2012 Volkswagen Golf R Priced at $33,990

The high-performance Volkswagen Golf R returns for the 2012 model year with a starting price of $33,990, which is $1,000 more than the last-generation 2008 VW R32.

The Golf R features a 256-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder instead of the R32’s V-6.  The model still comes with a four-wheel-drive system, and it will achieve 19/27 mpg city/highway (much improved over the R32). To learn more about the model, go here.

Unlike the R32, the Golf R is available not just as a two-door hatchback but also as a four-door hatchback. The base R comes with bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, aluminum pedals, Bluetooth connectivity and an eight-speaker stereo. The Golf R with a sunroof and navigation package will start at $35,490 for the two-door model and $36,090 for the four-door. All prices exclude an undisclosed destination fee. The Golf R is expected to go on sale early next year.

Recall Alert: 2009-12 Volkswagen Jetta, 2010-12 Volkswagen Golf, 2010-12 Audi A3

Volkswagen is recalling 168,275 cars because they could leak fuel, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The recall affects 2.0-liter diesel models of the 2009-12 Volkswagen Jetta and Jetta SportWagen, 2010-12 Volkswagen Golf and 2010-12 Audi A3. In certain vehicles, resonance from the fuel injection pulses could cause the fuel line to crack and leak, possibly causing a fire if an ignition source is present.

Owners will be notified next month, and Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line and put in vibration dampers on all the injector lines. The repairs will be free. Owners can call Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or NTHSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Cars.com Podcast: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, 2012 Volkswagen GLI, 2012 Volkswagen Golf R

We have a lot of Volkswagens on the menu this week for the Cars.com podcast. After partaking in a recent VW event, Cars.com senior editor David Thomas talks about testing the upcoming redesigned Beetle and sporty variants of the Jetta and Golf (GLI and R, respectively) with editors Joe Wiesenfelder and Joe Bruzek. They also discuss the 2011 Chevrolet Equinox in its top-of-the-line LTZ trim, which is an old favorite with our editorial team.

Download via iTunes
Download MP3

It's Time To Buy 2011s, But Incentives Are Hard To Find

Around this time every year, dealers are hard at work trying to sell the remaining cars on their lots as new-model-year vehicles start to roll in. This year is no different, and while some 2012s haven’t arrived yet, it’s still the best time to buy a 2011 … as long as you know what to look for. That’s where we come in.

We diligently report on even the slightest changes between model years as soon as possible. Sometimes this means a car will look the same but get an all-new engine and transmission like the upcoming 2012 Mazda3 sedan that’s expected to get 40 mpg highway. Other times, nothing significant has changed between model years, and then there are the all-new cars that have been redesigned from the ground up.

You’ll find the best deals in that second group of vehicles that go from 2011 to 2012 without much change. It’s been a challenge this year to find bargains because manufacturers are making more significant model-year changes and incentives for these older models just aren’t that alluring.

Here are some of the best deals we could find:

Volkswagen Offers March Lease Deals

Like Honda, Volkswagen doesn’t typically offer big cash-back incentives to move cars off dealer lots; it instead relies on special lease rates. For March, the German automaker is offering attractive leasing and financing incentives on most of its lineup with its “Going, Going, Gone Event.”

Financing incentives include zero-percent financing for 72 months on vehicles like 2010 New Beetle and 2011 Routan minivan.

Newer vehicles like the redesigned 2011 Touareg (including hybrid and TDI diesel variants) also get attractive financing rates.

If you’re looking to get a deal on the fast-selling 2011 Jetta, the automaker is offering a $179 a month lease, though we’ve seen better rates from competitors like the Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla.

If you’re looking for a used Volkswagen, the company is also offering 1.99% APR financing on its entire certified pre-owned inventory for 48 months or 2.99% financing for 60 months.

The deals below are VW’s national deals. There are some regional and dealership incentives that might be more advantageous for people who are looking to finance or pay with cash rather than lease.

Most of the deals highlighted below expire at the end of March.

Recall Alert: 228,235 Volkswagen Golf, Jetta, New Beetle, Rabbit

Volkswagen is recalling five models across five model years due to an improperly placed fuel line. If the fuel line rubs against other parts, it could leak and lead to a fire.

The models involved include:

• 2007-09 Golf
• 2007-09 Jetta
• 2007-09 Jetta Sportwagen
• 2006-10 New Beetle
• 2007-09 Rabbit

Depending on the model, dealers will remove or reposition parts that come into contact with the fuel line.

VW will begin the recall campaign on or before Jan. 31, 2011. For more info, owners can call Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

2012 Volkswagen Golf R Confirmed for U.S.

The Golf has a strong engine lineup – there are turbo, diesel and naturally aspirated models already. But for the 2012 model year, expect a new high-performance model, which Volkswagen is dubbing the Golf R.

The last R type we had here was the Golf R32; it was discontinued in 2008. Unlike that model, the new Golf R won’t have a V-6 powertrain, but it will keep the GTI’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and it will have more horsepower. The European version currently cranks out 270 hp and 258 pounds-feet of torque, according to Autoblog.

While we enjoyed the energetic handling of the GTI Golf, the 200-hp turbo four-cylinder wasn’t the quickest in the segment. The Golf R should correct that problem.

Continue reading below for a rundown of all the features to come on the 2012 VW Golf R:  

Mileage Challenge 7.3: Our Favorite

Our latest mileage challenge revealed the Volkswagen Golf TDI as the most efficient of our high-mileage hatchbacks. However, mileage alone doesn’t make up a buyer’s mind when car shopping, especially considering that between our mileage challenge’s winner and loser the gas savings would total about $1,000 over the course of five years. So, after a day behind the wheels of these three, which one would we put in our own driveway? Editors Mike Hanley and Kelsey Mays weigh in below.

Mileage Challenge 7.2: The Results

Gas, diesel or hybrid? That’s the question we set out to answer in our latest mileage challenge of small, sporty cars.

There’s the hybrid Honda CR-Z, the diesel Volkswagen Golf TDI and the conventionally powered Mini Cooper. Combined EPA fuel-economy ratings for all three cars fall within 2 mpg of each other, but each car takes unique fuel. The Cooper sips premium gas, and the CR-Z takes the cheap stuff; the Golf TDI needs diesel.

Each car’s trip computer offered a gas-mileage readout, which we reset to begin each of the three legs on our 330-mile daylong route. The winner came down to the car that had the lowest fuel costs over a 15,000-mile year of driving, given our observed mileage.

The scrutiny, it turned out, made little difference. Each hatchback handily beat its combined city/highway EPA fuel-economy rating, but the Golf TDI ran away with the gas mileage and remained victorious even after we accounted for the high cost of diesel.

Check out the results below.

Mileage Challenge 7.1: Efficient, Small and Fun

Expensive electric-powered cars are getting all the attention lately, but there are still plenty of small, efficient cars with small price tags being introduced on the market. For our latest mileage challenge we decided to take out three cars with three approaches to efficiency:  the redesigned diesel 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI, the new 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid and the just plain gas-powered 2010 Mini Cooper.
 
We compared the cars in our latest three-car faceoff, but because of these differing powertrains it seemed natural to put them through our Mileage Challenge, as well. We’ve put diesel and hybrid vehicles on a mileage drive before but never two that were direct competitors with a fuel-efficient gasoline car in the mix to boot.

An overview of our test route and the contestants are below.