Аfter just over 30 years, Volkswagen finally readied to replace their aging but lovable Beetle in the 1970s. Even though that car soldiered on in some markets for even longer, the Golf, debuting in 1974, was a total revolution in the compact family car market. It quickly became one of the best-selling and most popular compact cars of its day, steadily evolving over time with various improvements and a slow climb towards the premium class.

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Arguably one of the most notable things about the VW Golf is its contribution to the world of hot hatchbacks. The original GTI kickstarted the quintessential hot hatchback lineage of the modern automotive world, and it still stands the grandfather of modern hot hatchbacks, and with good reason. After a short experimental stint with their narrow angle VR6 engine in the Mk3 Golf, Volkswagen laid the foundations for a "super hatch." The resulting Golf R32 began with the Mk4 generation in 2002, with the Mk5 generation carrying the torch.

Overview of The Golf R32

Front 3/4 view of the Mk5 Golf R32
Volkswagen

The Volkswagen Golf R32 is the highest performance version of the Mk4 and Mk5 Golf (Rabbit in North America), slotting above the GTI in the lineup. In overseas markets, its closest competitor was the crazy Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, whereas in North America it had to fend off the likes of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. North America only got a small handful of the production run for both generations, and at the time, there wasn't anything else quite like it.

Front 3/4 view of the Mk4 Golf R32
Volkswagen

Both generations featured some substantial exterior changes. The Mk4 featured an R32 grille badge, a new front bumper with more aggressive intakes, a wider body to accomodate the AWD system, side skirts and dual rear exhausts. The Mk5 added a silver accent on the front end, and moved those exhaust pipes to the center. Both also featured unique alloy wheel designs, and even though they came in various colors, blue seems to work best.

Golf R32 Powertrain And Drivetrain

Front 3/4 view of the Mk4 Golf R32 on the move
Volkswagen

The thing that made the Golf R32 stand out from other hot hatchbacks and Golf models is most certainly the powertrain. Instead of a turbo four-cylinder, under the hood is a 3.2-liter narrow angle V6 engine, known as the VR6. It's naturally-aspirated, and thanks to the 15-degree cylinder angle, it uses a single cylinder head, is mounted transversely, and produces a fantastically unique sound. In the Mk4, that engine made 238 hp, which rose to 250 in the Mk5.

Front 3/4 view of the Mk5 Golf R32 on the move
Volkswagen

RELATED: 10 Things Everyone Forgot About The Volkswagen Golf R32

Both models sent power to all four wheels through VW's 4Motion AWD on-demand system, done so via either a six-speed manual transmission, or the very first iteration of VW's DSG dual-clutch automatic in the Mk4, making it the first production car in the world to use such a transmission. Both gearbox choices remained in the Mk5. Thanks to the engine, both R32 models lean on the heavier side. While they won't give a Civic Type R something to worry about, they still provide an excellent and fun driving experience with tons of traction and grip, even if it is a little more grown up. The traction is one of a few reasons why the R32 is a great first hot hatchback.

Golf R32 Comfort And Quality

The interior of the Mk4 Golf R32, passenger side
Volkswagen

On the inside, both R32 generations received some welcome changes. There's a new steering wheel, which includes multifunction controls in the Mk5's case, new leather seats, and unique trim in various places. VW saw the R32 as an opportunity to outfit every possible option from the regular Mk5 Golf; DVD-based navigation, heated seats, cruise control, xenon headlights (Europe only), a sunroof on the Mk4 (North America only), rear parking sensors (Mk5 only) and so on.

The interior of the Mk5 Golf, passenger side
Volkswagen

In terms of the quality, even though jokes are often made about VW reliability, the VR6 is a surprisingly robust powertrain. With regular maintenance and the occasional repair here and there, it should last a pretty long time. Just be wary of the DSG-equipped cars that VW recalled because of a known problem with the Mechatronic system.

While the R32 is a performance car through and through, it's still a Golf. That means it seats five passengers in comfort, even though VW only offered the three-door model in North America. Meanwhile, although the cargo capacity is slightly compromised due to the AWD components, it still sits at a very respectable 9.7 cubic feet for the Mk4, and 12.3 cubic feet on the Mk5.

Golf R32 Prices

The front of the Mk4 Golf R32
Volkswagen

In terms of pricing, R32 Golfs run the gamut. They start from around $8,000, but that gets you a very high-mileage car, often with some questionable modifications. It's important to remember that the Mk5 is much more common than the Mk4, making the Mk4 significantly more expensive. A tidy Mk5 with less than 100,000 miles will set you back around $20,000 or so, whereas Mk4s of a similar condition are starting to creep well within the $30,000 range.

The front of the Mk5 Golf R32
Volkswagen

Whichever generation you get, you're definitely getting a curious piece of VW history. The Golf R32 may not be the most popular or most thrilling hot hatchback in the world, but the unmistakable Golf practicality, Euro flair, surprising durability, AWD traction, and unique rumbly V6 engine should definitely be worthy of your consideration.