2008 Volkswagen R32 - Car And Driver

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MARY SEELHORST

If the Volkswagen GTI is a loud-mouthed defensive back—a tightly wound little hotshot that has to make a show of all its moves—then the R32 is VW's all-pro linebacker—more reserved, not quite as agile, but packing more muscle and waiting to send you home feeling foggy just the same.

While Europeans have been enjoying the R32 for two years now, here in the U.S. we've only had the GTI as our top-performing Golf (call it Rabbit if you must). Making its U.S. debut at the Chicago Auto Show, the R32 is nearly identical to the GTI from the outside, but inside and underneath they are as different as cops and robbers. Whereas the GTI is a trim, single-minded screamer, the R32 takes a more indulgent approach to speed. A lush leather interior and all-wheel drive lend the R32 a truly luxurious feel and instill in the chassis a greater confidence on dicey roads, but add weight, over 300 pounds compared to a GTI. However, it's nothing a little more motor can't take care of. Instead of the GTI's 200-hp turbo four-cylinder, the R32 gets Volkswagen's 3.2-liter narrow-angle V-6, good for 250 horsepower and 236 lb-ft, same as found in the Audi A3 3.2. Coupled to a six-speed DSG, it should shuffle the R32 to sixty in less than six seconds.

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Such acceleration won't threaten the Evos and STIs of the world, but the R32 is much less of a boy racer than those rally-derived machines. We've already driven a Euro-spec R32 and were very pleased. It delivers its power smoothly and consistently without the vagaries of turbo lag. And its interior would do justice to a proper luxury car, with supremely comfortable leather sport seats, padded leather door panels, soft materials wherever your elbows touch, and a plush finish overall. Conveniences such as automatic climate control, a sophisticated sound system, and bixenon headlights are standard. The car we drove was also equipped with the optional navigation system. Think of the R32 as a powerful luxury sedan in econo-hatch clothing.

Csaba CsereContributing Editor

Csaba Csere joined Car and Driver in 1980 and never really left. After serving as Technical Editor and Director, he was Editor-in-Chief from 1993 until his retirement from active duty in 2008. He continues to dabble in automotive journalism and WRL racing, as well as ministering to his 1965 Jaguar E-type, 2017 Porsche 911, 2009 Mercedes SL550, 2013 Porsche Cayenne S, and four motorcycles—when not skiing or hiking near his home in Colorado.

Jared GallContributing Editor

Jared Gall started his career with Car and Driver as an unpaid intern, but has now worked here more than half of his life. He has held numerous positions within C/D's digital and print teams and has driven some 2500 cars. Employee records indicate that he is the only staffer ever to T-bone a school bus with another school bus.

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