LOVE & HATE! 2023 VW Golf R 20th Anniversary Review

Looking into trading in my brz for a golf R I think I'll go with mk7 golf

Jacob and Yuri, thanks a lot for the honest reviews. Pleas keep them that way if you can. :)

Dealbreaker for me is every dealer selling 1 was selling em for 10k over sticker, and refuse to negotiate, so if u wanna $60k (USD) golf R, u might as well spend another 5k and get an RS3

I own a 20th anniversary edition and the infotainment is great✌

I was excited because I’ve been interested in getting a Golf but then I saw that absolutely disgusting infotament system. I’m begging cat manufacturers to stop with all the touch screens and stick to buttons, dials, and knobs

3 times GTI owner, but had to skip the Mk8 until that UI is fixed :( Swapped my Mk7 GTI Sport for a GR Corolla, but hope by the time I am ready to swap again the Mk8.5 Golf R is a contender with a better UI and buttons on the steering wheel.

the people who hate this car for the infotainment have to definitely be boomers. there's just no way - haha go back to using blackberry's oldies. The infotainment is so easy my 3 year old niece was handling it with ease.

Cool car 👍

With the exception of the slider controls not being lit when dark (very dumb design miss), I really like the infotainment system on this car. Very fast, eays to use, and shortcuts. Just takes a few days to get used to it.

HATE the screens - BRING BACK BUTTONS AND KNOBS!!

Is there an anti virus cleaner function?

I bought 2024 Golf R DSG last Saturday....it is all fixed. No buttons added, but all is working fine, and the infotainment is awesome and easy to use.

I just ordered my 2024 here in Ontario. Dealership says the chip shortage could have me waiting over two years?! What the hell is happeningggg

$9k USD more than the CAD version talk about getting bent over. I will be looking for something else for sure.

the 2024 tiguan has hardbuttons on the steering wheel now 👌

golf r is equivalent to a luxury vechicle that lacks performance/power - except just the exact opposite. Looks like a normal commuter car that everyone and their grandma drives except its fast.

its funny he mentioned that europeans dont drive manual, as we have a similar belief of americans here

Trashing the Golf R???? Seriously?????

I cannot take you seriously if you trash this beast........infotainment??? Seriously????? 😂😂😂😂😂

TORN between this and the GTI Autobahn!! only difference is price and the AWD ( for snow ) but it hasnt snowed and if it does its very very light. ( Im in DC)

The one thing you didn't show is what a chimp thinks of this car, but you came very close.

Get an intake, exhaust, and Stage 1 tune. That thing will be fun as hell.

The ABS module controls traction control on VWs, hence why it’s under brakes

I dislike the shift knob is gone, I used it on M mode instead of the paddles.

Would have a Golf R if it came in red with better (some buttons) infotainment set up. As is I guess we will retire our GTI and look elsewhere.

VW has fixed the infotainment system now. Honestly once u got use to it though i was cool w the old one.

Looks like a GTE white the blue

Car reviewers are over reacting with the lack of knobs. I bought a 23 Golf R in August and it took only a few weeks to get acclimated with the infotainment system.

Europeans can’t drive manual? Gotta be a joke right?

Who doesn’t like black wheels??

Europeans can definitely drive manual. I moved here and was forced to learn manual, because literally everyone here drives a manual car.....

I really don't get the must get the manual if it comes with manual! I love a good manual, but not all manuals are good (rev-hang, numb clutch engagement), especially these days. DSG is the way to go with the Golf R imo.
The infotainment is cumbersome but you do get used to it after a few days. Passing on the GTI and Golf R only because of the infotainment, you're missing out on great cars!! The 2025 is fixing the infotainment if you cant deal with it.

Correction! Manual does have launch control. It's located in the front left seat of the vehicle. Front right if you're in Eur...oh, wait nvm.

Not a fan of the DSG

The infotainment system on these cars really isn't that bad, and the only real problem I have with it is the climate control being on a separate screen, but that really isn't that big a deal for me

No thanks.

"Europeans can't drive manuals" while stats show only 18% of Americans can. Wonder why they offer it only in North America.

I don’t like the touch buttons on the steering wheel,

'24 MK8R here, the infotainment is not bad. In fact, certain aspects (sliders on steering wheel) I think are better than previous. I just don't get the fixation...as for the traction control, find it once, add it to your favorites and move on!

Yuri, I think you are the last person in the world who still uses and cares about satellite radio.

Y'all are every day guys doing stupendous reviews !

Focus on the positives not the negatives 😊

Man what a SHITSHOW these new cars are with the stupid screens and capacitive buttons. Give us back buttons and knobs you jerks!

We don't get manual in Europe because realise it's outdated technology...

Great review men. Cheers🏈

I thought the 20 was sunroof delete. Mine is

3832 Ramon Prairie

The infotainment system and lack of buttons is why I took the mk8 R manual off from my shopping list. I had a mk7 R manual that got hit and totaled, it was an amazingly fun daily driver. Mk8 is ruined from the star trek (next generation) cockpit IMO