Performance Review: Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo - [2020]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Volkswagen-VW Golf Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2020. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2021 McMurtry Speirling Goodwood and the 2021 Rimac Nevera 1888bhp Electric AWD.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 1515 kgs (3340 lbs) this makes the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid or the give or take 50kg.

The Volkswagen-VW Golf shares the same bhp with the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 1984cc 16V St4 engine produces 296 bhp (220 kW) @ 5300 rpm similar to the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 295 lb-ft (399.9 Nm) @ 5200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (310 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 2016 BMW 1 Series M140i F21 LCI (220.3 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 195.3 bhp per ton and 194.7 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2020 Golf competing with the 2016 BMW 1 Series M140i F21 LCI (220.3 bhp per ton) or the 2019 Toyota Supra GR RZ 3.0 Turbo (220.3 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 194.7 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 2004 Audi A6 RS6 Avant Plus 4.2L V8 Twin Turbo (219.6 lb-ft per ton) or the 2009 Dodge Challenger 5.7 V8 R/T (219.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.6 secs, this made the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo as fast as the 2022 BMW i7 xDrive60 (4.50 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs) the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge 6.6 V12 Twin turbo (4.50 secs) the or the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive Cabrio 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs). This Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo is also faster than the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.60 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.60 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i 3.0 Cabrio Turbo F23 (4.60 secs) the and the 2020 Audi A3 S3 Saloon (4.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Golf and the 1999 Porsche Boxster 3.2 S 260

When talking about the performance of the Volkswagen-VW Golf on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.97 secs @ 97.9 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1999 Porsche Boxster 3.2 S 260 (13.92 secs), the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (13.93 secs), and the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo (13.93 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2020 version of the Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2020 Golf equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2020 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2020 Golf Rivals List.

A Brief History of Volkswagen-VW

Car Comparison