Entered CNET Catalog: 08/15/2007
SKU: 100895778
Manufacturer: Volkswagen
Product summary
The good: The 2008 Volkswagen R32 delivers more power and better handling than you would expect from a hot hatchback, and it is a fine-looking car.
The bad: iPod integration is a hack, using the stereo's CD changer port, and so not able to show song information. Worse, iPod integration, included with the subpar navigation system, takes away the six-disc changer.
The bottom line: The poor cabin electronics in the 2008 Volkswagen R32 keep it from being a great tech car, but its drivetrain tech makes up somewhat for that lost ground. However, there are many good sport sedans that come in around the same price.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 01/03/2008
Photo gallery:
2008 Volkswagen R32
Hot hatchback aficionados dream of a car like the 2008 Volkswagen R32. Where most hot hatchbacks, such as the 2007 Honda Civic Si, use front-wheel drive and a four-cylinder engine, the R32 upgrades those specs with all-wheel drive and a 3.2-liter V-6, giving it exceptional handling and power that doesn't fade at high speed. And the look of the R32 is about as refined as a hatchback can be.
But the real draw of a hot hatchback is its affordability coupled with practicality. They make good starter cars for the driving enthusiast who also needs to use them as daily drivers. The R32 meets the latter requirement while pushing the envelope on the former. Although it competes in a pricier echelon, its cabin electronics fall far short, with a slow navigation system and a truly bizarre stereo setup.
Test the tech: The hottest hatchback
The 2008 Volkswagen R32 is a car you can use to pick up groceries or spend a day sport driving along mountain roads. We decided to do both. For our test, we packed a grocery bag with carbonated beverages, a few cans of Coke and some fizzy water, and put it in back of the R32. Then we thrashed the car along one of our favorite sports car test roads, a run that includes uneven pavement and hairpin turns. Our usual harrowing drive would include the added danger of beverages exploding all over the cargo area of the car.
The R32 comes with Volkswagen's DSG transmission, a dual-clutch manual that operates the clutch for you. Before we headed down our mountain run, we switched the car into manual mode, as we would want to take full advantage of this transmission. The DSG can do the shifting for you, and even has a pretty good Sport mode that does a decent job of holding gears, but in manual mode you get lightning fast shifts when you flick the steering-wheel-mounted paddles.
We jammed the R32 down the chute, a narrow road running along a hillside covered in tall redwood trees, in third gear, downshifting to second with a touch of the left paddle as we approached our first turn. Coming in from the outside, we dove into this 90 degree twist, shoving the throttle down to bolt the car out the other side. With the R32's all-wheel-drive, we had grip all the way through, without any sign of wheel slippage. We pointed the car and it followed, its engine making a satisfying growl as the revs climbed in second gear. But we expected no less, as the R32's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is based on the same Haldex limited slip coupling as the Quattro system we've also tried on the Audi S5.
As we got more comfortable with the car and the road, we pushed it a little harder, trying it out on a good hairpin where we had visibility all through the turn and down the road a fair distance. Again, the car wouldn't slip, and its sway bar kept body roll to a minimum. But this road also has many small dips and rises, making the car jounce up and down on what felt like a too soft suspension. On one of these jounces we also felt some hard braking from the front-left wheel as the stability program stepped in, not that we were in any danger of tipping.
We took our road's many twists and turns in second and third gear, enjoying the shifts and the grip of the car, then added some extra miles on a fun side road that went in the right direction. At the end, we pulled off the highway and had a look under the hatch. Amazingly, our grocery bag was still upright, although on the opposite side from where we had initially placed it. Of course, our bottles and cans were all tipped over, but when we popped open one of the Cokes, we got minimal spray. The car proved a stable platform, its all-wheel-drive preventing the rear end from violently sliding around.
In the cabin
Although the 2008 Volkswagen R32 surprised us with its stability on our tech test, its cabin gadgets didn't exactly pass muster. Our car came equipped with a navigation system and iPod integration for the stereo, something we are always eager to test out. Bluetooth cell phone integration isn't available on the R32.
The first--and most bizarre--thing we noticed was that the car had no CD player. The option sheet pointed out that, with the iPod option, the six-CD changer wouldn't be present. Apparently there is also no single CD slot when the navigation system is present. With iPod integration, CDs are unnecessary so the iPod integration is good. The R32 has an iPod dock in the center console, which is nice, but the stereo interface is the same as if you bought an aftermarket dock and hooked it to the CD changer connection on the stereo. The interface on the stereo head unit assigns the first five playlists as CDs 1 through 5. CD 6 includes all the songs on the iPod. Because the stereo display can't show song information, only referring to each track by its number on the iPod, choosing music is a matter of blindly turning the knob through dozens of tracks. We really would have preferred a CD changer in this case.
The stereo also had Sirius satellite radio as a choice, but again, we weren't very happy with the interface. It did show channel and track information, but we found it very difficult to choose individual channels that weren't on the presets. However, if you can get a decent music source, audio quality is good. The car has a center-fill speaker on the dashboard and a subwoofer. Although the audio wasn't stellar, we were pleased with the high notes and the bass kick.
As for the navigation system, while it performs the basic functions we expect, it suffers from slow hardware. We were easily able to program addresses manually or by point of interest. Even selecting a point on the map for an address went smoothly, something we wouldn't expect as this system doesn't use a touch screen. But using route guidance is made difficult because the location of the car on the map often lags behind the car's actual position. We frequently found we had already passed a street when the navigation system indicated we should turn. The R32 is one of the few cars we would recommend getting without the navigation system, which should allow for either a single- or six-disc changer in the dash.
Under the hood
The real reason for the 2008 Volkswagen R32 to exist at all is so people can brag about having a really fast VW Rabbit with excellent handling. Obviously, its audience is a pretty select group. But you can also look at it as a way to get an Audi-quality driving experience for about 10 grand less than VW's high-end sibling.
The R32's engine is a 3.2-liter V-6 producing 250 horsepower. Surprisingly, VW doesn't use its FSI direct-injection technology on this engine, opting for multipoint injection through an intake manifold. We are big fans of the DSG dual-clutch transmission, and VW includes it standard on the R32. Each flick of the shifter paddles produces a visceral gear change and lets you keep the revs up there in peak horsepower territory. Or, if you're feeling lazy or just cruising in traffic, let the computer shift the transmission, which should save some gas.
We like the growl this engine makes and how well we could control it with the DSG, but it doesn't turn in rocket-engine power. VW rates the R32 at 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds; fast, but not devastating. We didn't attempt an independent test of this figure, but from our various fast starts, we can believe it. The car's all-wheel-drive system, which provides such good road grip, keeps it from being the fastest car off the line. But with as much as 75 percent of its torque going to the rear wheels, you definitely don't get torque steer, something common with front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks.
Although it performs better than most hot hatchbacks, one area where it lags is fuel economy. The EPA gives it 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, where its smaller-engined brother, the Volkswagen GTI, gets 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. In our test driving, we saw an average of 20.1 mpg for the R32. For emissions, it gets the minimum LEV II rating from the California Air Resources Board.
In sum
The 2008 Volkswagen R32 comes with the V-6, all-wheel-drive, and the DSG for a base price of $32,990. The only option available is the navigation system, which comes with iPod integration, for $1,800. Along with a $640 destination charge, our R32 totaled $35,430. At that price, the VW gets competition from a number of luxury-sport sedans, but still falls about 10 grand under the price of an Audi TT with a similar size engine and Quattro all-wheel-drive.
In our review, we had to mark it down substantially for its cabin electronics. But in the areas of performance and design, we give it high marks. It's a very good-looking car, and it handles exceptionally well. The suspension seemed a little soft, but that could have been due to our receiving a test car that had been mercilessly used by the journalists who had gotten hold of it before us.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11out of 11 user reviews
best car i ever had
Pros: performance, limited production,
Cons: needs a turbo or supercharger
the blue stands out the most. rice burner and muscle car guys don't get it.
V-Dub baby!
oh yeah, review the RNS-510 head unit....
out of 11 user reviews
Bad Ass, fun to drive car that slips under the radar
Pros: Fun to drive, interior, duct tape on tires, fun to drive
Cons: Gas mileage, exhaust makes funny \ bad sound. Minor issues with car sense day one
I have never owned a VW so I am not a fan boy. I read reviews on this car then went out and drove it. Then I bought it. This may be the best car on the road from a cost to performance value perspective. Seriously.
Minor problems with car since taking it home. 1) Annoyance is the exhaust which makes a metal on metal noise “Braaaaap!” under heavy acceleration or on down shift. 2) The DRL’s didn’t work until I took it back in and they fixed them. 3) The rear power socket doesn’t work. 4) The rear head rest doesn’t go up. All minor things for the most part, except maybe the exhaust but still annoyances for a new car. Other then that if any of you people who don’t own this car actually go out and test drive one, I think you’ll shut up about what other cars should be bought or “how bad” you think this car is.
In my last attempted update I detailed how CNet reviewers made mistakes and in some case were just out and out wrong if not lying in their review of this car. I also noted that they had not removed the one line sentence review of someone who had given the car a 2 rating. Today that review can still be seen here. Having this one review left on the site keeps the publics review more in line with Cnets review rating. No one can reply to this review nor can they ask that it be removed. This is a sad pathetic site and if it were not for my constant attempt to let people know the truth about some of these products I myself have tested and own I would leave and never look back. Folks I wish there was a way for me to let you know just how completely and totaly false the reviews made by CNet are here. They are nothing more then bought and sold by the companies who create the products they review. Given CNet enough money and get a stellar review... dont give them any and get a lack luster "Oh heres a product, it has this shape and is this color." review. I wish I was joking but sadly I am spot on. This car is awesome folks. It may honestly be the best performance to value on the market. Buy it if you are even slightly on the fence or even way to the other side. Dispite the review given here, this is just one really really nice car.
out of 11 user reviews
CD Changer
Pros: CD Changer in disguise, look closely.
Cons: Now everyone thinks there is no option for a CD changer when you buy the Nav option.
GTI Driver.
out of 11 user reviews
For what you get, the price is way over priced. Much rather blow it on a BMW
Pros: Light vehicle, 230+ HP
Cons: Too much money for what you get. Offers only 1 option. The option it offers sucks!
out of 11 user reviews
reviewer is nuts
Pros: incredible handling, loads of power
Cons: mediocre gas econ, lots of road noise
out of 11 user reviews
iPod text: More than meets the eye?
Pros: Fun to Drive, Looks
Cons: MPG, Cost for a two door
out of 11 user reviews
The most fun car I've ever had
Pros: Tight, responsive, nimble, fast. Brakes are fantastic.
Cons: Ipod integration (inexcusable, really)
out of 11 user reviews
Top end VW and a blast to drive
Pros: AWD, Euro Interior, Wicked Fast Shifts, Driver Connection
Cons: MPG, Need 50-70 more hp, "standard" front license plate
The driver is surrounded by quality German engineering and I’m not talking just about the excellent build quality. The controls are thoughtfully presented and easy to access. Gorgeous and distinctive interior comes in any color you, want as long as you want anthracite black! She has good options for people in the front, many ways to adjust the manual seats that are supportive and even comfortable on long trips. The only power option on the seat is four way lumbar, nice touch! The rear seats are comfortable for longer trips but adults taller than 6’ could suffer. The rear ride is kids and forward facing car seat friendly but predictably tough access for a two door. Even a quick glance at the inside of this hatch says she is up scale and functional but not high maintenance!
The outside is improved from the GTI, and not just different badges. The Uber GTI comes with Center exhaust, standard high wing out back. An on R32’s nose is R32 only brushed aluminum center grill with chrome two bar vents and self leveling HIDs that leave no need for fog lights. Paint quality and painted surface are flawless. All four colors (R32 distinctive Deep Blue Pearl, or United Gray, Candy White, and Tornado Red in order of availability) inspire much debate and deliberation as to which is the best color.
Driving the car a novice will note right away that she is confident and capable. The shifts are lighting quick. She is fast but not scary fast. It’s obvious this car will take anything on the road in the twisties but will be over taken on the straight away. R32’s HP numbers just don’t allow her to be the factory super sprinter of her similarly equipped rivals. Regardless, the drive is invigorating, quick, tight, and manaored.
Gas mileage and EPA numbers that are legal but would impress a tobacco executive return useable power and performance. If this bothers you might I suggest a GTI or possibly a Honda in your future? Don’t buy this car for the eco friendly or the miles per gallon!!!
R32 is the sweet looking tom boy in a dress that can handle kids! She is a looker at the party, a lady to your friends, and wild when your alone together!
out of 11 user reviews
review mistake
Pros: cheaper than an Audi
Cons: not an Audi
That may be true, but unfortunately it's not an appropriate comparison. A more apt comparison would be the V6 AWD Audi A3. That car has the same engine and transmission as the R32; its only major difference (besides being Audi rather than VW) is that it has five doors, compared to the R32's three.
The AWD Audi A3 costs only ~$2,000 more than the R32. At that price differential, I'd definitely get the Audi. Besides all the luxury and quality touches in the Audi, the Audi's extra doors make it even more practical.
out of 11 user reviews
$35,000 hatchback
Pros: 4x4 hatchback with some power
Cons: doesnt compare with Lexus or Acura at the price
out of 11 user reviews
About $4k or 50hp shy of being a must-have.
Pros: Great handling. Fast AND capable. Upscale interior.
Cons: What C/Net said. Limited to one configuration.
VW's made the mistake of only offering this model with the DSG and 2 doors here in the U.S. while the european market has choices of a true manual six-speed and four doors. I believe VW missed a big chance to broaden the appeal of ths car to a much larger market. The easier-to-live-with DSG tranny, while an awesome piece of engineering (the 7-speed version just got debuted in Germany) would have been much better suited to a four-door model and made a more 'mature' choice for those with family who still desire a fun car. The 2-door with a real row-your-own 6-speed would have satisfied those of us who took VW's old 'Drivers Wanted' ad campaign to heart. In the U.S. configuration this car is as fast point-to-point as anything out there. It has so much grip that your corner speeds will creep and astonish you without biting you on the ass like much more sporty cars can. And the brakes are more than capable. This is one of the few cars out there that likes to be flogged and puts a smile on your face at every apex. Go to YouTube and search for 'Top Gear R32' for a good performance review of the euro-model 4-Door with the DSG gearbox. And if you think the lower priced front wheel drive four cylinder turbo GTI with a bit more tuning is the answer, Google up Automobile Magazine's comparison where they tuned their long-term GTI up to the same HP as the R32 and tested them side by side.
With the dealer lot showing stickers of $35k (I don't know what incentives there are right now) VW also came in about $4k too high for a 2-Door Hatch. There are several good sporty sedans out there in the mid-30s price range that would feel like more car for the money. BMW, Acura, even Audi are well represented at that price.
And then there will be the inevitable comparison to the other all-wheel-drive sports cars, the Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi EVO, both of which are about 300hp, and will run rings around a stock R32 on a roadcourse. That being said the R32 is a much quieter, solid ride that waay more civilized in the daily grind. Kind of an oranges & nectarines comparison if you ask me. The R32's interior is well-appointed, as noted before. I'd rather have the CD Changer if it plays MP3s.
So there it is in my very humble opinion. What rules you? Your heart or your head (or your wallet)? For a little less $$ this car would be an all-time steal. With 4 Doors it would make a palatable, sensible car. The ordinary manual tranny could allow for a price drop. Or just add a bit more power (trust me, this car could handle 50hp more with no other modifications) and you justify the price easily. Not an easy choice if your looking at the numbers. And if you're seriously looking at R32 ownership then you absolutely have to drive it. If you're not dead serious then don't drive it 'cause numbers don't matter after that grin stretches across your face. VW sold all 5000 of the original U.S. model R32s easily for a very good reason. This batch (did I tell you there will only be 5000 imported?) will be gone soon as well.
This choice isn't easy.
