Volkswagen will start the sales of their new Golf Mk8 in the fourth quarter of the year for the US market. The new Golf comes in a distinctive new look and packs some serious horsepower. To better understand the differences between the GTI and Golf R we need a little background story on both performance packs.

GTI came into the market as people back in the ’70s were driving dull Volkswagen Beetles and in addition to that, there was the oil crisis which led to smaller, less powerful cars hitting the roads. With that in mind, the GTI was one of the first performance packages that didn’t break the bank and was fun to drive. The concept of the GTI led to other manufactures creating their performance models: the Focus RS, ST, the Audi S line, and so on.

The Golf R however was created as an attempt to adapt 4-wheel drive in a little Golf. Volkswagen owned Audi by then, which was doing great in their Quattro systems, but that required the engine to be mounted in an inline position. While Volkswagen was keen on developing a new all-wheel-drive system, they didn't want the engine to be transversed. Long story short, Golf managed to build a hydraulic system that would send power to the wheels when losing traction, and years later they managed to give out a four-wheel-drive sports car with a VR6 engine. This engine was legendary, not an inline engine, not a V6 but a zig-zag piston configuration. Volkswagen produced the VR6 for the MK3, MK4, MK5 but stopped after that. Sadly enough, Volkswagen has chosen to use supercharged 2.0L engines that are very efficient and make a lot of horsepower. The 2022 Golf R offers new performance, premium features, and further differentiation from the GTI.

Since both the GTI and Golf R use almost the same technology, let's find out which one is best to buy and why.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The New VW Golf R Is The Hot Hatch To Get

Golf GTI Vs Golf R Specs

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Via: netcarshow.com

The 2022 Golf GTI will carry a 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection TSI engine, making it the most powerful Golf GTI to ever hit production. This engine can be paired with a 6-speed manual or a 7 speed DSG automatic transmission. The Golf GTI produces 241 horsepower, 13 more than the MK7 GTI and 273 lb-ft of torque. The 2022 Golf R will carry the same 2.0L turbocharged TSI engine but it is more powerful than the GTI. To put things in perspective the Golf R makes 315 horsepower, 27 more than the previous generation Golf R and 295 lb-ft of torque with the DSG transmission, or 280 lb-ft with the manual.

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Via: netcarshow.com

The real difference in real-world driving would really be the driving dynamics. Does the GTI have all it needs to beat the Golf R?

The answer to that is no, the Golf R will be faster and will also feature its 4-motion system. Front-wheel-drive cars cannot handle all that power because they have to work harder spinning their wheels and handling the corners. To keep things more simple, AWD cars perform better on track than FWD cars.

Both cars come loaded in features, very similar to each other as both cars can be optioned by buyers. The main differences in terms of exterior will be R and GTI design.

Related: These Are The Coolest Modified VWs We've Seen

Exterior Comparison

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Via: netcarshow.com

From the exterior, there are a few differences that make the Golf R a bit more aggressive thanks to its sharp side skirts and more aggressive diffuser that features a quad-tipped exhaust system. The front-end gets more aggressive on the Golf R and allows better airflow to the radiator. Golf R is distinctive with its R badge on the tailgate, while the GTI holds the GTI emblem.

VW Golf R
Via Volkswagen Newsroom

The Golf GTI does get a muscular upgrade from the base model Golf but not as much of a hot hatch as the Golf R. Rear bumper features a dual-tipped exhaust system, the side skirts are sharp but not as sharp as the ones on Golf R. Front bumper gets multibeam fog lights. The GTI will carry a red grill, red-painted calipers and will come in Oryx White Pearl, Moonstone Gray, Kings Red Metallic, Atlantic Blue Metallic, Reflex Silver Metallic, and Deep Black Pearl, as well as Pomelo Yellow Metallic, a special Autobahn-only launch color. Golf R is available in signature Lapiz Blue Metallic, as well as Pure White and Deep Black Pearl. 18-inch gloss black wheels can be added to both models for an additional $395.

Real-Life Performance

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Via: Volkswagen

On the road, both cars are super performers. Being a hot hatch is not only about going quick on the quarter-mile drag strip but giving the driver a nice feeling behind the wheel. The GTI and Golf R both do that thanks to their responsive throttles and very adaptive driving modes.

On a test drive Matt, from CarWow mentioned how hot hatches do not give the driver the feeling of switching between sport and comfort mode. He also mentioned how much of a good fuel economy the GTI gets in real life. The GTI and Golf R perform well and can be your perfect daily driver, and always have great power on tap.

VW Golf R
Via Volkswagen Newsroom

The GTI does 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, while the Golf R sprints to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. More horses and more torque spread on all four wheels make the Golf R the faster car. Both cars come in the manual, which is fun to drive but not as fast as the DSG. Volkswagen designed this transmission to shift in under 8 milliseconds: for reference, a human eye blink takes 400 milliseconds. Getting the manual would certainly be fun and a cheaper option to buy, but most people in the market to buy a performance model would care more about speed and that’s with the DSG.