These Are The Fastest Accelerating Volkswagen Cars Ever Made

Although Volkswagen might have recently ended ties with Motorsport it hasn’t stopped offering fast cars. Among all its cars on sale in the U.S. to date, handsful of them are some of the most powerful and fastest accelerating ones in their segment.

Here is a video of one of the most exciting car in the brand’s lineup, the Golf 8:

That’s not something usual for a brand associated with making cars for the masses (Volkswagen means “The People’s Car” if you didn’t know it). 

Their cars are fun, offer insane dynamics, and over time, they have become pretty reliable as well and easy to maintain. In this article, we’ll be having a look at the top ten fastest Volkswagen cars ever made and sold in the U.S. Those who can’t wait to get their hands on a feisty Volkswagen, check out the fastest 2022 VW cars that you can buy now. 

15. 2019 Volkswagen Arteon

The 2019 Volkswagen Arteon slots under the luxury sedan segment in the carmaker’s lineup. It is available in three trim levels and with two drivetrain options. Under the hood, the 2019 Arteon gets a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine which produces 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Arteon sedan when had in the turbo-four with AWD does 0-60 MPH in 6.0 seconds flat which is respectable for a sedan of this size and segment.

Apart from AWD, the sedan can also be had as an FWD model but comes standard with an eight-speed automatic. But that’s not the only trick up its sleeve, the 2019 Arteon is also loaded with features being a flagship, a few of them worth mentioning include adaptive suspension dampers, an 8-inch touchscreen, three-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker sound system, etc.

14. 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mk4)

The 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 is amongst the most sought-after and fastest Volkswagen cars in the pre-owned market. Powered by a 3.2L V6 engine and doing 0-60 MPH in 5.9 seconds, it was way ahead of its time when launched. On top of that since it came with a six-speed manual and Volkswagen’s 4Motion AWD system made it even more special.

Speaking about being special, if you dig deeper into the history you will get to know that only 5,000 units were made to our shore, and recently one among those was sold at an auction for $62,000. That’s more than double the original MSRP of the car which was $29,100. But wait the list has just started and Golf with each passing generation got better and faster. 

13. 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the sportier version of the plebian Jetta and slots between the second top and top trim of the latter. Powered by the same 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine as the Golf GTI, the engine here produces 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This along with the 6-speed manual helps it sprint from 0-60 MPH in 5.8 seconds. But if you push it then the 2019 Jetta GLI can do a top speed of 126 MPH before hitting its speed limiter.

These are the figures for the Jetta GLI S trim, and other than this there are two more namely the Jetta GLI 35th anniversary edition and the Jetta GLI Autobahn. Apart from these special trims, the 2019 Jetta GLI also offers an optional 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox which isn’t available on the regular one. That said, for such kind of performance, the Jetta GLI goes toe to toe against the likes of the Honda Civic Si and the Subaru WRX. 

12. 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD is designed from scratch and is the first proper EV from VW that is capable of leveling the playing field against the mighty Tesla Model 3. Powered by a potent dual motor set up the ID.4  comes with over 294 Horsepower and 335 lb-ft of grunt straight from the factory floor enabling it to reach 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds.

The ID.4 AWD also gets an 82 kWh battery pack instead of a 62 kWh one, and this gives the 2023 ID.4 AWD an estimated range of about 255 miles. It has the Volkswagen dynamics in its DNA and coupled with a very low center of gravity, you will get way more confidence than any other crossover in its segment. 

As of now, the ID.4 AWD competes with the likes of the Toyota BZ4X, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Kia EV6.

The VW ID generation of EVs are some of the best-selling cars in the market and consists of the funky ID. Buzz, the ID.7 Sedan and ID.4 and ID.5 Crossovers

11. 2016 Volkswagen Passat V6

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat we have on our list is the top-of-the-line model (SEL Premium) with an MSRP of $37,655. For the money, it got a 3.6L V6 engine that made 280 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Powered by the V6 and paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic, the VW sedan did 0-60 MPH in 5.4 seconds. While the top speed of the sedan was 155 MPH (electronically limited).

The V6 Passat came with all bells and whistles as standard like remote ignition, automatic parallel parking, premium Fender audio system, etc. Despite all these pros, Passat’s dated design failed to keep up with the competition from the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. This reason along with the low gas mileage from the V6 made sure the 2016 Passat didn’t get the attention it deserved. 

10. Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport MK8

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport is a more performance-oriented variant of the regular Golf GTI model. The latest generation of the Clubsport models didn’t make it to the US shores unfortunately, but it was a hoon to drive, especially around the track. 

However, if you are a fan of manual transmissions, then the Golf GTI Clubsport is not for you, as Volkswagen decided to offer it only with a 7-speed DSG transmission. 

The Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport MK8 comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine producing 300 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 5.6 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 155 mph. 

9. 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk7)

With the 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Golf series entered into the seventh generation and came with a complete redesign. Under the hood, it got a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine that was good enough for 210 hp and cranked out 258 lb-ft of torque. The turbo-four when had with the optional performance package helped the hot hatch clock 0-60 MPH in just 5.6 seconds.

The performance package back in 2015 was available for $1,495 extra. With the package, the power went up by 10 extra horses, and to efficiently put all that power down it also added an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. Apart from this, you also had the option of replacing the standard 6-speed manual with a quick-shifting 6-speed dual-clutch automatic. 

8. Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR MK7

The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR was the farewell model offered for the MK7 GTI before the lineup was replaced with the new generation Mk8 models. Volkswagen took the regular Golf GTI, and made it more powerful, lowered it to the ground, stiffened the suspension, and, obviously, to manage it all, it had a more durable and effective brake setup. 

Some enthusiasts and critics claim that the Golf GTI TCR was better than the MK7 Golf R model, which came with an AWD setup for more traction. But somehow, the TCR was a more fun-to-drive hot hatch at the end of the day.

The Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR MK7 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine producing 286 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 155 mph. 

7. 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton W12

The 2005 Volkswagen Phaeton W12 was an actual sleeper car and fastest Volkswagen car with a quirky W12 engine. With a humble VW badge on it, back in the days, it was hard to tell that under the hood it carried a 6.0L W12 capable of putting out 420 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Not only that, the W12 helped the Phaeton do a 0-60 MPH sprint in 5.5 seconds and could hit a top speed of 130 MPH.

Despite those figures, the sedan was a sales dud because by buying a new one no one could have justified giving $96,100 back in 2005 for a Volkswagen sedan. Thus this Phaeton model was soon discontinued in 2006. That said, despite being on sale for a short period getting one pre-owned will be a good buy considering the massive depreciation its price would have already taken.

6. 2008 Volkswagen R32

The 2008 Volkswagen R32 is another rare find Volkswagen hot hatch that came to the U.S. but only in limited numbers, 5,000 units to be precise. It was powered by a 3.2L V6 and mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The V6 cranked 250 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque and came with an AWD system as standard. With all that mojo the VW R32 could do 0-60 MPH in 5.4 seconds.

Priced at $32,000, the 2008 Volkswagen R32 is a three-door version of the GTI. Looks can be deceptive and it applies in this case. For a layman, the R32 could look like any mundane GTI. But the engine under its hood makes it a completely different beast. Fun fact, the engine itself was the reason behind its name, as the 32 after R signified the displacement of the engine.

5. 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk8)

The model year 2022 marked the beginning of the eighth generation of Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks in the U.S. The 2022 Golf GTI is among the fastest Volkswagen cars or hatches currently on sale get a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine. This engine can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The turbo-four with automatic combo helps the Golf GTI clock 0-60 MPH in 5.2 seconds. 

It does a standing quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds while the top speed of this hot hatch is electronically limited to 155 MPH. Compared to its rival the Golf GTI matches the 0-60 MPH time of the Hyundai Veloster N but is two-tenth of a second slower than the 2021 Honda Civic Type R. But when it comes to pricing the 2022 Golf GTI undercuts both.

4. 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R

If you are a big fan of the 2023 Golf R but your family needs a practical and spacious SUV that can also be the medium of your weekend getaways, then the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R can be a perfect choice for you. 

It’s fast, agile, and very responsive to your right foot. You can’t expect Golf-R-like handling in the Tiguan R, but Volkswagen has done the most to make it feel friendly and confident. The rear differential can send all the torque to the outer wheel when it comes to cornering or high-speed bends, and that makes the car more stable than most other SUVs in its segment. 

In the UK market, Volkswagen offers an Akrapovic exhaust system for the Tiguan R for an additional cost of around $4,100, which sounds very cool for those of you willing to wake up your neighbors early in the morning. If the Tiguan R comes to the US, it will be competing with the likes of the Acura MDX Type S and Mercedes-AMG GLB 35.

The Volkswagen Tiguan R comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine producing 316 HP and 310 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 155 mph. 

3. 2024 Volkswagen Arteon 

The Volkswagen Arteon might come with a Volkswagen badge, but it is not an economy car at all. As an upper-class premium sedan, the Arteon provides a spacious cabin, excellent driving dynamics, and a responsive turbocharged engine. 

And even though it is meant to be a comfortable sedan, it is quite a fun-to-drive car in itself. The steering feels nimble and accurate at lower speeds, and when you reach higher speeds, it gains weight, resulting in a stable experience. 

As of now, the 2023 Volkswagen Arteon comes at a base price of and it competes with the likes of the Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300, and Toyota Crown. 

The 2024 Volkswagen Arteon comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine producing 300 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 128 mph. 

2. 2017 Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7)

Part of the seventh generation of the Golf series that was on sale in the U.S., the 2017 Golf R was the top dog in the 2017 Golf lineup. It came with a turbo-four engine churning out 292 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The engine was offered either with a six-speed manual or an optional 6-speed dual-clutch automatic ($1,100 extra). The turbo-four and the automatic combo is the one that made the 2017 Golf R clock 0-60 MPH in 4.4 seconds. 

The 2017 Golf R was priced at a premium to its lesser capable version Golf GTI. But for the premium, you have more horses under the hood, faster acceleration, better interior quality, and more features. Speaking of features it came standard with the ones on the GTI and added a few more like adaptive xenon headlights, performance tires, leather upholstery, adaptive suspension system, Fender audio system, etc. 

1. 2022 Volkswagen Golf R (Mk8)

The Golf R’s story began with the Volkswagen Golf R32, introduced in 2002. It featured a 3.2L VR6 engine, all-wheel drive, and sport-tuned suspension, setting the stage for the Golf R’s legacy.

Here is a video of 20 years celebration of the Golf R:

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R is right now the fastest Volkswagen car on sale in the U.S. Powered by a 315-hp, 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine the 2022 Golf R does 0-60 MPH in 3.9 seconds.

The above timing is when the turbo-four is coupled with the optional 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. As standard, the hot hatch comes with a 6-speed manual that sends power to its AWD system. 

Moving on, the 2022 Golf R is based on the all-new eighth-generation Golf. Courtesy of this it has a futuristic design for the exterior that looks inspired by the VW’s ID.4 EV. As for the interior, the same theme continues, you get a modern-looking cabin with a sporty yet simple layout. For all this, it commands a starting price of $43,645, although high but justified for the performance on offer. 

With this, we come to the end of our list of the fastest Volkswagen cars ever built  As stated above throughout its time Volkswagen has been coming up with really good cars. Between cars that came with W12 to the latest ones with turbocharged inline-4, we see several sedans and hot hatchbacks. Some were ahead of their time while for some their value was realized only after they were discontinued. Nevertheless, the German auto giant not only in the past but also in the present makes sure it has at least a couple of fast cars for the enthusiasts in its portfolio.

FAQ

Which current Volkswagen car has the most horsepower?

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R is the most powerful Volkswagen car you can buy today, with a horsepower rating of 315 ponies. It can do 0-60 in just 4.9 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155 miles per hour. 

Which Volkswagen had a V12 engine?

Volkswagen didn’t have a V12 engine in their mass-produced car ever, but they used to offer a W12 twelve-cylinder petrol engine in the Phaeton, which was used in various other premium and exotic cars like the Audi A8, and Bentley Continental GT Speed. 

What does “R’ stand for in Volkswagen cars?

The “R” in Volkswagen cars like Tiguan R, Golf R, and Arteon R stands for “Racing”, just like “RS” in Audi stands for “RennSport” i.e.: Racing Sport”.