We already know the Volkswagen Golf is a great car, and we know that the mega-hatch Golf R is quicker than many sports cars. But, what if you want some of the added style and aggression of the R, without the added running costs? Step forward, the R-Line trim level.
Available with either the petrol 1.4-litre TSI engine or 2.0-litre TDI diesel, both of which have 148bhp, this adds deep front and rear bumpers, with a larger front air intake and rear diffusers. The R-Line also has lower side skirts to hunker it down to the road and 17-inch ‘Singapore’ alloy wheels.
These alloys aren’t quite as sporty as those fitted to the Golf R, and will be the biggest give-away for any car spotting aficionados, but they look very smart and don’t upset the ride quality like bigger wheels can. Twin chrome tailpipes look sporting in a polite way, without being as tantalising as the quad pipes fitted to the full-fat version.
Of course, the interior gets some upgrades too, with R-Line emblazoned front door sills, ‘Sports Race’ front seats with R-Line logos, a leather gear gaiter and a sports steering wheel. It’s a subtle makeover, but we already loved the standard Golf’s interior, so even slight improvements place it even further ahead of rivals.
For driving pleasure, we’d have no reservations in going for the petrol engine, which is smooth and punchy. It also has a great spread of power, so it’s fun to hold on to gears for much longer than you’d be able to in the diesel model. With 0-62mph taking 8.2 seconds, it’s around a second quicker over this benchmark too.
Volkswagen has done a great job at making the petrol very refined, but they might actually have been too sensible here, as a more purposeful roar from the exhaust would have suited R-Line customers better than its muted soundtrack. But, this does make the Golf a relaxing long-distance companion.
Going for the petrol isn’t going to hit your wallet too badly either, partly thanks to Active Cylinder Technology, which allows two of the engine’s four cylinders to shut down when little power is needed. Combined consumption is 58.9mpg combined, along with 112g/km of CO2 emissions, making it very affordable to tax.
Our test car was fitted with optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) suspension, allowing three stiffness settings for the suspension. In its softest mode, the ride is comfortable, and there’s still not too much body roll, so we found it the setting we used most on pockmarked British roads. You can, however, switch into the two stiffer settings if the mood takes you, and the car feels more instantly responsive as a result.
So, it’s a very good car then, the Golf R-Line. But, it’s also quite pricey, with a starting figure of around £25k for the five-door manual. This means it’s likely to remain a niche choice, as you’ll need to prioritise the quality of the highly-specced Golf over rivals which are available with more performance for a similar price.
