Volkswagen is looking at the growing demand for electrification, and the shrinking demand for small cars in the United States, and decide to keep the Golf from hitting the U.S. shores. Even though America doesn’t get the Golf, Volkswagen did bring over the eighth-generation VW Golf GTI and Golf R. The latest Golf R doesn’t reset its established formula: it’s still an all-wheel-drive hot hatch with plenty of power on tap. Powering this 2022 VW Golf R is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That power travels through either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic before hitting the all-wheel-drive system.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R and puts it through its paces. Wren walks you around the VW Golf R to highlight its quirks and features and climbs into the interior to relay the design and ergonomics. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review where he talks about the Golf R’s driving dynamics. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn about the Volkswagen Golf, the Golf R and the Golf R’s steep price. Closing the show, the pair discuss what makes the Golf R special.