2025 Volkswagen Golf R vs. GTI – POV Track Driving Impressions (Road America)
What’s new with the 2025 VW Golf R: Exterior and Design: Sharper, more aggressive styling with a redesigned front grille, new IQ.
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March 31, 2026
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I love my MK8.5 GTI, would i love having the Golf R? Of course…But the price difference was wild to me. I paid $32k for a 2025 GTI S, well worth it. It did surprisingly well in this past Ohio winter.
That iPad really taking up peripheral vision on track
It would be more fun if it were available in a manual transmission.
AWD in the wet is much more confidence inspiring than understeering. Limited Slip on a FWD does not create grip. For me that extra grip is worth the price difference
GTI price needs to come down IMO way too close to the Golf R price. Should be 15 to 20k cheaper not just 10k
Gti golf r or a3 s3 or better yet rs3 so many choices so little money 😂
Went on a test drive with a 2023 Golf R and a 2025 GTI SE and the GTI blew it out of the water; don't undermine it just because it's lower on the spec sheets
Sport actually means normal on the R so it wasn't really an ideal mode, should've been on Race or Nurburgrung mode
Which do you think is a better day to day driver?
I wish they would give the option of all weather tires for the Golf R.
An R is what 10-15k MORE. Why are you comparing them? 🤣
i mean the screen is nice but it looks like some random 3rd party apple carplay screen
Really excellent review, awesome to see them both in the rain. Which model of the GTI were you testing? Did it have DCC?
Thank you for the clear comparison between the Golf R and the GTI.
This video really makes me want to experience the Golf R for myself.
I’m a big fan of the Golf, and my channel is dedicated exclusively to Golf-related videos.
Of course, I always add Korean subtitles and post them only with the original creator’s permission. I also make sure to include proper links and tags.
If you kindly allow it, I would love to add Korean subtitles to this video and feature it on my channel. ❤
Nice sound, too!
i drive a GTI CS for around 2.5 years and i can´t wait to get rid of it tbh.
At all this car has zero emotion and the interior is cheap material + pops and bangs are annoying after couple months.
My MK8 GTI manual makes 356whp & 386wtq on 93 pump gas. Just a custom tune, intake, and cat back. Still stock downpipe. It's a blast to drive, the LSD up front does a great job. Running 17" wheels and sticky tires fixes a lot of things.
I love the Golf R in the MK8 platform, but I wouldn't leave it stock, so the cost of ownership after initial purchase would be the same. Therefore the price tag is still a big difference.
Even when pushing the tune on E40 the car made 390whp & 409wtq. It's a lot of power for the front wheels, but it's a riot. The only weak point at that level was very slight clutch slip. No need to run that much power all the time, so I stick to the 93 map and its more then perfect.
The Golf R is heavier by around 300lbs depending on how its optioned, as welll the drivetrain loss is higher. The tuning ceiling may be higher because of the bigger turbo, but any manual GTI or R can't survive over 400whp without.a clutch. Not to mention every DSG model can't be TCU tuned.
In my experienced opinion, the MK8 GTI manual is the best car for the money.
mk7 had a WAYYY nicer steering wheel. that’a my only gripe
The price difference doesn’t matter to me but I think the R color schemes are ugly. I like red and in general the GTI looks better.
S trim GTi is ~33k, every 2025 Golf R is 53k+ near me with black and euro pkgs adding on top :/
Car interiors are so hideous nowadays.
I’ve had a GTI and now I have an R. I sometimes think of getting something new, but there’s just nothing out there around the same price that does what the R can do. Especially where I live where it snows 7 months out of the year, the R is simply unbeatable. If I could ever afford an RS6, that’d be the dream. But that will always be out of my price range. Excellent video. Also impressed with your driving on a track that looks incredibly slippery.
Dude, what are you talking about? This is the most boring crap I've seen. If you're going to drive an automatic, just get an EV.
Golf r and integra type s are the choices Ik stuck between
Terrible interior. My last VW will be our 2019 Tiguan.
Im Car shopping right now, Its between Honda Type R, Acura Type S, and a 2024 GTI or 2024 Golf R, Manual only for me. I would have bought a GTI or R 2025 in a heart beat. I was at the dealer today, but i tried the Dsg and its a no go for me. Its so bland and boring. Not having a manual is criminal. I know 4 people who will not buy VW again because they got rid of manual. It sucks, because all these awesome cars are losing manual, and it will be down to 1 company (Honda) to keep making a manual performance car.
Much prefer the seat upholstery in the GTI
The infotainment screens in both cars are hideous. You can never NOT see it. A digital tablet, bright lights, in your face at all times. It's a pass.
Hello, do you recommend the Goldf R over the Elentra N? Thanks
I think I would lean towards the GTI 380 with a manual gearbox and then tune it. More fun with the manual and save some money over the R. Still love the R though.
Just watching the video has me agitated over that stupid looking huge screen…the Mk8 looks so much better. This is a deal breaker for me I hate it that much.
DCT ?