2017 Volkswagen Golf R hatch, wagon coming to Australia from $53k

8 May 2017

A quartet of new Volkswagen Golf R models will arrive in Australia shortly – including hatch and wagon options as part of the Golf Mk 7.5 update.

A quartet of updated Volkswagen Golf R (Mark 7.5) models have been revealed for Australia – though only the familiar Golf R hatch will be available immediately with the updated Golf’s release in July, priced at $52,990 for the six-speed manual, and $55,490 for the seven-speed DSG automatic. Three more Golf R variants – including two wagon versions – will follow in the following months. Prices remain unchanged on the Golf R hatch.

Notably, the Golf R Wagon is being added as a fixture in the range. Two hundred Golf R Wagons were imported as a special “Wolfsburg” series in 2015; it performed well enough to justify bringing in the model permanently. However, wagon deliveries won’t start until January 2018 and no pricing has been announced.

2017 Volkswagen Golf 7.5 R Hatch and Wagon – Chasing Cars

However, the Golf R Wolfsburg badge is also back – both as a hatch and as a wagon. The special Golf R Wolfsburg editions add additional kit, and both body styles will arrive from August 2018. Pricing on the Wolfsburg versions is expected imminently.

Both performance and specifications have improved across the Golf R range. Each model is powered by a 7kW-stronger 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder, now producing 213kW and 380Nm. That donk drives a 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system through either a six-speed manual or 7-speed DSG. Adaptive dampers are standard, as is Volkswagen’s extended electronic front differential lock (XDL)

The standard Golf R ($52,990 manual, $55,490 DSG) comes well-packed. There’s a 9.2-inch “Discover Pro” infotainment package with navigation, CarPlay and Android Auto with voice and gesture control. There’s an Active Info Display – a 12-inch fully digital driver’s screen; “Vienna” leather seats that are heated in the front, and electrically-adjustable for the driver, with memory. Premium paints are included in the price.

2017 Volkswagen Golf R 7.5 Hatch – Chasing Cars

The R has dark tinting on the rear and rear-side windows, 19-inch “Spielberg” alloy wheels, premium LED taillights with scrolling indicators – and automatic LED headlights – plus dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and go, a leather wheel with paddle shifters in the DSG model, plus auto wipers and front and rear parking sensors.

On the safety front, the standard Golf R includes forward collision warning and city autonomous emergency braking, 7 airbags and a rear view camera. A further $1,300 buys the Golf R Driver Assistance package, which adds radar cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Those extra safety features are standard on the special-edition Golf R Wolfsburg, which will be available in wagon and hatch – but we don’t have pricing yet.

2017 Volkswagen Golf R 7.5 Wagon – Chasing Cars

On top of advanced safety, the Wolfsburg also bundles grey-coloured 19-inch “Pretoria” alloys, real carbon fibre exterior mirror housings, carbon-effect Nappa leather seats, a 400-watt, 10-speaker Dynaudio Excite stereo, and chrome roof rails on the wagon.

The Wolfsburg will only available in Oryx White, Lapiz Blue, or Deep Black.

The Golf R will be launched in midwinter 2017 along with the rest of the Volkswagen Golf 7.5 range for Australia. We’ve got all the details on the range-wide update:

2017 Volkswagen Golf R prices – Australia