Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen’s fastest Golf lives in the shadow of the cheaper GTI, but did it emerge from the shade at our Anglesey shoot-out?

The latest R does away with the V6 engine of the previous models, and relies instead on a tweaked version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI powerplant from the GTI. But don’t be fooled, because with 266bhp, 350Nm of torque and four-wheel drive, the Golf R is the most potent variant of Europe’s benchmark family hatch.

Purposeful 18-inch wheels and centrally mounted twin tailpipes ensure the R looks the part, and the engine benefits from a reinforced block, new cylinder head and larger turbocharger. The result is a deceptively fast hatchback. Thanks to the company’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive hardware, the Golf never gets unruly, and if the transmission senses the front wheels struggling for grip it can send up to 100 per cent of power to the rear wheels. So whether you’re on a twisty road or negotiating the tight confines of our Anglesey track, the R is always incredibly composed.

Volkswagen’s excellent Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) suspension is still an optional extra on the Golf flagship – a  shame considering the car’s hefty £30,930 price – but even without it, the R strikes a decent balance between comfort and handling. Body control is good, the steering accurate and the responses precise enough to inspire confidence.

While it isn’t as pin-sharp or raw as hot hatches such as the Renaultsport Mégane 250, the Golf never feels unsettled.

This unflappable nature and refinement make it an extremely capable choice, but the R isn’t engaging enough to break into our top 10, like the GTI managed to do in 2009.