Golf R vs Golf GTI: Which One Should You Buy? 

Most beautiful GTI I've ever seen.

His Gti makes the R look kinda boring 😬 I said it

GTI looks just more special to me. The R is nearly identical to a regular golf with R pack

This guys ALWAYS seems to subtlety down talk other cars. Always seems to act as if he's better...

I'm a GTI fan. I have recently ordered a new GTI TCR, an upgrade from my current 2016 GTI Performance. I drove a Golf R with everything on it in black with black wheels and the amazing akrapovic exhaust. I loved it but I still found the GTI more fun. Then when I drove the TCR, I knew this was for me over the R. Its just a personal thing. No doubt the R is quicker but the GTI's are more fun 😊

I. Prefer the frontal style of the GTI over the R

Golf gti manual with performance pack and stage 1 remap is one of the most fun hot hatches around! Golf r suits dsg as you say but the gti where 0-60 doesn't matter fun on a back road is more enjoyable with a manual

I have the GTI and my best mate the R, the GTI is more nimble and I feel like there is less lag but the R is just straight line fun! GTI looks much better and sounds better in my opinion

GTi for me, love that classic tartan interior! 👏👏

Great video, been waiting for this one for a little while now! I think it's the GTI 7.5 for me, hopefully my next car. Please Luke take that wrap off soon!

GTI looks more aggressive, that ‘smiley’ grille is bollocks! The angles make it look better. Plus, the R is a bit boring for me, the GTI feels a bit more special inside etc. If I spend 38k on a car I want it to feel special

Absolutely excellent enjoyed this thank you

Only just got round to watching this, that intro music haunts me (on in work constantly haha). Great video as per usual Luke. Definately an under rated channel this pal. I’m actually looking into either a GTi or an R for my next car so this gave me a wee bit of insight in them both side by side so really well done with that mate

Enjoying all of your content. Bit different to everyone else out there and definitely edited better. Keep it up 👍

My gti arrives 1st July great review nice n casual really enjoyed it .congrats.

I think the the more direct steering feel in his gti is due to his Michelin tires. There the best in the business,

GTi definitely looks more aggressive to me!!

Performance pack makes a huge difference because of the VAQ LSD. I've owned both.. A non VAQ and a VAQ. VAQ gti's can corner a lot faster with a lot more control. As expected. Makes it closer to an R still with the fun element of a gti 2WD.

Glad to see you have the GTI on your channel. Still would've loved to see a Head2Head though. Maybe find someone with a Clubsport or TCR which is close to R BHP.

Needs the performance pack which gives you a LSD

Love the way you composed the intro shot. Well done.

Stick FWD GTi's always way more fun than the DSG AWD R's.. Especially the Clubsport S!

Always interesting to see what those that review a lot of cars drive themselves. Thankyolu.

That GTI looks stunning!!🔥🔥

Having them both, I can say I prefer the GTI. The GTI feels more tossable in corners and lighter on it’s feet.

Dare I say it ! Good video mate 👌🏽

The R is everything the GTI is and more. Only downside is that it weighs a little bit more than the GTI. But you get AWD, and more power. I’m glad I went with my mk7.5 R 6spd. Wish we got the Clubsport in America. I would be more tempted to get that over the R

when I finally upgrade from my Bora 4Motion it'll be a GTI. Lighter and more nimble about town. My old Bora refuses to break despite countless redlines ie constant abuse. God love it. These days its more like driving an indestructible Tractor!

Great vid, well done. Love both cars in the video. I currently do have both cars and will just have to do my own comparison video as I have no bias as I love them both, I think😀. Maybe you can take a look once I have made it.

Calvin car diary brought me here. Subscribed. !!!

For the 4WD & the extra power, the R takes it obviously... for everything else, that guys GTi beats your R I’m afraid Luke... having said that, I’m currently saving for a Golf R!!! 😍

Great video. Both great looking cars.

Sadly selling my GTI PP for an R estate and I’ll be sad to see it go.

That wrap is so clean

as good as the R is performance wise, the styling of the GTI is just far better in my opinion. although that H&R sticker needs to come off under the GTI badge.

there's always something about Gti's which makes them special

I see people comenting how Luke is just trying to make himself feel better with his R, the thing is, they are both amazing in completely diferent ways. The R might seem a little more boring but its there to set faster lap times and be more serious. The GTI might be a little slower than the R, but the point of the GTI is not to post the fastest lap times, but rather have fun and enjoy the experience of driving a crazy and playfull car. With that being said, I think luke did a fantastic job on the video and of course he is biased for the R because it suits his personality and its the driving experience he enjoys the most, and there is nothing wrong with that... after all were are all car guys here and every opinion and taste should be respected, even if its not your own way of thinking.

Since I last watched this video, I have purchased Golf Gti, and to be honest going against your preferences I have gone for leather seats and a DSG of which I absolutely love. Would love to be able to afford a go far, but to be honest I find my Gti amazing.

The gti performance for me is superb, the only thing i don t like is the wheelspin if you do a launch control....

The Performance Pack gives 227bhp, but the 245bhp map from the Octavia VRS/TT has probably been applied afterwards for that.

R will always be the better performance car obviously. Out of wet junctions / tight corners it’s brilliant. The Gti is a great choice though if you want more kit. I spect the 9 inch touch , performance pack 245bhp with R brakes and diff, 19 inch wheels , seats I wanted and paint. The R would of come in at poverty spec for a similar price. The Gti looks great as well ..plus on a roll the R is faster but NO way as much as people think.

The spoiler is really nice!!!

That GTI spec😍

You can read those specs you all boast about from a sales brochure, take your cars to the track and let's see who the better "driver and car combo" is, that would have been a very interesting video to watch.

I,he got a mk5 but recalled to stage 1. All the power and enjoyment driving I could want.

I have a GTI pp u need that diff absolutely amazing

Whichever my dad can afford. Eh Hampshire?

Rear seats down in the GTI for extra BHP

The power and weight difference dont seem like all that much, but it works out that the R has approximately 14% more HP per KG.

Having had both the 7.5 GTI PP and currently the 7.5 R, I'd agree that you just have to drive both of them before you buy. They do drive/behave differently, with the R being noticeably heavier with its AWD system and stiffer suspension. The R isn't as playful yet put your foot down and it just travels. The R is also less practical/economical with a small sacrifice to boot space due to the AWD and you won't get front foglights due to the two extra air intakes. However the R has so much more engine/exhaust character to it, you won't get any dsg farts/pops/bangs with the GTI PP. Yet the GTI is certainly more comfortable on longer journeys with better fuel consumption unless you get the DCC. It's certainly more than just how they look and that one is faster and it really does annoy me there are R-Line Golfs out there.. I ended up with the R... :P

love the R but 4 pipes are over the top

Your camera constantly trying to focus in and out is making my eyes hurt ☹️

The R definitely. Wasn’t even considering a gti when i sold my audi. I’d say the MK7 front bumper looks a bit more aggressive than the 7.5

GTI first! If the R would have 5 Cylinder, than definitely the R.

That's easy, the R. I just tested one in Scotland and it's such a great car on the right roads.

Nice vid, where did he get the spoiler on the GTI from?

Think I’d chose the GTI. I’d love the old MK4 generation R32 with that VR6. Don’t get me wrong the new R is a mint car. But I’d chose the GTI MK7 I think I just love the character and the fact you have to drive it a bit more especially with that manual box. The R is an absolute machine though..

I have a mk 2018 7.5 gti s.....I love this lil car

Gti looks great! Maybe I missed it but how much did you lower it by and what oz wheels are they?

Gti for me. Its an iconic car.

Not a fan of awd, not a fan of auto. I'd love a 3 door manual MK7 GTI!

Neither. At this point the hot hatch that you should buy is an M140i (Shadow Edition in manual).

Gti for the look, R for the performance.

The 2 cars have giant personalities. Different but thats good i think.

I find our GTI fine in most types of driving, but where it does lack is in overtaking ability. My previous car was a BMW 330d which had masses more mid range acceleration.

Just purchased the R , all I can say is what a car it is !

Gti pp dsg for me. The other guy should have driven the ‘r’. No mention of the huge difference in mpg and tank range or insurance costs. How is the ‘r’ more ‘usable’? Usable in what context, sounds like just more bigging the ‘r’ up to me.

I think it’s best to mention that the Golf R doesn’t have permanent 4 wheel drive, you made it sound like it does when it doesn’t. Therefore, you’re paying around 10k more for 60ish more bhp for the R, not worth it at all, you’re better off getting the GTI and mapping it for 10k to get even more performance than the R.

Definitely the GTi all the way..

Where are those carbon paddles from? They look great

Iv had both and still got the R and it wins every time , before that I had Subaru Impreza ‘s up to the last hatch made , the golf r is the best of both worlds, the gti I had was a 35 edition 245 hp but it was to tame after the Impreza330 the golf R fits the bill nicely and I love it to bits !

A manual? Awesome :D

The GTI logo on the steering wheel, I love it's colored in. Is that something he did by hand or bought or they just always treat you guys better than in USA?

When did you change the colour of your R? Did you have lapiz blue and wrap it that green colour? Or did you have the green and sell it then bought lapiz blue golf R?

The front end on the gti is so much better!

Golf R owner here, and everytime I see a GTi I geek out. They just seem to be more fun cars. That being said. I'd never trade my R for one.

I've got the gti.. The only thing that looks better on the R is the gloss black exterior plastics as the gti looks cheaper in matt.

Love the spec on the GTI Manual, the seats doesn't matter that it doesn't have performance pack cos most roads are 20mph speed cameras everywhere and lovely traffic. I drove I Dgs GTI and found it very boring.

For me it just has to be the GTi, I love the R too but there’s just something special about the GTi, I’m not just referring to these two either, I’ve owned many R’s and GTi’s (currently driving a MK7 GTi daily) and with the exception of my MK4 R32 the GTi wins every time, it’s an icon!

Swap the gti logo with an RR.perfect

Get that wing for your R

The GTI looks better by far! Rien que pour le côté collector, je choisi la Gti

I have the Golf R 19 plate and love it 😍

I have a Mk5 R32 and if I had to get rid off mine and choose between the two. I would definitely choose the Gti.

Gti looks better inside and out,more fun on a dry road,4wd of the R better in the uk as it rains 50% of the time but it looks so boring

Golf R vs GTi TCR/Performance is more or a match.

I bought gti over r because Mpg Cheaper to buy Lower Insurance Might swap to golf r when i get bored of tbe gti though so something to look forward to

most important thing about the gti vs the gti performance is the electric vs the mechanical diff, i think...

what was the brand on the gtis mirrors and wing? might have to buy for myself

Hi, ive got a golf vi gti manual 2009 model.Can you suggest any small affordable accessories for it? Thank you in advance. Steyn from South Africa

Basically whatever you can afford. I'd want the r because It's quicker going to see next week see what's in the showroom. But the gti does look good just a shame it was 230 bhp not something like 260 270 or something

If u prefer the inside of a gold Gti, you shoukd have gotten a golf gti with dsg and stage one remap from APR would see u at close to 320bhp and a shit tonne of torque. Rolling start your smashing a golf R all day. My mate has a stage 1 golf Gti and on rolling starts from 40 he pulls on a standard AMG45 and sits on the arse of an RS3 8v. Gtis is beasts on the road if modified and mapped proper

I’ve been trying to decide between a used MK7 R and a new MK7.5 GTI and it’s been a difficult time trying to figure out which one I want

Gti looks with golf R engine would be awesome 👍

You buy a Cupra 300 and be much more happy

GTI MK7.5 in White Silver Metallic is the best. Trust.

GTI for sure; my only regret is that I don’t get the lighting package. I’ll have to go aftermarket, but I love everything else about it. Got the bare bones S, so as little electronics as possible but I also got it in a manual.

I’m so over manual... TSG ...all day baby

Both cars would look better as they came from the factory. That green wrap on the R makes it look like a quality Street chocolate triangle. The Golf GTI is supposed to be understated, its a car that transcends classes, like an original Mini, whether Landed gentry or builder, the GTI is perfect. Blinging them up makes them look like the owner has an ASBO. You need to drive a Mk1 GTI to experience what a GTI means. And not the 'facelift' 1800cc version that people say is an original Mk1, but the 1600 version with the small rear lights, that is the 'original' hot hatch.

What was the muffler on the GTI? Amazing sound.