The Volkswagen Golf R 2021 is here, but who is it up against?

Volkswagen promised to revolutionise the sporty compact segment with the arrival of the new Volkswagen Golf R 2021. For now, we know that the Wolfsburg team has managed to revolutionise the R badge with the arrival of its latest member, but what about the segment it sits in? Although the new Golf R sits somewhat in no-man’s-land with its 320 CV, we actually find serious rivals ready to make it struggle as it tries to claim the crown.

We must not forget that the sporty compact segment is becoming increasingly crowded, meaning there are many options with similar performance. With this in mind, the Volkswagen Golf R has two options: become the king of kings or fall to the dominance of one of its closest rivals.

Audi S3

The Audi S3 has always been one of the closest competitors to the Volkswagen Golf R, something due to their close kinship and the many mechanical similarities between both models. In this way, the compact from the four rings becomes an option if we are considering buying the Golf R, which is feasible thanks to its mechanics.

Behind its sporty compact appearance lies an engine that measures up. In the S3’s case, it also uses the same 2.0 TSI four-cylinder turbo that powers the Golf, except that on this occasion it produces 310 CV, a figure managed through the quattro all-wheel drive system.

CUPRA León

The CUPRA León finds itself in the same position as the Audi S3, being the Spanish first cousin of the Golf R. In this way, we find a model very similar to the German car in terms of its mechanics, but very different in price, meaning that in many cases the balance may tip in favour of the home-grown compact.

In its most powerful version, the CUPRA León uses the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, except that its output is reduced to a not-so-modest 300 CV. That said, if we opt for the estate version we enjoy the 310 CV.

Mercedes-AMG A 35

Mercedes-AMG launched its more “modest” performance level with the Mercedes-AMG A 35. This variant is positioned as the ideal option to compete with conventional sporty compacts, such as the new Volkswagen Golf R.

To achieve this, the star brand has equipped its compact with a four-cylinder turbo capable of delivering 306 CV, a figure managed by the 4Matic all-wheel drive system and a nine-speed automatic gearbox.