Photo: Volkswagen
Bonkers body kits and frugal engines go together like wasabi sauce and chips – stupid in theory, awesome in practice. You can order the diesel engine and pay less at the pump while having a car that everybody thinks is really hot. Audi started the trend with the S line kits but nowadays, pretty much everybody does it, including Mercedes. Today, the guys at Volkswagen announced the Golf R-Line is bringing the same mix to UK dealerships come March 2015, with prices starting from £24,190.
Normally, the R-Line is a body kit you can order as an option, but in the UK, this is now the highest trim level available, sitting over GT. That kind of explains why you have to pay Passat money for a posing Golf.
For £24,190, you get pretty much everything, including Discover Navigation, sports suspension (lowered by approximately 10 mm), PreCrash preventive occupant protection as standard equipment.
The body kit offered looks almost exactly like the one on the 300 hp Golf R. It includes an R-Line rear spoiler, side skirts and radiator grille, bespoke air intakes, R-Line front bumpers and fog lights, R-Line rear bumper and diffuser, and 17-inch Singapore alloy wheels. The wheels are the only letdown feature in our opinion!
Inside, you get stainless steel pedals and front door sills, black lead grey inlays and door trims, Sports Race design front seats with R-Line logo, black rooflining, leather gear knob plus gear lever gaiter and R-Line leather multifunction sports steering wheel.
The other engine is the 2-liter TDI making 150 PS and capable of returning 68.9 mpg on the combined cycle. It can be yours for £24,675 with a manual or from £26,765 with a 6-speed DSG.
Our say: Usually, we recommend the petrol engines, but in this case the 1.4 is made more expensive by its Active Cylinder Technology, so there's only £500 between them. We'd get the TDI because it offers more torque and in a fake hot hatch, it's the one you want.
For £24,190, you get pretty much everything, including Discover Navigation, sports suspension (lowered by approximately 10 mm), PreCrash preventive occupant protection as standard equipment.
The body kit offered looks almost exactly like the one on the 300 hp Golf R. It includes an R-Line rear spoiler, side skirts and radiator grille, bespoke air intakes, R-Line front bumpers and fog lights, R-Line rear bumper and diffuser, and 17-inch Singapore alloy wheels. The wheels are the only letdown feature in our opinion!
Inside, you get stainless steel pedals and front door sills, black lead grey inlays and door trims, Sports Race design front seats with R-Line logo, black rooflining, leather gear knob plus gear lever gaiter and R-Line leather multifunction sports steering wheel.
Only two engines are available on the Golf R-Line, both producing 150 horsepower.
The cheapest model in the range comes with a 1.4-liter turbo TSI, pushing 150 PS through a 6-speed manual gearbox. It will reach 62 mph from a standing start in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 134 mph. You can also order it with a DSG 7-speed auto, in which case the price jumps to £26,260.The other engine is the 2-liter TDI making 150 PS and capable of returning 68.9 mpg on the combined cycle. It can be yours for £24,675 with a manual or from £26,765 with a 6-speed DSG.
Our say: Usually, we recommend the petrol engines, but in this case the 1.4 is made more expensive by its Active Cylinder Technology, so there's only £500 between them. We'd get the TDI because it offers more torque and in a fake hot hatch, it's the one you want.
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