For several years the hottest Golf that Volkswagen put into production in significant numbers (as opposed to the one-off mid-engined 600bhp W12, which was only ever intended to be a show car) was the R32. The R32 had a lot of fans, of which I must admit I was not one, but it has now gone, to be replaced by the more simply-named R.Apart from the fact that the R is based on the current Mk6 Golf (the R32 died out when the Mk5 was replaced), there is one very significant difference. With the R, Volkswagen has abandoned the 3.2-litre naturally-aspirated six-cylinder engine and replaced it with a two-litre TSI four-cylinder turbo.This engine is one generation back from the similar unit used in other VW Group cars, and it was chosen because Volkswagen found it simpler and cheaper to keep going with it rather than modify the new one to produce similar levels of power.There is just one disadvantage arising from the switch: the R32 sounded absolutely wonderful, the R decidedly less so. It's like comparing the sound qualities of a symphony orchestra and a sheep. At least the R has a bit more bark to it than the aurally forgettable GTI, though it doesn't stir the blood to anything like the extent that the mechanically identical SEAT León Cupra R does.On the other hand, the R has a maximum power output of 266bhp, which is substantially more than the R32 ever provided. Performance is noticeably better: 0-62mph takes just 5.7 seconds, or 5.5 if you pay the extra £1295 for the six-speed DSG twin-clutch semi-automatic as opposed to the conventional six-speed manual, and in each case top speed is limited to 155mph.More important even than this, though, is the effect that replacing one engine with a very much lighter one has had. The last place that anyone with any knowledge of weight distribution would want to put a heavy V6 was ahead of the front wheels of a Golf, and the R32 suffered terribly from this. It didn't handle particularly well, and it could go horribly out of sequence when driven over two or more bumps in quick succession.The R suffers from none of this. Helped by the standard four-wheel drive system, it handles pretty much like the GTI does - which is to say very well indeed - but it also feels like it is always under control even on difficult country roads. I like a rorty-sounding engine as much as the next fellow, but I would accept the loss of that six-cylinder roar in favour of better driving dynamics every time.To me, this is the first R-badged Golf that really works, and I like it a lot. The major difficulty is the price. Even in its most basic form (three doors rather than five, DSG gearbox rather than manual) it costs more than £30,000. The sixth-generation Golf is a quality product in all guises, but even so. £30,000? Really? Engine 1984 cc, 4 cylinders Power 270 bhp @6000 rpm Torque 258 ib/ft @2500 rpm Transmission 6 speed manual Fuel/CO2 33.2 mpg / 199 g/km Acceleration 0-62mph: 5.7sec Top speed 155 mph Price From £30084.00 approx Release date 01/01/2010
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