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2008 Volkswagen R32
2008 Volkswagen R32
Great Hatch, With a Catch
For those willing to spend the money, the Volkswagen R32 is a supremely capable hatchback with handsome styling, a potent engine and reflexes like a rabbit.
Like the more affordable Volkswagen GTI on which it’s based, the R32 is especially fun to drive. Consider it a loaded GTI deluxe: a 250-horsepower, all-wheel-drive hatchback that can go toe-to-toe with any car in its price range in terms of design, amenities and technology.
It's akin to a growling terrier that latches onto the pavement and won’t let go. And it always seems a bit disappointed when playtime is over.
The price is the only catch. The VW R32 starts at $32,990, rising to almost $35,000 with a navigation system and iPod adapter. That makes the R32 among the most expensive hatchbacks ever sold in the United States, along with its four-door corporate cousin, the Audi A3.
The R32’s price also puts it in competition with cars from luxury brands that have more clout, like the turbocharged BMW 135i ($34,900), 330-hp Infiniti G37 ($34,500) and more prestigious Mercedes-Benz C-Class (starting at $32,435).
But the R32 has something those other models don't. It includes a ground-breaking automated manual transmission, called Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), that is one of the smoothest and fastest-acting transmissions in the industry. It combines the ease of an automatic for everyday driving with the precise control of a paddle-shift racing gearbox for spirited stints.
It’s so good that high-end brands like BMW and Porsche are working to develop their own versions — yet for now, this technology remains exclusive to Volkswagen and Audi.
Despite their practicality, hatchbacks aren’t especially popular in the United States, though the success of the Mini Cooper has brightened that outlook. Still, when prices climb above $30,000, many Americans reflexively look for something larger, like a sedan or sport utility vehicle.
Perhaps that reality prompted Volkswagen to make the R32 a limited edition, with just 5,000 copies coming to the United States for 2008. Between its exclusivity and strong European performance character, there’s little doubt that the R32 will find a small but loyal following here.
Those who can swallow the price can take solace in the fact that they own one of the most sophisticated small cars ever offered in America.
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