2025 Mini JCW Countryman All4 vs. 2025 Volkswagen Golf R: Fun things, small packages?

This week: Volkswagen Golf R.

Price: $52,416 as tested. Monster Mats and trunk liner, $296. More whined about below.

Conventional wisdom: Car and Driver likes the “inconspicuous hatchback exterior, mighty turbo four, tenacious all-wheel-drive chassis,” but not the “manual transmission option gone for 2025, one expensive Golf, cool wagon version not sold in U.S.”

Marketer’s pitch: “Legendary performance, updated.”

Reality: The funner and smaller contestant.

What’s new: The Golf R is the hatchback that out-GTIs the GTI, with faster performance and all-wheel drive. More horsepower (another 13), some design tweaks, and some new packages grab the Golf R for 2025.

Competition: In addition to the JCW Coun

See Full Page