All-new VW Golf 8 R FULL REVIEW - the ultimate 2021 Golf with 320 hp and torque vectoring

[@autogefuehl]

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[@minimaleffort1374]

Warum keine Hintergrundmusik?

[@theodoret4556]

it looks lika rover MG :))

[@theojoziah4598]

instablaster.

[@autogefuehl]

Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.

[@sofianesmail8335]

Toyouta hilux mako pliesse

[@piob9801]

Is that a law that applies only in Germany? Just curious.

[@ilovelol2642]

@@piob9801 no, EU

[@Thane1607]

I want 3 things: 1: This car. 2: For VW to fix the infotainment 3: Those German highways

[@voltag3102]

Then you have to move to germany my friend

[@cengeb]

@@voltag3102 Driving in Germany, then ya come back here and we are 3rd world roads, Driving in Germany is what driving is supposed to BE!! Only got to 123 MPH in the unlimited in Audi A6 S line TDI years ago, FUN, wanted 155MPH, but too much traffic, I'm a tourist! Doing 100 in center lane, get PASSED, by Golf and a Porsche!!! all LEGAL, we suck in the U.S., horrible roads, that wipe out tires and wheels, no cars with shit falling off, flapping fenders like in the U.S., pride of ownership, what a concept! CLEAN roads, no garbage blowing around, gas stations are SPOTLESS, Jersey TPK is crap, with cesspool rest stops.

[@Alexandru-T.]

@@voltag3102 Am I welcome to move there?

[@voltag3102]

@@Alexandru-T. everyone is welcome 🙏🏻

[@voltag3102]

@Moto Guzzi Yes it is thank you

[@mart_en]

I haven't seen Thomas having that much fun in a long time 😃

[@GRfourfun]

He seemed to have even more fun in the GR Yaris 🤔

[@richardsealey3626]

@@GRfourfun I agree............

[@sv_cheats1970]

@@richardsealey3626 both are awesome car. I am a big VW fan but honestly I'd buy the Yaris as a new car and the R as a second hand 1yr old car (better price)

[@valeriodomjanic8126]

Thanks Thomas...and Jonas🎙️📷 Another great test rewiev...great sounds>Harman/Kardon+Akrapović😯❤️🎵🎶🎼merry Christmas and a happy, much more better year than those.. Greetings from Hrvatska.

[@valeriodomjanic8126]

Will it be also an Golf 8Rkombi version?! I"m sure the Autogefuel team will test it... 🤓😎

[@luciteck]

Thomas, the only car reviewer I know that does a door closing sound comparison :)) Good job as always.

[@mikewestwood567]

Have to agree it didn’t sound that great for a Golf. Maybe the door was out of alignment or the hinges need adjusting.

[@sv_cheats1970]

@@mikewestwood567 maybe the door is lighter then on the normal golfs

[@botis3104]

Redline Reviews has always done a door closing sound rating :D

[@richardsealey3626]

@@sv_cheats1970 Bodyshells are all the same no matter which Golf 8 model it is.........

[@sv_cheats1970]

@@richardsealey3626 probably but think about it, its the top of the range performance oriented model. You need to remember that VW did crap like this even back in the 90s (as in G60 shells and pssat B3 shells having the Syncro floorpan even if not specced with Syncro running gear). Thats why G60 shells were banned from cup GTI racing since they were considerably stiffer then the normal GTI counterpart.

[@5amH45lam]

I love Tomas' reaction to the exhausts _pops_ and _crackles_ more than the _pops_ and _crackles_ themselves! Great to see you having such fun, Tomas! ✌️😎👌

[@hiiiofficial8306]

Best sounding OPF car

[@tuhafenigeorgedasilvahishi2958]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hiiiofficial8306]

@@tuhafenigeorgedasilvahishi2958 what u lagging at name

[@hiiiofficial8306]

@@tuhafenigeorgedasilvahishi2958 * Laughing

[@tuhafenigeorgedasilvahishi2958]

@@hiiiofficial8306 His reaction got me cracking up man😂😂😂😂

[@docraineyIII]

Your English is EXCELLENT with a bonus very cool German accent. I can understand your vocals better than way too many of my own countrymen. You choose your commentary so carefully I am rarely left with a single unresolved question, and your delivery is always calm, cool, and collected. Your thoroughness deserves special mention. You know what enthusiastic drivers want to know and you can’t possibly suffer a single disappointed viewer. Thank you for such great automotive journalism and video production.

[@garygregg9707]

This guy is the best car reviewer ever. Very informative and he has a pleasant soothing nature about him and a voice that is clear and understandable. You will learn everything you need to know and then some. Keep up the great work and thank you.

[@autogefuehl]

Thanks Gary!! ☺️

[@ThomasSmithTechArtist]

great work from the editor on the door closing sound comparison 10/10

[@ejicon3099]

Great review. Nicely done. And thanks so much for doing it in English. We really appreciate that.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

German would limit the views big-time.

[@percymq]

Finally a review from Autogefühl! Thank you! Finally the R appears to be the sweet spot in the Golf line up!

[@SenszR]

Also the top spot lol

[@percymq]

@Phil Fair enough

[@richardmcfarlane-cen6132]

Even if we can’t fully appreciate the pops and bangs, the expression on your face Thomas tells us all we need to know and it is priceless! 🤣

[@augustinedennis4865]

Just loose k 7.5 kg weight ,fart,and save € 7 kg.

[@Venturi11]

i'm happy that "drift mode" isn't copryrighted by a particular manufacturer. They really had to work to get a fwd biased haldex to drift.

[@pierredavies7064]

Looks like a truly amazing car, loving the design, exhaust pops and those gear shifts are crazy fast!

[@LeafyLumens]

Sad for people that get scarred becouse of that sound...and Animals too....people are thinking only about our self

[@Burgeritr]

In Canada we are getting only the Performance Pack so it’s $51K CDN for the DSG version (€34K). It’s a no-brainer at that price point for a daily driver with this much potential

[@eyeeyeoh]

Semi-professional racing driver Tomas in full length. Let's go!

[@tuhafenigeorgedasilvahishi2958]

🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sao007]

As usual one of the best review on the net ! 😉😇

[@richardsealey3626]

THE best.......

[@MrDarrenNice]

This was a fantastic review Thomas 👍🏻 I'm so excited for this car. Looks like a lot more fun than the previous Golf R. Although I currently own a GTI TCR (which I love), I cannot wait to test drive one of these when they arrive in the UK 🇬🇧

[@fashionablylate888]

They’re on Autotrader.

[@yes8032]

I’m liking this new golf

[@jett8225]

Best vehicle review I’ve seen, thank you!

[@pedroterra6991]

You gotta love this guy. My favorite car channel.

[@pistolpete6321]

Fantastic detailed review! Love the upgraded exhaust!

[@l.e.i.4111]

A lot of fun on your side but a responsabile one.😀 Excellent review for this beginning of the weekend. Cheers 👋

[@Graham_Shaw]

The first Golf I've really liked for a very long time!! Very nice!!

[@Jojo201253]

I must say, the more i see it, the more i like it. Especially the front side. If there wouldnt be the bad usability with the Infotainment and the touch buttons, it would be a perfect hot hatch. Thanks for the great review 👍👍

[@cengeb]

My Golf R 2019 Stick of course is GREAT, this is getting better!

[@Perseus568]

Love the door closing sound test :D

[@richardsealey3626]

Excellent......

[@samk9661]

Best review out there! Excellent information throughout.

[@autogefuehl]

[@conscious___creators]

Thanks so much for this review! Many channels don't do a thorough and detailed review of all aspects of the car. So big thank you for explaining and demonstrating everything!

[@autogefuehl]

🙏👌

[@Astke]

Hi Thomas just a quick update if you are interested. They have been updating the software on my Golf 8 regularly, about 5 times now and all over the air, so no dealer visits. It is pretty snappy now. At least it now responds quicker than most mainstream competitors, it is no iDrive or MBUX, but at least mine reacts as quick as my smartphone. The mapping could still use some work though. But I had an e-Golf (loaner) with the old system (discover Pro 9,2 inch one) and it felt slower than the Golf 8's system. It feels a bit more choppy in the menus and the map is about as fast or slower in response. So they are getting there. But definitely still room for improvement.

[@JohnPadgett]

Active driving lounge- Love it!!

[@j.shussain7528]

Please do Golf 8 GTD! I have one coming in a few months and I really want to see your review on it please Thomas. You are sublime!

[@Network-Mike]

Great review! I'm loving the new R!

[@Lukas-pg4pl]

Die Video machen einfach Spaß! Danke für die tollen Reviews!

[@autogefuehl]

schön dass du dabei bist!

[@pedrovanD]

Man.. what a car looks very fun to drive.. def on my wishlist 😁

[@raoufmehenni7747]

the best review ever about the VW8R very astounishing content

[@autogefuehl]

🙏🙏🙏

[@troystein2404]

I love it! Had my Scirocco for 5yrs now it’s discontinued in Australia. This Golf R is a beast

[@aboosalie9025]

My favorite part of your video the door closing sounds keep it up

[@autogefuehl]

=)

[@dorstefan]

It was really nice. The difference is obvious.

[@daliborg]

As soon as Thomas started the engine, he was smiling some 96% of driving time 🤣

[@alber.a1232]

I have this same color, black line finishing and two-toned pulished+black alloys in mine😄 Love this combination👌🏻

[@mlarenp7031]

Never liked the Golf shape, but this one! Daaaaaaaamn! They've killed it! VW Take my money and go!

[@hiiiofficial8306]

I love it

[@ShanerHulk]

Have say my 2017 golf R has aged really well. I like it more!

[@JDDD33]

I have a 2016 and agree! Hang into it, it will be a classic, as it is the final model which transitioned from nice manual push buttons to the awkward touch buttons

[@Gizz9Ard]

As a former racer (25 years and IMSA license) I like the new dynamics. My 2018 R plows on the track a bit too much and is also not crisp enough on turn in. Pushes in autocrosses. The new rear diff setup should help a great deal.

[@ShanerHulk]

@@Gizz9Ard congrats on racing! Yes it will

[@ichbinnichthier347]

MK7 for life

[@jeremyjs8863]

Brilliant Thomas ! Great car, great fun. Thanks

[@andrewmontague2636]

Another great and detailed review, Thomas. I always learn far more from your tests than I do from those in the magazines. I think the car is fantastic, the only bad things really are the infotainment, some of the material quality and the price... Even without the Akrapovic exhaust, in the U.K. a Performance Pack R with a decent specification is around £45k, my high spec 7.5R was under £40k less than 3 years ago. Looking forward to your test of the GTI Clubsport!

[@AlexanderDornbracht]

they have lost their mind with pricing. Behindtheglass had a cool discussion about it. 10k more you start looking at the new RS3 probably.

[@andrewmontague2636]

@@AlexanderDornbracht I agree, it’s too expensive. They’re trying to recoup money from the emissions crisis and pay for the electric car programme so although the car is good, infotainment and material quality have suffered. I’m not totally convinced by RS3. New one has to be better than the old one. A friend replaced his S3 with an RS3 and was disappointed. Yes RS3 sounds nice and fast in a straight line, but S3 nicer to drive overall.

[@dacmm]

@@andrewmontague2636 How come the S3 was nicer? In what aspects?

[@andrewmontague2636]

@@dacmm His view was that it handled far better on country roads, steering was sharper and the ride quality better. He also thought that the S3 engine was more eager, RS3 may be quicker on paper or in a straight line, but not in practice. Sometimes less is more. For example, many would argue that Mk5 Golf GTI was a better car than the R32, lovely though it sounds and looks. Engine is just a bit lazy compared to the 2.0. Point is we’re all different. You pay your money and take your choice!

[@mariapires7170]

Mr Andrew, in Portugal, a Mk 8 Golf R with the very same spec and options of the car tested by Thomas, costs today, plus Euros 70 000 !!!, for God sake, I also have one Golf R mk 7.5 / 2018 with the normal exhausts ,DSG and a white pearled color I payed in new, about Euros 48 000 and love it, and I´m gonna keep it as far as I can. Thank you.

[@nigel8484]

Thank you Thomas I've been waiting for this review. You are a legend in full HD, full screen and full length. 😅🙏🏾

[@alialbloushi4823]

Best channel ' I follow you .. You do great job .. I get more information about VW . That's a lot .. Need more and more .. About volkswagen Golf R ..

[@autogefuehl]

Awesome 😎

[@noushindowlatshahi6221]

Thomas is amazing! The best reviewer, so detail, objective and well, very easy on the eyes :)

[@autogefuehl]

🙏🙏😉

[@noushindowlatshahi6221]

👌❤️

[@anoopko]

Nice to see Clark Kent doing proper auto journalism for a change

[@autogefuehl]

Way to go 😄

[@hafidrodarte3135]

always great content! cheers all the way from Texas!

[@OnePotMeals]

Thank you, I enjoyed the review very much

[@oomstu]

Awesome, thank you guys. This review was well overdue.

[@autogefuehl]

cheers!

[@Mindseas]

Thank you for yet another detailed review Thomas and Autogefühl people! Unfortunate the 8th generation is suffering from software issues after the systems in 7.5 seem to work flawlessly indeed - even if they're not that pretty it all works quite well. I hope they manage to patch up those issues because I do find the 8 R is the most appealing of the pack. Stay safe, and keep up the good work :)

[@ScenesThroughTravels]

Some great sounds from that exhaust , A Real Snap Crackle and pop 😂👍👍

[@davidj9804]

A real Dodge Neon

[@chrisjones4863]

I’m a huge Golf fan, it’s all the car you ever need. This is so much more thou. For me this is the greatest hatchback ever made. I’ll be getting a used one in 3 or 4 years when I’ve settled my mark 7.5 R. I’m not bothered that an A45 or RS3 has more power, this is the king. People will disagree but I don’t give a flying fuck

[@jirvine57]

I have a mk7 and i think that the 7.5 has far better build quality than this. A lot of corners cut in making this car.

[@patrickbateman6885]

@@jirvine57 yes it has corners cut, but the driving experience is much better.

[@jirvine57]

@@patrickbateman6885 i understand what you are saying but do you not think it should be more than just the driving experience (very very important I know), but the way the driver has to interact with the interior needs to be a positive experience. What are your thoughts on the pricing? Do you not think that they are taking the piss a bit?

[@gaycha6589]

I have a 7:5 unicorn map to 380hp. I see nothing here to tempt a change, having configured the same spec as mine com8ng out at £47k. No way VW. My Yaris GR arrives in March. 7.5 is a keeper.

[@yettymonkey4027]

I fairly impressed by the new Golf R. I still believe that the GTI 8 is the better value for anyone who is not going to track it. Even the GTI 8 top trim is much much less expensive then the R.....

Thanks for sharing! Very nice and in-depth review. Much appreciated.

[@ewald3730]

Great review! Love this Golf!!!

[@CaptainBlitz]

For a Golf I wasn't expecting this much drama! I feel like it's missing a few things but it's almost perfect... almost.

[@hiiiofficial8306]

I love this model but im a bit disappointed with the GTi the R is 🔥🔥 tho

[@CaptainBlitz]

@@hiiiofficial8306 It's the other way around. As a mk7 GTI owner, I had high expectations for the GTI needless to say, and it did not disappoint. But the interior let me down on both cars. Last gen I preferred the look of the R, this time, the GTI looks better imo. Either way, this gen looks more fun which was my only complaint of the Mk7

[@glc-vt3yq]

Perfect review!

[@sbs-0055]

My dream daily driver.

[@dimitrispoupoulis4888]

Great review as always and awesome all around car!! Greetings ftom Greece

[@marcusdavila5437]

I can't wait until this car comes to the US. I currently have a MK7 Gti (which I'm keeping)

[@cameronstirling7970]

Great review, hope it comes to Australia with the same options.

[@krane15]

Now you know Australian legislature would never allow it.

[@__cr___pro__3589]

WOW the best hot hatch on the market besides Audi RS 3 😍😍😍

[@longdongsilver6298]

Id rather have a golf 7.5 r instead of this one.. its pretty much the same thing driving wise, its cheaper and it looks better in my opinion

[@bongakhumalo3095]

You're the man Thomas

[@autogefuehl]

👍😎

[@Sam737loverfsx]

Thank you VW for making sporty cars in 2020

[@zakelwe]

It's not as sporty as a Yaris though ... just sayin'

[@Sam737loverfsx]

@@zakelwe toyota deserves credit too. The Yaris GR is a hell of a car ! But i like the golf better because its 5 doors and is more convenient

[@lightningthunder5928]

@@zakelwe this will be faster in every situation.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@lightningthunder5928 I would be surprised if the Golf R is faster around corners with 250 kg more than the Yaris GR!

[@XQUADRA1]

They made it good enough with trinkets to pass as a R model,if I were to look at this in the future I would chose R over GTI

[@mart_en]

The colour makes even the Golf 8 look good ;-))

[@mart_en]

@Amohelang Thupana The colour makes the car look better

[@ginoderdaele9293]

Great review !! You were noticeably enjoying the car a lot. Grossartig ! I wonder how it would compare to a GTI Clubsport.

[@UltramarineDad]

Thomas, i think it is time for 1440p !500k+sub (new changes) equals more channel points for the content you provide .You are welcome !

[@jenksvh1]

Fantastic review as always, thank you.

[@jrmt6]

That engine cover is so sad compared to the outgoing Mk7 style.

[@ivanjovanovic362]

The whole car is sad

[@jrmt6]

@@ivanjovanovic362 Meh, not really. I have a Mk7.5 GTI myself and I've been contemplating going to the MK8 Golf R once it's here in the US. Overall, the car should perform better and handle better. I also quite like the new interior.

[@theripper121]

@@jrmt6 I agree the looks of the interior is nicer. The functionality however is not. VW going to to those capacitive buttons and your hvac and seat heaters being built into the infotainment to me is a bit step backwards. Im sure it is a better handling car and faster as well but the lack of physical buttons to me is a real off putter.

[@Vale46NL]

LoL. This VW looks like a Cheap Kia. Especially because of the ugly rear spoiler and all of the plastic used inside. They should have put a 5 or 6 cilinder 2.5 to 3.5L semi electric engine with 450hp in this car. 300 is average these days. Also sad al car makers use cheap small 4 cil sub 2.0L engines these days. And sell them overpriced. A 2.0 was a starter engjne 15 years ago. (This golf Sounds like crap btw) edit: and thes capacitive buttons are cheap and annoying if you ask me. Fingerprint magnets. And is you sweat slightly it doesnt work very well. Entertainment system is crap also. How can they sell this (slow ass software ) crap in 2020? LOL. A 50 euro 10 inch tablet is faster than this slow outdated crap. And this car costs 60 g's?? What a ripoff!!

[@andrewmontague2636]

How long before there’s an aftermarket one? 😉

[@67philipo]

Great review, and I especially enjoyed full door closing comparisons, also in full screen and HD

[@tariks926]

I don't the base model but man this looks beautiful

[@davids.9707]

You are having too much fun Thomas.

[@leonmoto1931]

What a great car, would love to see it on the actual Nürburgring with you driving :D

[@zhan_rossoneri]

I love VW Golf. My future car

[@MarcAntoine01]

Thanks for the review, this looks stunning 👌

[@berndstromberg8592]

Clubsport review coming soon?? 🤩

[@hiiiofficial8306]

Yes

[@seanfancourt4344]

So you can get pops and crackles in an Particulate filter world. Well done VW. Only thing that was coming across and maybe just the mic was the heavily synthesised engine sound. Fantastic review, refreshing a you tuber not making the video more about them, all about the car. Can’t wait til it goes up against my fk8

[@deadaccount4522]

Why is your voice so relaxing??-

[@HolysauceStreams]

Golf 8 is really cool

[@_b_k]

Nice review 🙂👍

[@tipazas]

Pure engineering.

[@parvindermander5664]

Best looking mk8

[@Nismo400RGT1]

That drift mode surprised you Thomas! Haha. Looking forward to trying that mode myself 👍😂

[@neilwatson5864]

Thanks Thomas for a great review, as usual. Lots have been waiting for this in the UK, who are considering Mk8 R ownership. Costs lots but offers on several fronts. I’ll stay with my 7.5R for some time yet tho😀

[@dasautogt]

Likewise 🇦🇺

[@cwx8]

Feels like a major interior downgrade. Touch controls make no mistake are just a cost saving measure. They are being sold as a "premium" feature but it is anything but. Just like alcantara.

[@EricMultiCartman]

15:39 that dacia sandero i think it was something like " where did that come from? " :))

[@vonpaparas]

Hahaha, "greetings to the guys from Akrapovic"! I was laughing out loud!! Sounds like a huge amount of fun. And all that from just 2 litres? Speaking with the experience of a VW owner since 1995, I expect this car to be falling apart around the 100,000 Km figure!

[@lucytherottweiler79]

Really superb review. Just the facts. Great.

[@michaelw2263]

I'm not sure why, but that spoiler really adds to the Golf R's style so much for me. Only thing I'm not a fan of is the touch screen infotainment screen and digital gauge cluster. I'm more for the analog style.

[@johnnysmile01]

This is a really nice Golf R and the sound it makes and also a fast car nice vídeo Thomas

[@carfulness9353]

The exhaust sound is better than the door sound! :)

[@TorqueDriven]

out of all the MK8 Golfs. THIS IS THE SEXIEST🔥😎 LOOKS nice!

[@TorqueDriven]

I have to say. interior looks a bit cheap thou compared to previous gen👀

[@hiiiofficial8306]

@@TorqueDriven No it just looks more futuristic

[@makatron]

The Golf R is the perfect fun daily driver

[@reds005]

I hate the 8, well all the other 8’s apart from this. This looks decent in this spec but the price is absolutely ridiculous. Still no gas strut either 😆

[@shinaito]

The price is just crazy. You enter the very good used car territory , used 911, RS3 , GTR , M3 all faster stock with much more to offer the driver down the road. just buy a MK7 R throw a stage 2 tune and save the rest

[@Kithuni]

Buy a Mercedes A45s

[@matthiass.2048]

Key looks exactly like the one from the Skoda Octavia. I was concerned about scratches too on this high gloss surface. Actually it is some kind of TPU/Silicone/soft plastic. After 3 months of use (+ other keys in the same pocket) it shows no scratches or wear. Good technical solution, feels good in the hand.