Volkswagen Golf R vs Honda Civic Type R

The current Volkswagen Golf R is the most popular model of the hatchback sedan range since it arrived in the showrooms in 2014, but is even hotter with the addition of a new Performance Pack, as well as more fruity options.

However, it is only available on cars equipped with the DSG automatic transmission. In addition, the Performance Pack costs £ 2,300 in addition to the £ 34,910 catalog price of the five-door Golf R. VW has a job to do to win: the Civic Type R Honda

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As standard, the Japanese model is more focused on the driver than the Golf R model, and it is also cheaper. So, can the improved Hot Golf beat the best car in its class?

Head-to-Head

Model:	Volkswagen Golf R DSG 5dr Performance Pack	Honda Civic Type R GT
Price:	£ 37,210 (incl. £ 2,300 Performance Pack) [19659011] ] £ 33,525
Engine:	2.0 liter 4cyl turbo petrol	2.0 liter 4cyl turbo petrol
Pick up torque:	306bhp / 400Nm	316bhp / 400Nm
Transmission:	] Automatic seven-speed DSG, four-wheel drive	Six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive
0-60 mph:	4.6 seconds	5.9 seconds
Maximum speed: [19659007] 166mph	169mph
Economics of the test:	31.0mpg	31.2mpg
CO2 / tax:	163g / km / 140 £	176g / km / £ 140 [19659033] Options:	Met. paint (£ 635), Akrapovic exhaust (£ 2,975), stereo Dynaudio (£ 550), keyless entry and go (£ 375), chassis dynamic control (£ 850), Lane Assist Plus (£ 1,225)	No

] Volkswagen Golf R

For: Lightning performance, very powerful chassis, good to live every day.
Against: Dear, The performance pack does not add enough, not as engaging to drive as the Civic.

The Golf R exists since 2014 and was updated in early 2017 with the rest of the Golf range. But that's the first time it's available with a Performance Pack.

The option adds £ 2,300 to the price of R, and brings new 19-inch alloys with wider tires, bigger brakes and a spoiler that increases support. The pack also removes the speed limiter of the Golf, it can now reach 166 mph, although it is obviously out of place on the road.

There is no upgrade and the 306bh / 400Nm engine remains unchanged. His performance is still very impressive, and he feels brutally disconnected from the line thanks to his four-wheel drive system and quick-change dual-clutch gearbox.

He easily beat the Honda in our 0-60 mph test, but Gear, the golf began to fall behind. From 30-50 mph in the fourth both hot hatches were level, posting times of 3.4 seconds, while 50-70 mph in fifth, the Golf was slightly slower.

The engine is not as exciting as Honda's reviron unit and produces its power and torque are lower in the rev range. This means that it is easy to access performance without pushing the engine hard, but the engine of the Civic is more rewarding to use. This is also the case of the gearbox which, although fast, is far from being as fun as the sublime manual shift of the Honda.

The Akrapovic titanium exhaust from our test car helps make the engine less attractive. it's strong and has a racy tone. Still, it's also an expensive option, at £ 2,975.

The direction of the VW is accurate, but does not have the fastest response rate of the Honda's rack and feels a bit of light. Yet, the abundant grip of the chassis gives a lot of confidence and the Golf is very easy to drive very fast. But unless you often take it on track, the Performance Pack does not seem to be worth it. This car is very similar to the normal road R Golf, although the upgraded brakes are sturdy.

The most important option to consider is the Dynamic Chassis Control system at £ 850. This allows you to change the suspension settings between Comfort, Normal and Sport modes.
In Comfort and Normal, it's still firm but compliant, so it's just as usable as the Type R on British roads. Sport mode is still able to cope with strong bumps without upsetting the chassis, and does not seem as aggressive as the Civic's + R mode.

Whatever the driving style, the Golf R feels stuck on the road. This is only when he is pushed hard that he will start jumping on rough asphalt.

Testers' Notes

• • Views: The Golf infotainment is among the best; it is easy to use and looks modern. It comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, too
• • Dashboard: A simple and elegant layout is very easy to use.
• • The Golf R Performance pack is only DSG; it's a shame because the manual is more fun to drive.

Honda Civic Type R

For: Maneuverability and engaging dynamics, practicality, beautiful gearbox.
Against: Mediocre infotainment, repulsive interior design, exterior styling divider.

The name of the Honda Civic Type R has been around for over 20 years, but this latest version is arguably the best one, even though it missed the VTEC action of older vehicles. Although the current 2.0-liter turbo engine is not an exceptional engine, the engine produces 316 hp and 400 Nm of torque, making the fastest Civic ever built.

The R type took 5.9 seconds to reach 60 mph from one stop our runway tests, which was 1.3 seconds slower than the Golf. This is the launch control system of VW and the four-wheel drive powertrain, which offer a perfect breakaway every time.

But the Civic went from 30-70 mph to just 4.3 seconds – just three tenths behind the Golf, and again it's up to VW's transmission – because its DSG gearbox is getting move as fast as possible with the Civic manual. There is no doubt that you will have more fun in the Honda because the Type R gear selector is shiny, mechanical and fun to use, involving you more.

In third gear, the Type R took only 2.2 seconds of 30-50 mph, two tenths faster than the R Golf, and it went from 50-70 mph in fifth five tenths more faster than his rival. With a rolling start, Honda's greater power and lower weight mean it's the faster of the two.

With its brilliant limited slip differential, the acceleration of the Civic out of turns is explosive. As you get energy, the Type R tightens its line and the chassis can match what the engine offers. The Golf R's differential electronic traction and four-wheel drive system
also means the engine is running at an incredible rate, but it's not as engaging as the Honda. The Type R steering is more communicative and it's nice to sneak around corners, whether pushing hard or driving more slowly.

The Civic has more character than the flat but effective Golf unit; the powerful mid-range torque offers incredible traction and the frantic nature of the high-revving engine is nice to push up to the red line, which is relatively rare for a turbocharged engine.

Standard adaptive shock absorbers of Type R offer comfort, Sport and + R. There is so little roll in the sport that it is not necessary to use the + R mode even stiffer on the road, but select it on track and Civic resistors roll even better. In comfort, it is on par with the softer tuning of the VW, with a fairly surprising level of compliance that makes the Honda a truly usable hot hatch.

Testers' Notes

• • Infotainment: The on-screen interface is difficult to use at best and can be difficult to use while on the move; we prefer to use the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay standard.
• • Transmission: There is no automatic option, but the action of manual movement is close to perfection. It is also a link with the previous R type
• • Seats: The support seats are sporty but comfortable. They add a classy touch to the interior.

Verdict

First Place: Honda Civic Type R

As a general proposition, the Type R is the best hot hatchback, and it's cheaper than the VW. He is faster, more refined, more capable and more involved in turns, more comfortable and more practical. The only real drawback is its infotainment system.

Second Place: Volkswagen Golf R

The Golf R Performance Pack combines performance and ergonomics in an everyday package, just like the Golf R. The pack is expensive and does not add enough to beat the Civic to the glory of the hot hatches; the Honda is more practical and fun to drive.