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VolkswagenGolf R Estate (2022-)

Available new
Medium estate
Petrol/Diesel/Mild hybrid

£47,150Typical price

Test score

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The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf was introduced in 2020, although it wasn’t until 2022 that the high-performance R model went on sale (it was updated in 2024 along with the rest of the Golf range). Like its predecessor, it’s available as a hatchback and in the estate form we’ve lab tested here. Is it any good? Find out by reading our full Volkswagen Golf R Estate review.

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What's included?

What is it?
What’s it like to drive?
How reliable are Volkswagen's cars?
How comfortable and spacious is it?
How economical is it to run?
How safe is it?
Is there anything I should look out for?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Comfort and practicality
Brand reliability 0-4 years

Jul 2025First reviewed by Which?
Jul 2021Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test cars

6 Jun 2025

Ease of driving

Overall
Visibility
Smoothness of power delivery
Driving stability
Cabin layout

How we test ease of driving

To find out how easy a car is to drive, we assess cars across a number of areas from visibility and handling to the layout of the cabin and how smoothly the engine delivers its power.

Performance

Overall
In-gear acceleration
Brakes

How we test performance

We test braking distances and whether the effectiveness of the brakes fade with repeat use. Performance is based on in-gear acceleration.

Comfort and practicality

Overall
Entry and exit
Seat comfort
Ride quality
Quietness
Seat space
Boot space (small SUVs and medium cars)

How we test comfort and practicality

Comfort and practicality includes how easy it is, or not, to get in and out of the car and the maximum height of occupants. We also measure road, wind and engine noise and assess how well the car deals with bumps from large potholes to jittery surfaces like cobble stones.

Euro NCAP

How we test euro ncap

Any car that receives a rating of two stars or less from Euro NCAP is made a Don't Buy. Any car that receives three stars can't be a Best Buy. If a car has been available for more than four years and has not been tested by Euro NCAP, it cannot be a Best Buy.

Safety kit

How we test safety kit

We factor in the safety equipment that’s factory-fitted or optional, along with how well the car protects its occupants and pedestrians in the event of an accident. We also test how easy it is to fit a variety of child car seats.

Brand reliability 0-4 years

Overall
Electric car reliability
Plug-in hybrid reliability
Petrol reliability
Diesel reliability

How we test brand reliability 0-4 years

Our reliability ratings are based on the feedback from tens of thousands of UK motorists, as collected in our annual Which? car survey. We divide all reliability feedback into three age groups: cars aged up to four years, five to nine years, and 10 to 15 years.

Brand reliability 5-9 years

Overall
Plug-in hybrid reliability
Diesel reliability

Brand reliability 10-15 years

Overall
Petrol reliability
Diesel reliability

General
Class	Medium estate
Luxury	No
Convertible	No
Availability	Available new
New price	£47,150 - £57,690
Fuel type	Petrol/Diesel/Mild hybrid
Tested fuel efficiency	32.8mpg
Length	4,651mm
Width (excluding wing mirrors)	1,789mm
Width (including wing mirrors)	2,075mm
Height	1,462mm
Driver max height
Second-row passenger max height
Boot space with seats up
Boot space with seats down
Number of seats	5
Folding rear seats	Yes
Isofix attachments	Yes
Turning circle	12 m
On sale date	10 March 2022
Lowest pence-per-mile cost	£18.58

Latest tested engine
Engine and trim name	2.0 TSI 333hp
Fuel type	Petrol
Capacity and power	2-litre (333hp)
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Driven wheels	Four-wheel-drive (4WD)
Fuel tank capacity	55 litres
Tested fuel economy: City / Out of town / Motorway (mpg)
Tested fuel economy: Combined (mpg)
Cost per mile	18.58p per mile
Cost of filling tank	£74
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
NOx level	Extremely Low (trace)
CO level	Low
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	196
Official fuel economy: WLTP	34.6
Braked tow load (KG)	1700kg
Unbraked tow load (KG)	750kg
Engine test date	27 May 2025
Test programme	2017

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