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The 2015 Volkswagen Golf R begs the question: Why get anything else?

Details of the new Golf R are out ahead of its full debut at next week’s Detroit Auto Show. And all I can say is that it begs the question that any good Golf should: Why would you ever buy anything else?

With a claim like that, I had better get to the good stuff quickly. This car packs a massive punch: 290 horsepower from a turbocharged TSI 2.0-liter bomb. Not only is that 30 more horses than you got in last year’s Golf, it’s more than you get from the new WRX.

Don’t for a minute think that that all this power is being wasted trucking unnecessary weight around either. With the dual clutch DSG Automatic the R can sprint from zero to the speeding ticket territory of 62 mph in 4.9 seconds. That’s the kind of power that comes with responsibility.

In this case that responsibility comes in the form of shockingly good gas mileage, 33 mpg on the European cycle. EPA figures aren’t out yet, but a rough guess based on the last model suggests an EPA figure of 27 mpg combined. That is shockingly good on a car faster to sixty than most Porsche Boxsters.

In part this sinister German efficiency is achieved through the use of friendly Swedish pragmatism in the form of a Haldex all wheel drive system. VW says that the Golf R has permanent all-wheel drive, and that’s basically true, except for the Haldex coupling. This ingenious piece of technology doesn’t just stop sending power to the back wheels when they aren’t needed, it actually decouples the drive shaft to save the resistance and friction of turning it. This means you get front-wheel drive efficiency but AWD traction.

Speaking of traction, the Golf R uses a combination of technologies to make the car stick to the road like it was welded there. A multi-plate clutch directs power between the front and back. An oil pump commanded by the car’s robot brain can engage the clutch. The more engaged the clutch, the more power goes to the rear wheels. In fact this system can turn the car completely rear-wheel drive as needed. That gives the driver the opportunity to trick the computers into letting her get the tail out.

But as they say on late night infomercials: “that’s not all folks!” VW also throws in traction control that uses the brakes to intercede when wheels start to slip and what they call the XDS cross differential lock. This bit of engineering trickery allows the brakes to function as a limited-slip differential by sensing conditions indicating understeer and braking accordingly.

If all of that is more technical than you care for, allow me to summarize. You will need the jaws of life to pry this car loose in the corners. And that’s a good thing when you consider the kind of power it has.

The styling isn’t significantly different, but the changes VW made are good ones. The car gets new side skirts, an aggressive dual exhaust, and surprisingly nice standard 18-inch rims. I particularly like the LED running lights that look like they come of one of this car’s Audi cousins. They let you know that this car is something a bit special, without shouting to the world that you have no taste.

The interior is neither revolutionary nor anything particularly special to look at, but everything you could want is there. Leather, high quality synthetics, excellent seats, and because this car is German it will all be put together properly. Tech wise you get VW’s latest 5.8-inch touchscreen display, that comes packed with info and ‘tainment.

That brings me back to where I started. The Golf R, especially in its four-door guise, promises to be all things to all people. Want a safe, efficient run-around? The Golf R can do that. Want something with space in the back and enough traction to take you into the mountains for a day of skiing? The Golf R can do that. Want something that can beat the pants off of most Porsches, BMWs, and Mercs while still saving you enough money for a Caribbean vacation? The Golf R can do that to.

If you are only going to get one car, I struggle to think of why you wouldn’t at least consider the Golf R. Even if it ends up costing a bit more than the $35,000 of last generation, this thing is an absolute steal. Just don’t tell VW; we don’t want them to find out.

Peter Braun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
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The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
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Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
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That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack. 

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

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zoox recall crash 1739252352 robotaxi side profile in dark mode

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The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
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Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
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