Can the new Golf R face off against its toughest rivals in a drag race and win? Well, the tough competition from Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW may have something to say the opposite. The luxury hot hatch market has exploded in the past two years and, thanks to increased competition, vehicles are improving every year. So how does the new Golf R compare?
The 2021 Mk8 Golf R is a familiar formula that includes a 2.0 turbo engine inline 4 coupled to a manual or automatic transmission that sends power to the ground through a four-wheel drive system. The 2.0-liter engine of the 2021 Mk8 Golf R produces a respectable 320 horsepower (238 kilowatts) and (420 Newton meters) of torque. With a speed from 0 to 60 mph of just over four seconds, the Mk8 Golf R is a true hot hatch.
To challenge the Golf R, we have the Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG, which carries the well-known performance name Mercedes-AMG and moves it down the market to an affordable hot hatch. The A35 AMG has less power than the A45 AMG and also dispenses with exclusive hand-built engines, synonymous with Mercedes-AMG performance products. The 2.0-liter in-line 4 produces 302 horsepower (225 kilowatts) and 295 lb-ft (400 Newton Meters) of torque.
The BMW M135i is a radical departure from the familiar rear-wheel drive performance cars for which BMW is known and instead gains brand value through a platform shared with MINI. The four-wheel drive M135i follows exactly the same configuration as all vehicles here, using a 2.0-liter in-line 4 turbocharged engine that produces 302 horsepower (225 kilowatts) and 450 Newton-meters (332 pound-feet) of torque. This power is distributed by an 8-speed automatic transmission and sent to the ground through a four-wheel drive configuration.
Finally, we have the Audi S3 which is very similar to the Mk8 Golf R. It features a 310 horsepower (231 Kilowatt) version of the engine found on the Golf R and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Audi S3 uses Quattro four-wheel drive, which helps to differentiate it from its more accessible VW cousin.
In this battle of almost identical spec sheets, which hot hatch will reign supreme?