√2022 Volkswagen Golf R v Subaru WRX v Audi S3: Spec comparison

Fun-filled foes with their own loyal fan clubs, the Volkswagen Golf R, Subaru WRX and Audi S3 all have new-gen models landing in Australia this year. In-person exhilaration may be their speciality, but which of these performance heroes represents the smartest buy on paper? We find out.

Overview

Hotly anticipated, long-awaited, cult favourites – any of these superlatives are appropriate when describing the three subjects of our latest spec comparison: the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R, 2022 Subaru WRX and 2022 Audi S3.

This trio of beloved performance cars all have new-generation models touching down in 2022, bearing the full weight of fan expectation and legacy on their aerodynamic backs.

Before we can cut laps on a track in person, we thought we’d whet your appetite with an on-paper showdown ahead of the real thing.

Although each model offers buyers a choice of body types – sedan or hatch? Hatch or wagon? – we’ve decided to zero in on what we expect to be the volume sellers: the Golf R hatch, the WRX sedan and the S3 Sportback.

So in lieu of a proper hot lap, which of these cars is likely to be the pick of the bunch? Let’s crunch the numbers.

Introduction

2022 Volkswagen Golf R

A mainstay since the Golf R32 arrived in 2002, the Volkswagen Golf R is a car that’s become synonymous with the phrase ‘hot hatch’. And with its fifth edition of the Golf R, Volkswagen reckons it has produced its hottest hatch yet.

In plain terms, the new ‘Mk 8’ Golf R has an extra 22kW of power and 20Nm of torque on top of the outgoing model, courtesy of its one powertrain option: a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Sharpened driving dynamics are also promised, as well as two fresh drive modes to play with – the ‘Special’ Nürburgring mode and ‘Drift’ mode. Tempting.

2022 Audi S3

Now in its fourth generation, the all-new Audi S3 landed in local showrooms in early 2022 with the promise of sleeker styling, extra tech and “more power than ever before”.

As the spicier sister to Audi’s best-selling passenger car, the A3, the new S3 is offered in both sedan and Sportback hatch flavour but with a single powertrain.

Sharing its core DNA with the Golf R – both are built on the Volkswagen Group’s shared MQB Evo platform – the S3 will also feature a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

That powertrain will produce outputs of 228kW/400Nm – or an extra 15kW of power and 20Nm of torque on top of its predecessor, for those playing at home.

2022 Subaru WRX

Premiering in Japan in 1992 and arriving on our shores two years later, the Subaru WRX is the longest-standing member of our comparison, preceding the Audi’s debut in 1999 and the high-performance Golf’s 2002 launch.

With a history rooted in rally-car driving, it’s long been known for delivering knockout performance without sacrificing on value.

The fifth-generation 2022 WRX lands with a new engine, eight trim and gearbox combinations and an all-new Sportswagon body style, so you can have your superpower with a side of practicality too.

Key details	2022 Volkswagen Golf R hatch		2022 Audi S3 Sportback	2022 Subaru WRX sedan
Price (MSRP)	From $65,990 plus on-road costs		From $69,900 plus on-road costs	From $44,990 plus on-road costs

Inside

2022 Volkswagen Golf R

While cabin practicality isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for hot hatch buyers, it certainly helps seal the deal for swing buyers with city-car needs.

Obviously, the Golf R offers more room in wagon form, with 611L of space available or 1642L with the rear row folded, substantially more than the 374L/1230L available in the hatch – while both offer 60/40-split rear seats.

The cockpit of the hatch is entirely wireless, with wireless phone charging and smartphone mirroring, and is accented by a 10.0-inch central touchscreen.

Heated and ventilated, nappa leather-appointed front seats and three-zone climate control are also standard, but VW sacrificed the previously standard-fit nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system due to parts shortages, and the car now has an unbranded seven-speaker system.

2022 Audi S3

The new-generation S3 Sportback sacrifices some of its predecessor’s boot space (15L less to be precise), now offering 325L of cargo volume, with a back seat that folds 40:20:30 to unlock 1145L.

The sedan’s storage has also been downgraded compared to previous models, losing 20L to land at 370L.

Dual-zone climate control, heated leather seats and a leather steering wheel, plus a 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, are all standard inclusions.

Infotainment is managed via a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, while the instrument cluster takes the form of a 12.3-inch digital screen.

Unlike its VW sibling, the S3’s wireless charging was sacrificed due to parts shortages, but wireless CarPlay connectivity is available and everything else is managed via USB.

2022 Subaru WRX

Subaru claims the new WRX has increased shoulder room in the front and rear, with a longer wheelbase for extra legroom in the back.

Cargo volume for the sedan is 414L, or 411L in the higher-spec variants with the Harman Kardon stereo. The Sportswagon is bigger still, with 492L on offer in the boot, or up to 1430L with the rear seats folded (measured to the roof).

In the cabin, there’s an 11.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 4.2-inch instrument display, dual-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel, cloth sports bucket seats and a six-speaker sound system as standard.

	2022 Volkswagen Golf R hatch	2022 Audi S3 Sportback	2022 Subaru WRX sedan
Seats	Five	Five	Five
Boot volume	374L seats up, 1230L seats folded	325L seats up, 1145L seats folded	414 seats up
Length	4290mm	4351mm	4670mm
Width	1789mm	1816mm	1825mm
Height	1458mm	1438mm	1465mm
Wheelbase	2631mm	2630mm	2675mm

Value for Money

2022 Volkswagen Golf R

Hot on the heels of the S3’s almost-$70,000 starting price, the Golf R’s latest generation has attracted a considerable price rise, up to $12,000 more than the car it’s replacing.

The range starts at $65,990 before on-road costs for the hatch, while the wagon costs $3000 more at $68,990 before on-road costs.

On the road, the hatch costs over $72,000 without options – a figure that could be hard to stomach for previous Golf R buyers more accustomed to seeing a sale price that hovers closer to $50,000.

Every Australian-delivered Golf R has the R Performance package fitted as standard, receiving a larger rear spoiler, 19-inch alloy wheels and the new drive modes.

A sunroof can be added for an extra $1900 and a premium sound system is an added $1000.

2022 Audi S3

As Audi’s trophy child in the sporty compact segment, the S3’s prestige leanings come at a price – kicking off from just under $70,000 before on-road costs.

The Sportback hatch body style is the more affordable option, priced from $69,900 before on-road costs, while the sedan is priced from $72,400 before on-road costs.

That represents increases of $5700 and $6600 over the outgoing S3 hatch and sedan respectively.

An optional $3990 Premium Plus package adds a sunroof, 360-degree camera, seat and mirror memory, and a head-up display.

Those prices also make it the most expensive member of our trio, with an on-the-road price hovering around $80,000 – steep for a small passenger car, but not unreasonable in the realm of sports cars from prestige European brands (BMW’s performance hatch, the M135i, kicks off from $66,900 before on-road costs for the Pure specification, whereas a Mercedes-AMG A35 hatch begins $77,869 plus on-road costs).

Buyers can also individually option things like the sunroof, exclusive paint, a black exterior styling package or a hands-free electric tailgate on the hatch.

2022 Subaru WRX

The Subaru WRX represents the most affordable option in this showdown as the only contestant with an entry point below the $50,000 mark – kicking off at $44,990 before on-road costs for a manual sedan.

The most expensive WRX sedan money can buy is the automatic tS grade at $56,990 before on-road costs.

Opting for a wagon will raise the price across every spec grade, beginning at $49,990 before on-road costs and topping out at $57,990 before on-road costs, with the wagon range auto-only.

Unlike the Golf R and S3, everything on the WRX spec grades comes standard, meaning no nasty surprises in the form of costly option packs in order to get the things you desire.

The base-spec sedan comes standard with features like dual-zone climate control, LED headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels, but you’ll have to go up a grade in order to access an electric sunroof, front and side cameras, heated electric seats, and suede or leather-accented upholstery.

Key details	2022 Volkswagen Golf R hatch	2022 Audi S3 Sportback	2022 Subaru WRX sedan
Engine	2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol	2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol	2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power	235kW @ 5600–6500rpm	228kW @ 5450–6500rpm	202kW @ 5600rpm
Torque	400Nm @ 2000–5600rpm	400Nm @ 2000–5450rpm	350Nm @ 2000–5200rpm
Drive type	All-wheel drive	All-wheel drive	All-wheel drive
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch automatic	7-speed dual-clutch automatic	6-speed manual or CVT automatic
Power to weight ratio	157kW/t	152kW/t	130–137kW/t
Weight	1501kg (tare)	1500kg (tare)	1479–1548kg (depending on grade, transmission)
Turning circle	11.0m	11.1m	11.2m

Safety and Technology

2022 Volkswagen Golf R

The entire 2022 Golf range has received a five-star rating from ANCAP after being tested in 2019, including R models.

Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, front and rear autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, eight airbags, rear, side and front sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot detection.

This equipment is available across both the hatch and wagon body types.

The Golf R also receives Volkswagen’s semi-autonomous Park Assist, which allows it to steer and self-park in tight spaces while the driver controls the pedals.

2022 Audi S3

While the S3’s tamer sibling, the A3, received a five-star rating from ANCAP in 2020, the safety body stipulated that it only applies to front-wheel-drive models, meaning the all-wheel-drive S3 is technically unrated.

Like the VW, standard safety equipment on the new Audi hot hatch is impressively comprehensive across both the Sportback and sedan.

The S3 scores front and rear parking sensors, seven airbags, semi-automated parking (a similar set-up to the VW’s system), AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection and intersection support, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert and a safe exit warning.

2022 Subaru WRX

The 2022 WRX is not yet rated by ANCAP, and could have its scores lowered by the absence of AEB and lane-keep assist across manual models.

The former is soon to become mandated on all new cars in Australia, but Subaru was able to beat the deadline for enforcing the mandate by bringing the new WRX here before 2023.

However, both features are present on the CVT automatic variants, as is the full suite of Subaru’s new-generation EyeSight forward-collision avoidance technology, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency steering, intelligent speed limiter and speed sign recognition.

All variants and body types of the WRX receive blind-spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, a reverse camera and lane-change assist as standard.

At a glance	2022 Volkswagen Golf R	2022 Audi S3	2022 Subaru WRX
ANCAP rating & year tested	Five stars (tested 2019)	Unrated	Untested
Safety report	ANCAP report	N/A	N/A

Powertrain

2022 Volkswagen Golf R

The latest evolution of the Golf R is familiar with a technology-laden twist, featuring a fourth generation of the EA888 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged TSI petrol engine found in previous editions.

However, while the wagon benefits from the full European engine tune, producing 235kW and 420Nm, the hatch (and the related Tiguan R SUV) has been detuned and loses 20Nm of torque, bringing its outputs to 235kW/400Nm.

Additionally, the hatch must also do without the petrol particulate filter (PPF) included on the wagon – at least for the initial production run.

This was part of a decision made by VW Australia to forego the engine upgrades in order to deliver the hatch to customers in a more timely manner.

Power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which Volkswagen claims has gained ‘shift by wire’ technology and fresh software to enable an easier transition between comfort, sport and race drive modes.

Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel system also gains R-Performance Torque Vectoring, meaning the Golf R is capable of sending up to 50 per cent of its engine’s torque to the rear axle.

There’s also the option to enjoy manual gear shifting via wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which have received a size boost for added tactile oomph.

Of course, purists will be disappointed with the lack of a manual transmission after VW Australia axed this option across the Golf range back in 2018.

2022 Audi S3

Although the S3 shares the same platform, engine and transmission as the Golf R, unlike the VW the Audi lands in Australia with full European power and a PPF to help keep it honest in the emissions department.

As a result, the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine has enjoyed a power boost, now outputting 228kW/400Nm – up 15kW and 20Nm on its predecessor (but 7kW less than its VW sibling).

The S3 features a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with steering wheel paddles for manual shifting.

Both the Sportback and sedan receive Audi’s familiar Quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard, with fully variable torque distribution between the front and rear axle.

2022 Subaru WRX

All WRX models land with Subaru’s 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder ‘boxer’ petrol engine offering 202kW and 350Nm – a boost of 5kW on top of the previous WRX.

All variants are all-wheel drive, but buyers have the choice of two transmissions. The base and mid-spec variants are offered with the choice of a six-speed manual transmission, or Subaru’s automatic ‘Performance Transmission’, while the top-spec tS grade is exclusively offered with automatic Performance Transmission.

Performance Transmission – a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that features with eight preset steps to mimic a traditional automatic – also boasts paddle shifting, variable torque distribution (with a 45:55 front-rear split as standard) and sports shifting control.

Subaru opting for a CVT automatic over a dual-clutch automatic could be seen as a blight against the WRX in the eyes of performance-focussed buyers who want a top-spec car without sacrificing on behind-the-wheel feel.

As a result, buyers wanting a higher-spec car with performance cred will either have to compromise on some cabin perks and buy a manual, or forego the manual in favour of leather-accented seats and a sunroof.

At a glance	2022 Volkswagen Golf R hatch	2022 Audi S3 Sportback	2022 Subaru WRX sedan
Warranty	5 years, unlimited km	5 years, unlimited km	5 years, unlimited km
Fuel cons. (claimed)	7.8L/100km	7.4L/100km	8.5L/100km (automatic) 9.9L/100km (manual)
Fuel type	98-octane premium unleaded	95-octane premium unleaded	95-octane premium unleaded
Fuel tank size	55L	55L	63L

Performance

2022 Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen claims the new Golf R hatch can complete the 0–100km/h sprint in 4.8sec, with its top speed electronically limited to 250km/h.

The 0–100km/h speed is a 0.1sec increase on European models due to the reduced torque output courtesy of the watered-down local tuning.

It’s also no faster than the outgoing Golf R, which VW quoted could manage the 0–100km/h dash in 4.8sec.

Meanwhile, the wagon is slightly slower again – reaching 100km/h in 4.9sec.

Peak torque of 400Nm in the hatch is available at 2000–5600rpm, while peak power of 235kW is available from 5600–6500rpm.

Finally, combined fuel consumption is quoted at 7.8L/100km for the hatch (7.4L/100km for the wagon).

Owners with access to a track will enjoy the ‘Drift’ driving profile off public roads, distributing 100 per cent of the rear power to one wheel to make sliding especially effortless.

2022 Audi S3

As twin under the skin to the Golf R, it’s perhaps unsurprising the S3 quotes an identical 0–100km/h time of 4.8sec, as well as an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

Peak power is 7kW less than the Golf R at 228kW, but is accessible across a slightly broader engine operating range – from 5450–6500rpm.

Meanwhile, peak torque is 400Nm (the same as the Golf R hatch) and is available from 2000–5450rpm.

The S3 Sportback has a slightly lower claimed combined fuel consumption than its VW sibling, quoting 7.4L/100km, with the sedan managing 7.3L/100km.

2022 Subaru WRX

The Subaru’s performance credentials remain TBC, with no official 0–100km/h time or top speed supplied as yet.

We’ll fill in those blanks as soon as we can, but there’s certainly plenty of room for improvement, with the previous generation of the sedan managing 0–100km/h in 6.3sec with automatic transmission, or 6.0sec as a manual.

We do know, however, that the new WRX’s peak power output of 202kW kicks in at 5600rpm, while peak torque of 350Nm is available from 2000–5200rpm.

Quoted combined fuel consumption for the WRX, meanwhile, is higher than its Audi and VW counterparts, with 8.5L/100km in auto models and 9.9L/100km in manual models.

At a glance	2022 Volkswagen Golf R hatch	2022 Audi S3 Sportback	2022 Subaru WRX sedan
0–100km/h time	4.8sec	4.8sec	TBC
Top speed	250km/h	250km/h	TBC

Conclusion

It would be premature to crown a winner before these three hotheads are able to face off on the track.

Already twins under the skin, the Audi S3 Sportback and the Volkswagen Golf R hatch are growing ever closer thanks to recent price increases, leaving just $4090 (before on-road costs) separating the pair at entry-level.

Golf R shoppers wanting the extra 20Nm of torque and shorter 0–100km/h sprint time available on European hatch models may have to wait until further local allocations of the car are announced.

Even without a tuning boost, however, there’s not much separating the Audi and VW in the performance stakes and buyer preference could come down to cabin feel, with the Golf R boasting more boot room and a smidge more in the way of standard inclusions.

If money is a concern, the 2022 Subaru WRX is undoubtedly the best budget-friendly buy, managing to slide in under that magic $50,000 mark and without a slew of expensive yet enticing options threatening to jack the price up further.

Additionally, as the only car with a manual offering, it undoubtedly has the upper hand among performance purists who will consider the automatic-only approach of Audi and VW a deal-breaker. It wins on paper for cabin space too.

Manual WRX models, however, could suffer from their watered-down safety credentials without the inclusion of autonomous emergency braking – something that’s arguably essential on a car with sporty leanings (or any new car, really). Only the CVT-equipped high-spec grades get the benefit of AEB.

As a result, WRX buyers will have to choose between the behind-the-wheel fun factor of a manual, the cabin comforts of a higher-grade model, and the added safety of AEB, as they can’t tick all three boxes with a single variant.

Then, of course, there’s the issue of the Toyota GR Corolla, which will show up late to the party in the second half of 2022 – and possibly warrant a rematch.