Performance Review: Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Volkswagen-VW Golf Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged.This particular Volkswagen-VW Golf has a 1984cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Golf shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Golf's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1508 kgs (3324 lbs) this makes the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Volkswagen-VW Golf shares the same bhp with the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp)

In terms of power the 1984cc 16V St4 engine produces 256 bhp (190 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp) or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (266 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 243 lb-ft (329.4 Nm) @ 2400 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (267 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Volkswagen-VW Golf you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2012 Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo S-Tronic Sportback (194.7 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Volkswagen-VW Golf.

The Volkswagen-VW Golf has a Power to weight ratio of 169.7 bhp per ton and 161.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 Golf competing with the 2012 Audi A3 S3 2.0 Turbo S-Tronic Sportback (194.7 bhp per ton) or the 2003 Volvo S60 2.5R (194.7 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Volkswagen-VW Golf generating around 161.1 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2013 BMW 4 Series 435i Coupe F32 (186.1 lb-ft per ton) or the 2011 BMW 3 Series 335i F30 (186.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.0 secs, this made the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo as fast as the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (5.80 secs) the or the 2017 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 280 (5.80 secs). This Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.90 secs) the and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 (5.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Golf and the 2017 Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8 Diesel

When talking about the performance of the Volkswagen-VW Golf on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.48 secs @ 94.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2017 Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8 Diesel (14.41 secs), the 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS (14.42 secs), and the 1998 Audi A6 4.2 Quattro (14.42 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo has a maximum speed of 130mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 Golf equals the 2010 Audi A1 A1 1.4 TFSI S-Tronic (141 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo then how about the 2010 Audi A1 A1 1.4 TFSI S-Tronic (141 mph), the 2009 Renault Clio 2.0 RenaultSport III 200 Cup (141 mph), or the 2006 Seat Leon 1.8 20vt Cupra R 210 (141 mph).

Related Links:

2012 Golf Rivals List.

A Brief History of Volkswagen-VW

Car Comparison