control, something you won’t find in any other car, but will follow soon. The touchscreen is integrated with a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro, which certainly enhances your overall user interface and access to the car.

The Premium materials like Vienna leather, tartan plaid seats (scream GTI heritage), and blue stitching are indicators that make its superbly sporty yet upscale feel. The soft-touch plastics and aluminium accents lift the quality to an altogether new level, but some lower plastics feel budget-conscious. The cabin gets a big elevation by the 30-colour ambient lighting and a black headliner, and the modernness and durability speak for themselves, and you can be assured of long life even in KSA’s operating conditions, including the heat. What also makes it an innate and premium model is the driver-centric dashboard and flat-bottom steering wheel with physical buttons.

Front Seat

The front bucket seats are a great comfort for this sporty hatch, with 8-way power adjustments (Luxury) or manual adjustments (STD) with lumbar support and heating/ventilation. You feel how they are wrapped in leather with tartan inserts, with superb grip during cornering, yet you feel their comfort on long drives. The height-adjustable driver’s seat and tilt/telescopic steering further provide a perfect driving position, no matter the kind of terrain or road condition you’re dealing with.

Electronic Parking Brake

An electronic parking brake with hill-start assist at the centre console is one minor but useful feature, especially during parking in tight spots or on inclines. It pairs with Hill Descent Control (optional) for off-road confidence, but keep in mind Golf R’s low clearance doesn’t permit off-roading, other than some limits.

Rear Seat

Even though this is a hatch with some constraint on space, surprisingly enough, the rear bench seems to have a lot of space, with enough legroom and headroom for two adults or three kids. Rear AC vents, USB-C ports, and a centre armrest are here to take care of passengers’ comfort and convenience, especially if you’re driving for a few hours. The floor hump slightly cramps the middle seat, but fold-flat seats expand cargo space, and so families will find it quite useful for their long road trips.

AC Vents

One thing is quite clear,  the standard dual-zone climate control with rear vents cools the cabin fast in as high as 45°C KSA heat, with voice-activated controls via the touchscreen.

Storage Options

Even though a small car, relatively, the Golf R is practical, with a cooled glovebox, door pockets for 1L bottles, a centre console bin, and a rear armrest compartment. There are multiple storage nooks that make it easy to stow essentials for daily commutes or weekend getaways.

Armrest

Front and rear padded armrests with cupholders are super cool and also provide great comfort and convenience. The front armrest can be used as a storage bin, while the rear armrest keeps passengers relaxed on long drives, something families will love, and a practical and thoughtful touch.

Charging Options

To make sure you stay connected, something highly critical these days, there are multiple USB-C ports, a 12V socket, and an optional wireless charging pad. Rear USB-C ports, something the passenger just loves, and take devices stay powered on road trips to Al Khobar.

Boot Space

Like any compact hatch, the boot wouldn’t be much to boast about, understandably so, and yet the Golf R’s 341L of space is actually quite good enough, no matter if you carry grocery, gym bags, or weekend gear. And, if you choose to fold it, for those occasional needs of space, it goes as big as 1,237L, again, not bad either. Then there is a cargo management system, which basically keeps the items secure, and the power tailgate provides greater convenience.

• 7 airbags (driver, passenger, side, curtain, center)
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

• Lane Keep Assist, Blind-Spot Monitoring

• Automatic Emergency Braking

• 360-degree camera

• Front and rear parking sensors
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Hill-Start Assist
• Traffic Sign Recognition 

The Golf R’s exterior is a head-turner, blending bold styling with shiny, glowing touches. At 4,290 mm long, 1,789 mm wide, and 1,458 mm tall, with a 2,631 mm wheelbase, it appears compact because it is, but what you also see is a highly capable and muscular hatch, unmistakably.

The 126 mm ground clearance and lowered suspension points towards its signature sporty handling, superb for KSA’s smooth highways and twisty mountain roads, if that's where you wish to take this little hatch. With a 20 mm lower ride height than standard Golfs and aerodynamic tweaks, it indicates its performance persona without compromising the practicality as a daily driver.

Front

The Golf R’s front end is bold and fierce, and the blacked-out honeycomb grille with iconic “R” badge and a red accent stripe, coupled with stylish matrix LED headlights, gives you an impression of a car that has matured quite remarkably. The lower bumper’s large air intake and optional LED fog lamps give cooling for the turbo engine while improving the overall menacing look. The highly visible VW logo looks stunning with contemporary touches that make it highly desirable. With the latest changes made by VW, the facelift version of the Golf R is now a lot sharper from the front with the grille, in addition to the matrix LED headlights, and bold colours like Lapiz Blue.

Side

From the side, the Golf R’s low-slung profile and sporty stance are real differentiators. The selection of the right size tires, alloy wheels paired with red brake callipers, gives it a perfect side look that also indicates greater performance angles. The chrome window surrounds, body-colored mirrors with turn signals, and subtle “R” badges underline its hot hatch characteristics.

Alloy Wheels

The Golf R is offered with standard 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels with low-profile tires, which are known for superb grip for fun drives. These wheels are aggressive and perform remarkably, no matter whether carving corners or cruising on city roads.

Rear

The rear is nothing but pure performance, with smoked LED taillights which has that animated welcome graphics that make you take note when unlocking. A shiny black diffuser, quad exhaust tips (optional Akrapovič titanium exhaust), and a roof spoiler elevate its sporty vibe. The “R” badge and VW logo are the signature additions that complete the look, and while a rear wiper keeps visibility clear in KSA’s dusty or rainy conditions. It is undoubtedly the design that exudes speed and style.

Colors

You have two colours to pick from: Golf R Lapiz Blue and Pure Black.

City Performance

If you choose this strong hatch, you’re in for a fun and delightful city drive. Apart from many key attributes, the Golf R is without a doubt a city car for most past, be it its compact size, sharp body language and driving dynamics pointing exactly towards its city characteristics. With a 333-hp engine and 7-speed DSG at your disposal, with quick, smooth acceleration, means you’re on for a pleasure ride every single time, for work or daily commute. You also get equally great support from the 4MOTION AWD with superior grip on slippery roads, and not to mention the 360-degree camera for ease of parking in tight spots. Last, but certainly not the least, is the mileage, which this hatch promises a lot, between 13/4 km/l, again depending on driving, but the number does make it a perfect city car that also has loaded performance attributes, rather a unique combination to possess for any car. 

Highway Performance

On highways, nothing to feel less equipped, though, simply because the same city attributes make it a well-loaded city drive. It won’t be an overstatement to say the Golf R is a beast on KSA’s open highways, with 420 Nm of torque, it does 4.6-second 0-100 km/h, and if you wish to overtake, no problem, it is just simply without effort. The drive modes like Sport and Race are here to provide faster throttle response, while Comfort mode smooths out long drives. You also get help from the adaptive cruise control during long stretches of highway, and it significantly reduces your fatigue. So, yes, the Gold Rush is a great highway driver as well.

Ride and Handling

This hatch unquestionably when it comes to its ride quality or handling, and why so? Well, there are key aspects like the adaptive chassis control, multi-link rear suspension, and 4MOTION AWD all altogether offer brilliant handling. The torque vectoring and a limited-slip differential help in superb cornering grip, which enables twisty roads to be an absolute pleasure. The Drift mode provides playful rear bias for controlled slides, something enthusiasts love. The ride is quite firm but not harsh, takes on all the tough parts/bumps, potholes that the road throws at it, and you stay cool, relaxed and comfortable in the cabin. So, to summarise the little hatch, it is a thrill machine that has enough comfort for a daily commute.

• 12.9-inch touchscreen with MIB4 software, ChatGPT voice assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto

• 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro

• 19-inch Estoril or Warmenau alloy wheels

• Vienna leather seats with tartan plaid

• Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
• Harman Kardon 8-speaker audio (optional)

• Keyless entry, push-button start
• Panoramic sunroof (optional)
• Drive modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Race, Drift, Individual)
• 360-degree camera
• Ambient lighting with 30 colors
• Power-folding mirrors
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Akrapovič titanium exhaust (optional)

There is a single variant on sale of this hatch in KSA right now. with an optional Black Edition package:

Golf R STD

• Price: Approximate: SAR 262,000
• Features: 2.0L turbo (333 hp), 7-speed DSG, 4MOTION AWD, 19-inch Estoril wheels, 12.9-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital display, Vienna leather, 7 airbags, drive modes (including Drift), 360-degree camera.
• Known for: A Combination of performance lovers, looking for a premium hot but extremely capable hatch.
• Black Edition Package: Adds blacked-out trim, Warmenau forged wheels, Akrapovič exhaust, and darkened headlights for a stunning look.

It is quite apparent that the Golf R is an exhilarating mix of performance and everyday practicality, with Volkswagen giving this hatch a much needed modern touch, this indeed cements its position among adventure drivers and enthusiasts across Saudi Arabia. There is a lot we already considered, including price, spacious cabin, punchy engine, sleek exterior and great capabilities. The Golf R handles perfectly in the city and is fun on the highway, the responsive steering and smooth power, which points towards sporty without being overwhelming, so families appreciate the comfort and practicality, while younger professionals enjoy the sporty flair and tech perks. Overall, the Golf R strikes a perfect balance: exciting to drive yet easy to live with. And that is exactly what makes it to the top a top pick for Saudi buyers seeking that fun, fast, and functional ride.

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