All-wheel drive vs front-wheel drive. EA888 vs K20C1. Germany vs Japan. Which madly expensive hot hatch should you buy?
. The original Type R was a hooligan. It was raw and visceral, with a high-revving VTEC nutter living under the bonnet. By contrast, the Golf R was the gentleman’s hot hatch; a car for grown-ups not scallywags. Mightily quick, but with mild manners and everyday usability as its USP.
Think how those lines of development haven’t just bent towards each other, but intersected. The FK8 was still at the extreme end dynamically but oh-so-easy to live with, and the FL5 comes with even more improvements on that front. Its ride is still cushy but it’s even quieter inside. And thanks to the latest Civic’s increased size, it’s now more than capable of carting the family around on the days when it’s not ripping up the Tarmac on your favourite road.
The one thing that split opinion when it came to the FK8 was its looks, which could be kindly described as ‘out there’ and downright minging if you’re being less circumspect. The FL5 arguably sees to that, and on top of it, comes with a much smarter interior – a very smart interior, actually – with high-end materials and even an infotainment system that works. It’s like the last pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place, creating the ultimate hot hatchback.
What happened to the Golf R in that time? Well, it’s gone the other way, hasn't it? Many would argue its looks have become less appealing, the interior quality has taken a nosedive, and the best description of its infotainment system is a no-nonsense one: it's crap. Even those within Volkswagen circles would agree, because it’s about to ditch the system completely. But while it’s fallen back to where the Type R was in some areas, it’s also gained a bit of attitude.
We'd argue that Honda and Volkswagen have crossed the streams, so much so that when you look at their price, pace, space and silliness, you really ought to be cross-shopping if you’re in the market for a hot hatch. Bearing in mind the scarcity of the FL5, you may not even have that luxury - in which case, is the Golf R a worthy substitute for the all-conquering Type R? Watch the video to find out.
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