2023 Volkswagen Golf R

2023 Volkswagen Golf R parked in roof top parking lot

The 2023 Golf R

An unmatched hatch

2023 Volkswagen Golf R

2023 Golf R

Acceleration: 100km/h in 4.7 seconds*

*Please drive safely and obey all local traffic laws, including speed limits.

Horsepower & Torque: 315HP & 295 lb-ft

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual or 7-Speed DSG®

Limited Edition: 20th Anniversary Special Edition

Highlights
Blue 2023 Volkswagen Golf R parked near mountain look out
A wolf in sheep’s clothing

Don’t be fooled by its refined exterior. Golf R is the purest expression of what a German engineered hot hatch should be: precision and performance, all in perfect balance.

Blue 2023 Volkswagen Golf R driving around bend on mountain side road
Top-notch tech

Head-Up Display (HUD) helps keep your eyes focused on the road, and 4MOTION All-Wheel Drive with Torque Vectoring helps keep your tires glued to the track.

2023 Volkswagen Golf R black leather interior with blue accents
Interio-R design

From premium front sport seats with built-in head restraints, to a standard heated sport steering wheel, Golf R is designed to perform inside and out.

Design and Comfort

Aggressively refined

Exterior – Front

A strong impression

The Golf R sports an aggressive front end featuring large air intakes and a newly designed radiator grille with signature blue R accents connecting updated LED headlights. Matte chrome mirror caps, a signature R design element, also make their return.

Exterior – Rear

Form and function

The rocker panel extensions complement the bespoke R rear bumper with quad exhaust outlets, topped off with a two-piece rear spoiler for greater downforce. Those in the know, will know.

Wheels

How we roll

Named after one of the world’s great racing circuits in Portugal, the “Estoril” 19” wheels on the new Golf R come wrapped in high-performance summer tires.

Brakes

Stopping Power

The new braking system in the Golf R stands out with blue calipers clamping down on 357 mm front rotors, 27 mm larger than before and now cross-drilled for better fade resistance. A new lightweight aluminum hub reduces unsprung mass by 600g per front corner of the vehicle.

To help ensure driver confidence under braking, Golf R features a larger brake master cylinder for crisp and linear response to even small pedal inputs.

Exterior Ambient Lighting

Light the way

When you approach your Golf R with your key fob, you’ll be guided to the driver’s seat with light projections from the headlights, taillights, door handles, and side mirrors.

Sport Exhaust

Fearsome foursome

The rear bumper in the Golf R incorporates a striking gloss black diffuser. It’s framed at the sides by a chrome-plated quad exhaust system for maximum airflow.

Aerodynamics

Lower, longer, sportier

This fifth generation Golf R is more aerodynamic than its predecessors. The two-piece rear spoiler doesn’t just look sporty, it also creates downforce over the rear axle for improved road-holding.

Technology and Convenience

Advanced and enhanced

2023 Volkswagen Golf R black leather interior driver seat and steering wheel
Interior

Sporty on the inside

The interior of the new Golf R welcomes you with a level of sporty comfort that you can both see and feel. The driver and front passenger sit in premium sport seats with built-in head restraints and R-style design. For the first time, the configurable Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster brings together all sporty displays and controls into one special R-view tailored specifically to the Golf R. The ergonomically-contoured, multi-function steering wheel features perforated inserts, a flat bottom, larger shift paddles, and R button that puts the Race profile a touch of a button away.*

*Please drive safely and obey all local traffic laws, including speed limits.

Digital cockpit pro displayed in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
Digital Cockpit Pro

Innovation at your fingertips

The Digital Cockpit Pro allows you to customize the look and feel of your Golf R more intuitively and in greater detail. Not only do you get the benefits of the traditional Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, but you can display a full-screen map in the digital cluster and simultaneously on the 10” centre display. The unique R display mode changes the layout of the instruments and puts a horizontal rev counter at the top of the cluster where it’s always easy to see.

Steering Wheel Controls in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
Sport Steering Wheel

Take the wheel

Choose your path with R’s classic sport steering wheel, now heated as standard. A novel new touch control interface incorporates haptic feedback, allowing the driver to easily access various navigation, audio, and driver assistance features. Ergonomically-contoured, the wheel features perforated inserts, a flat bottom, an R blue clasp at the 6 o’clock position, and larger shift paddles for DSG®-equipped models.

Leather front seats with blue accents in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
Integrated Headrests

R-sport seats

Discover a world of power and comfort in the Golf R. Both driver and front passenger ride in style, thanks to premium sport seats with integrated headrests. The Nappa leather seating surfaces feature carbon-look elements with blue accents on the side sections, as well as a blue R logo in the backrest.

Leather dashboard and steering wheel in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
Head-Up Display (HUD)

Tech at a glance

The standard Head-Up Display (HUD) in the R puts all the most important information right in front of you to help keep your eyes fixed on the road ahead. When enabled, part of the windshield becomes a projection surface to display speed, navigation instructions, and information from various driver assistance systems.

Center console in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
harman / kardon®

Premium audio

The harman / kardon® audio system available in the Golf R provides the perfect musical backdrop to any journey. Get the right balance with 8 speakers, a subwoofer, a centre speaker, and a 12-channel amplifier.

Person using car net app on smartphone while standing in front of Volkswagen vehicle
Car-Net®

Connected convenience

Enjoy the peace of mind and convenience that comes with the Car-Net® app, and it’s suite of over 20 connected features.

You can even set boundary and speed alerts to let you know what’s happening when you’re not the one behind the wheel.

Legal: Requires compatible mobile device running iOS 12, Android 8, or higher, with cellular service. Access to the desktop web portal requires a compatible internet browser. Microsoft Internet Explorer is not supported.

IQ DRIVE and Driver Assistance

IQ.DRIVE

An intelligent suite of active safety and driver assistance features* designed to keep you and everyone around you, protected. Features include:

  • Travel Assist (Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Assist and Emergency Assist)
  • Side Assist (Blind spot monitor with Rear Traffic Alert)
  • Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring

Driver Assistance

Convenient, cutting-edge tech designed to enhance your driving experience. Featured include:

  • Park Distance Control (front and rear)
  • Park Assist
  • Light Assist
  • Dynamic Road Sign Display
Learn More about IQ.Drive & Driver Assistance

Legal: *Fuel consumption figures are estimates based on Natural Resources Canada’s approved criteria and testing methods. Refer to the EnerGuide 2023 for Natural Resources Canada’s estimated fuel consumption figures. Actual fuel consumption will vary based on driving conditions, driver habits and the vehicle’s condition, weight carried and additional equipment.

Volkswagen IQ Drive
Manual transmission leather gear shift in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
#savethemanuals

The Golf R comes available with a North American-exclusive 6-speed manual gearbox for drivers who want that classic feeling.

Wireless charging pad and infotainment display in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
Charging and wireless connectivity

Even connectivity is fast in the 2023 Golf R, with Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.*

*Please do not drive distracted

Leather front seats with blue accents in 2023 Volkswagen Golf R
Comfort

Share the warmth with heated rear seats and a third Climatronic zone for rear passengers.

20 Years of R

For R fans only

This is a limited edition Golf R two decades in the making, featuring exclusive “20 Years” badging on the mirrors and at the base of the doors. Only true Golf R fans need apply.

Blue R Logos

Unmistakably R

Blue R logos adorn this 20th Anniversary Special Edition Golf R from tip to tail. From the front grille, to the rear hatch, to the key fobs and steering wheel clips, this Golf R drips with limited edition style.

19” Estoril Wheels

Above the rim

This 20th Anniversary Special Edition Golf R features a set of equally exclusive rims to boot. These showstopping 19-inch “Estoril” Wheels come in a fierce black gloss finish.

Side Mirror Housings

Even our signature matte chrome mirror caps get a 20th anniversary makeover, with black mirror caps for the Lapiz Blue exterior, or blue mirror caps for the Deep Black and Pure White versions.

Sunroof

Great views are mandatory in the 20thAnniversary Special Edition Golf R, thanks to a standard panoramic sunroof.

Carbon Fibre Décor

Fibre Optics

With genuine carbon fibre details throughout, we’re bringing a taste of the racetrack to the interior of the 20th Anniversary Special Edition Golf R. Somehow our hottest hatchback ever just got even hotter.

FAQs
info icon What are the performance specs for Golf R?

The MY23 Golf R boasts 315 hp and an impressive 280lb-ft of torque with the 6-speed manual transmission, or 295lb-ft with the available 7-speed DSG®transmission.

info icon How much cargo space does Golf R have?

Don’t let Golf's small size fool you: It has 564 litres of cargo space, which increases to 977 with the rear seats folded. That’s easily enough space for your gear, groceries, suitcases and whatever else you might need.

info icon Does Golf R have enough room for a family?

The VW Golf has been in production for over 45 years and has been the ideal family car for those in a variety of different life stages. Should your needs ever change, an SUV like a Tiguan or an Atlas is a great alternative.

info icon What’s the standard wheel size for Golf R?

The 2023 Golf R comes standard with a 19" Estoril wheel and 235/35 R19, 91Y summer tires.*

*The use of winter tires is mandatory in some provinces. Proper winter or all season tires is recommended for wet, snowy or icy conditions.

info icon Do all Golf R trims have a sunroof?

We understand that not everyone wants a sunroof on their Golf R, but it’s now available with a panoramic power sunroof. This is an option, so you can have your Golf R with or without. The choice is entirely yours.