2021 VW Golf R MK8: A Love/Hate Relationship - Full Review!

The Mark 8 of the Golf R is here! Thanks to Ridge for sponsoring this video! Visit ridge.com/rbr” and use code “RBR” for 10% off.
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A big welcome to VW to the channel for the first time! You know I’m always a happy boy when a new manufacturer appears on the channel! And this one has some interesting history… even linked to Nazi Germany!
The Golf R is the benchmark for many in the hot hatch division as a bang for buck car, it’s so popular in the UK that the MK7 is one of the most stolen cars on the road!
This new one is gunning for its rivals even in the hatch class above, with 316BHP and 420NM now from the EA888, though a slightly slower 0-60 of 4.7… is it really? Wait and see. ;)
DSG is still here which is great, and bigger brakes than the old car BUT the big change is a newly developed four-wheel drive system with selective wheel torque control on the rear axle, called 4MOTION with R-Performance Torque Vectoring.
Translated: this is able to send 100% power to the outside wheel, and thus… drift mode in Golf R. You’ve heard this before from the A45s and the Focus. This should help neutralise understeer and promote a RWD feeling. VS the normal 8, it’s 20mm lower, and uses a more rigid and lighter aluminium front subframe. Theres also a vehicle dynamics manager, that optimises handling by nannying the electronic functions like that XDS, or DCC.
The R is only available in 5 doors and automatic now, Performance Pack Available with 19 inch rims seen here, a big wing too, and two extra driving modes of Special and Drift, that i’ll discuss in the video. £700 will get you adaptive suspension, and £3000 for an akrapovic exhaust system, are better spent than the perf pack in my opinion.
But today we will also explore the Origins of VW. Volks, or Peoples, was a word used often for state funded product in Nazi Germany. Hitler wanted an affordable car priced the same as a typical motor cycle for the Germany and thus unsurprisingly the Volkswagen or peoples car, name was given.
The actual concept of the first VW however came from the mind of someone we’ve had on the channel previously to do with car history: the first Ferdinand Porsche. And while he designed it, and Nazi’s originally planned it, the TRUE origin and credit for the current existence of VW must go to British Major Ivan Hirst. Watch the video to learn more! :)
After this I’ll dive into every generation of the Golf and what they brought to the table to create the “golf class”, all the way from MK1 to present day!
And then driving the new R, a car that’s supposedly slower than the Mark 7… but is it? Today we explore:
- Origins and History of VW
- Hitler, Ferdinand Porsche and Major Ivan Hurst
- Car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro
- MK1 and GTi
- MK2 Golf
- MK3 Golf
- MK4 Golf and R32
- MK5 Golf and R32
- MK6 Golf R
- MK 7.5 Golf R
- New Golf MK8
- Golf R 8
- Exterior Design
- Interior review
- Golf 8 vs Golf 7
- Golf R MK8 Launch Control - how?
- Full road test
- Conclusion
Up next on on RBR is the unveil of my C63 Black Series transformation, and a review of the new Taycan Cross Turismo! Subscribe to support us and see them first. :)
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CREDITS:
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Driving disclaimer:
Please note all driving shots have been filmed on closed roads.

[@RemoveBeforeRace]

I love getting a new manufacturer on the channel! Especially one with deep history like VW! 👌🏽 What else would you like see on the channel from the brand? Let me know and enjoy the R: it’s a ripper!! 🔥

[@CarToneHK]

"Over 45 years" of not just VW Golfs, but the work behind the special effects as well

[@lenep9985]

Buttons and knobs need to make a big come back in cars....

[@oscarchang486]

still own a mk4 r32 and I LOOOOve the sound of the VR6

[@shaglioni]

I have watched dozens of reviews on the MK8R and this is by far, thee best and most thorough review I have seen of it. Very well done.

[@edgarsdzerins]

Buttons and knobs must come back! These touch and greasy screens that need touching several times same function are dangerous and must be illegal because distract attention from the road!

[@Theurgicnick]

What a great review! Honest and to the point. Had the balls to say what didn’t work or felt needed improvement without fear of pissing the manufacture off but praised the good bits without arse diving. Subscribed!

[@gunstrucksbbq]

Saw this on a random device, came back just to comment on what a great job you did on this. As a GTI owner over decades and generations I truly enjoyed your works thank you.

[@See.You.Soon.027]

I love this guy so much! He does PROPER history, even for people who doesn't know anything about cars! Absolutely AMAZING!!

[@pt6134]

MK8 review finally starts at

[@ollolol7879]

This channel deserve million subscribers

[@RickGTI2019]

Of course the car is beautiful, and state of the art. However, being older, and driving a 2019 GTI 7.5, I certainly would miss the manual controls. Too many touch screen controls takes your eyes off the road too often. Great video, thanks. RickGTI……

[@volkswizard]

Great video, I learned a lot! Just one thing, first AWD Golf was the Mk2 (not Mk4) with the Syncro, there was also a Mk3 VR6 Syncro for European market. I'm so glad you used the shortcut for ESC as not many reviewers have found that. With regards to Lane Assist, there is a button on the end of the left hand stalk to go straight to the option to disable it. The VW logo redesign was so it could be more easily reproduced digitially. As a Mk8 owner for 2.5 months, I have no issues with the steering wheel button operation, sure it took a few days to not press things in error but now I'd never go back to tradtional buttons, swiping up and down audio volume for example is brilliant.

[@DeadPixels_]

Quite simply one the best car reviews I have ever seen. New sub without a doubt. Mega work!

[@TheBigdaddy9448]

I just stumbled on your channel and I thought this review was going to be like all of the others. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not. I'm a VW affectionaldo and I found your review very interesting and informative. Nice job!

[@backseatdriver8902]

the mk7 was underrated as well. She did 4.3 stock all day long (DSG).

[@moominpupa]

The shape has really grown on me. Looks better in real life. I saw a GTI in a beautiful silver. Very nice.

[@shahidrainudeen5640]

You are not only a reviewer you are a teacher for us also.Thanks for the clear explaination.

[@nithishjvj8736]

Man you're one of the gems automotive journalism has ever seen

[@ZoogaZig]

Huge fan of your work. I love the history, so important to every car. There has to be an overlap between Golf fans and Porsche fans, the desire for things to be the same, but different, but freaking out over small changes.