Volkswagen Golf 8.5 R (2025) International Launch Review
Now that the 245 kW VW Golf 8.5 R is back on the cards for local introduction, our intrepid contributor took a Black Edition version of Volkswagen’s most powerful Golf on a wet drive from Munich to Tergensee to see what it can do…
“Brace yourself.” It’s the closest thing to a mantra that I can form as I grab the key to the VW Golf 8.5 R.
The plan was simple: escape the bustle of Munich, the capital of southern Germany (Bavaria) and make my way to Tergensee, a town in the German Alps, to find some twisty roads and picturesque backdrops.

Just a note, while we’ve dubbed this latest generation of the Volkswagen Golf as “the 8.5” in South Africa, I’m reminded that this is an unofficial designation beloved in Mzansi (where Volkswagen brand loyalists abound), hence the quizzical facial expressions when I refer to it as such to my German peers.
South Africans, it would seem, are fond of labels; “Vrr-pha!” comes to mind. But this is no “mere” Golf 8.5 GTI hot hatchback, which will be introduced in South Africa in a couple of months, by the way; instead, I have access to 245 kW of 4Motion-equipped hatch in the shape of a Golf R Black Edition.
See also: Volkswagen Golf 8.5 GTI (2025) Price & Specs

And you might be thinking, “So what that you’re driving the VW Golf 8.5 R in Germany? Good for you, but we won’t get it in South Africa because of our poor fuel quality.” Right? Wrong.
Local VW Golf 8.5 R launch now probable
Now, I’m not saying that we are definitely going to get the full-fat VW Golf 8.5 R in South Africa, only that Volkswagen’s clever engineers have officially gotten around the fuel issue that has previously hamstrung its high-performance derivatives, and that a local launch is technically not only possible, but probable.

Will it be detuned by the time it lands in Mzansi? Based on experience, probably, but if I had to guess, it would arrive with circa 228 kW, but that’s my personal guestimation. Now, full disclosure – this isn’t my first time at the wheel, having piloted a VW Golf 8.5 R around a frozen Swedish lake earlier this year.
See also: VW Golf 8.5 R on ice – A 4Motion celebration

But this time, here on Volkswagen’s home turf, it would be different. This would be on grippy tarmac, the finest road infrastructure… in the world, and aspirated by a cool, crisp atmosphere for the VW Golf 8.5 R’s turbocharger to spool in. This would be driving bliss.
… but the weather said: ‘Nein!’
As I burst out of the garage, a flurry of tyre noise and bassy exhaust notes, my mood sank. The sky was dark grey, pregnant with storm clouds, and before I could say “Klappe zu, Affe tot!”, it began to drizzle.

Oh, that German phrase literally means “close the lid, the monkey is dead”, which is an admittedly odd way to say “that’s all, folks”, precisely how I felt when I realised my plans had been scuppered.
The drizzle turned to downpour, and my mood soured further, but as I sank into the amply bolstered driver’s seat of the Golf 8.5 R, it occurred to me that I had a great opportunity to not only enjoy a very privileged drive of a special car, but also the chance to put the Volkswagen’s all-wheel drive to the test.

What followed was me belting it down the autobahn, kicking off mile-long roostertails from all 4 wheels, rendering the grey countryside into a blur. Each town presented a respite, a moment to catch my breath, dive into a yellow-illuminated tunnel and emerge at the other end with the hope the rain had subsided.
Alas, it continued to bucket down. No matter, by now the Golf R and I had established a rhythm for me to appreciate its breakneck acceleration, the weighty feel of its helm on admittedly arrow-straight highway (yes, the most famous one), then scrubbing off the speed as I approached each charming little town.

Eventually, I got to the green lanes that led to the mist-obscured Alps and found a slice of heaven, meandering tree-lined roads on which I could finally bend the chassis through some lefts and rights, where the potential of the VW Golf 8.5 R could finally be unleashed.
Finally, a chance to carve up the twisties
During my previous go in the range-topping Golf (in Sweden), I stared through the side windows and maxxed out the first 3 gears, but here in a wet Germany, I could better appreciate the handling dynamics.

The numbers tell a story: 245 kW and 400 Nm of twist via a 7-speed DSG driving all 4 wheels. The result is impressive, but familiar. We’ve had hot hatchbacks of this nature for a while now, with this one feeling particularly well-honed, balanced, and take my word on this one fact – an absolute thrill to drive.
Each section of left-right-left is a dance, the VW Golf 8.5 R a great partner – lively but planted, with a rorty 4-cylinder bark that never drones. But, as I pull into Tergensee, merge with the traffic, and begin to reflect on the drive, I can’t help but feel a pang of melancholy. I can’t help but wonder, “Is this it?”.

Summary
I’m not disappointed with the VW Golf 8.5 R. In fact, it is engineered to the hilt, a bona fide weapon that punches above its weight. But, given that the pre-facelift version of the car costs just over R1 million (and this one is likely to be dearer still), it’s hard to determine its weight class (market position) these days.
Hot hatches aren’t the affordable giant slayers they used to be, and then there’s the fact that this might be the last petrol-powered Golf, performance-oriented or otherwise. I don’t know how I feel about that.
I recently spent some time with VW’s electrified Polo and its GTI sibling, and while an electrified future does not put me off, I can’t help but feel that we’ll be lucky to ever see a Volkswagen Golf 9 one day.
But, as they say in Germany, “alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei“. Or “everything has an end; only the sausage has two”.
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VW Golf 8.5 R on ice – A 4Motion celebration
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the VW Golf 8.5 R be available in South Africa?
A: A local launch for the VW Golf 8.5 R is now considered probable, as Volkswagen’s engineers have found a solution for the fuel quality issue that previously prevented its introduction.
Q: What are the key specifications of the VW Golf 8.5 R?
A: The international version of the VW Golf 8.5 R has 245 kW and 400 Nm of torque, delivered to all four wheels via a 7-speed DSG transmission.
Q: How much will the VW Golf 8.5 R cost in South Africa?
A: The exact price for the VW Golf 8.5 R has not been announced. However, the pre-facelift model costs just over R1 million, and the new version is expected to be more expensive.