Volkswagen introduced the hot hatch in 1976 with the first Golf GTI (known as the Rabbit GTI in the United States). At 110 horsepower, it wasn't exactly a tower of power, even by the standards of the time. However, it was faster than competing hatchbacks of the day, handled exceptionally well, and was a lot of fun, launching the hot-hatch sub-genre in Europe and, to a lesser degree, in the United States. The GTI carries on to this day, but in 2002, VW realized they had the goods to take things a step further with the Golf R32. So named for the 3.2-liter VR V6 under the hood, it produced 258 horsepower and sent power to all four wheels. Competitors have come and gone, but the Golf R, as it is now called, has endured through four design generations, getting more powerful and refined along the way.
The newest competitor is the GR Corolla, from the world's other largest automaker, with the GR name and some engineering pulled from Toyota's captive Gazoo Racing team. Like the Golf R, it is a compact hatchback stuffed with a powerful turbocharged engine, which sends power to all four wheels. Motor Trend recently compared these two surviving hot hatches head-on, and Team Gillman Volkswagen gives you the highlights.
The Golf R no longer has six cylinders, but its turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine now produces 328 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, peaking at just 2,000 rpm. The power is managed by a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which sends power to all four wheels through the latest high-performance version of VW's 4Motion system. Motor Trend tested a model with the Euro Style package, which, aside from the titanium exhaust ends and blue seat trim, essentially trades luxury for performance by deleting the sunroof, front seat ventilation, and all power seat adjustments. These deletions shave 80 pounds. It is a purist-only package.
The GR Corolla is slightly smaller in key areas. It shares the Golf's 103-inch wheelbase but is four inches shorter and nine inches narrower. As a result, rear passengers have five fewer inches of legroom, and cargo capacity behind the second row is 17.8 cubic feet, compared to the Golf's 19.9 cubic feet.
The powertrain is also smaller, featuring a 1.6-liter 3-cylinder (!) engine turbocharged to generate up to 300 horsepower, matching the Golf R's 295 lb-ft of torque. However, the peak torque arrives slightly later, at 3,250 rpm. It is available with either a 6-speed manual transmission, but out of curiosity, Motor Trend tested a model equipped with the recently introduced 8-speed transmission. Its smaller size results in approximately 35 pounds less than the somewhat stripped-down Golf R (3,336 vs. 3,370 pounds).
Motor Trend makes it clear that both cars are incredibly fun and can really carve up a canyon road (admittedly a rarity in Harris County, although the Hill Country is just a few hours away), but they approach their business quite differently. The GR Corolla is every bit the young upstart. It has brasher boy-racer looks, sounds louder, and rides rougher.
In contrast, the Golf R definitely takes on the role of the experienced elder. Its larger engine runs quieter and feels a bit more relaxed, even as it decisively out-accelerates the Corolla, beating it to 60 mph by a full second (4.1 vs 5.1) and reaching 100 mph two seconds earlier (10.2 vs 12.3). The GR Corolla responds with slightly more grip (0.95 vs 0.91g) and a shorter stopping distance. This results in the vehicles being closely matched on Motor Trend's figure-eight lap, with the Golf R narrowly beating the Corolla by just 0.1 second (25.0 seconds vs. 25.1 seconds).
The transmissions account for significant differences in the driving experience. The GR Corolla basically demands that you use the paddle shifters because the 8-speed automatic behaves very much like a conventional, lackadaisical Toyota 8-speed automatic. You can use the paddle shifters on the Golf R as well, and it will delight with the dual-clutch's lightning-fast gear changes. But the automatic is as smart about performance driving as you are, so you can just let it do its thing and travel through the twists and turns at least as fast, and probably faster. Overall, the Corolla experience is very much about wrestling a powerful machine to get the most out of it, while the Golf R is more about enjoying the speed and feeling like a better driver in the process.
Both models provide a firmer ride compared to the more conventional models from which they are derived, with the GR Corolla feeling stiffer than the Golf R. Motor Trend editors, who may have a higher tolerance for such things, found neither ride to be punishing.
In the end, Motor Trend gives the win to the Golf R, stating: "The Volkswagen is the more refined machine, and it does everything the GR Corolla does at a slightly higher level. It's quicker, both on paper and in the real world, a bit quieter, a bit more comfortable, and quite a bit more practical."
If you're looking for a fun car that can still handle household duties with little sacrifice, the Golf R remains the top choice. Discover the extremely fun yet practical Golf R at Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood, featuring the wide-ranging Team Gillman Advantage, which includes a free lifetime engine warranty and other exclusive perks.