Volkswagen Golf R verdict

It's over 20 years since the launch of the first R-badged Golf, but the proposition remains largely unchanged: if you want a fast and unflappable four-wheel-drive family hatch, then look no further. In many respects the Mk7 and Mk7.5 versions remain the high-water marks for the model, their combination of performance, poise and premium appeal helping to create one of the ultimate all-rounders of the past decade. However, with its recent round of tweaks, the latest car comes closest to capturing their spirit.

The styling of the Mk8.5 is still a little overwrought for many tastes. The interior's space and everyday utility remain undermined by a cost-cutter finish and an over-reliance on screens for everyday functions, but they are both an improvement on the Mk8. Crucially, the Golf retains the trademark adaptability that allows it to slip so effortlessly into your life and its ability to mix the humdrum driving experiences with the humdinger marks it out as a true automotive chameleon.

As ever, you have to work hard to winkle out the rewards, because the Golf only really starts to loosen up when you're pushing on, but in these circumstances, the Mk8.5 is arguably the best version yet. The tweaks to the drivetrain in particular have helped to unlock a little more playfulness in a car that previously preferred to play it straight. Factor in the availabilty of a capacious estate version as well as the hatch, and the Golf R's appeal remains as strong as ever.