The Volkswagen R32 two-door hatchback was introduced to the U.S. market in 2004 as a range-topping model for VW’s performance cars. Starting with the Golf and GTI platform of the time, VW’s engineers shoehorned in enough upgraded parts to make the R32 a standout performer in its class. Along with the expected boost in power, courtesy of a narrow-angle V6, the R32 also included VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, more aggressive suspension tuning and a sporty interior. These upgrades enabled the R32 to generate fairly impressive performance statistics and earned it an almost cultlike following. The car’s limited availability added to its appeal — just 5,000 examples were sold stateside in that first and only year.
VW enthusiasts in the U.S. would have to wait four more years for the second-generation R32. Again available in limited numbers, the current Volkswagen R32 is based on the latest Golf, which is now called the Rabbit in the U.S. The exterior changes between the first- and second-generation R32s are subtle, and they pretty much share the same engine, but the new R32 boasts a stiffer body structure as well as a restyled interior and more cabin space.
While the R32 doesn’t compete directly with high-powered AWD Japanese offerings such as the Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, it nonetheless constitutes an alluring alternative to these rough-and-tumble sport compacts. R32 owners are treated to ample entertainment and exhilaration along with superior refinement and unflappable composure at speed. The end result is a car that is as comfortable in bumper-to-bumper traffic and on long trips as it is on the racetrack. Think of the R32 as an elegant and restrained interpretation of the “hot hatch.”
