And fast? The R32, like the EVO X, is a rocket-ship. But where the EVO is blistering, the R32 is less so. At 184kW it gives away 33kW to the 217kW EVO, and lags by nearly a second in the 0-100km/h dash. TMR’s timing technology lacks a little in the accuracy department - “How many cat-dogs was it again?” – but claimed figures put the R32 at 6.2 seconds compared to the EVO’s low ‘fives’ for the standing-start sprint.
Over TMR’s private (ahem) test track, the EVO X clearly had the wood on the R32.
While the R32 has strong mid-speed acceleration, and, by any measure, is damned quick, the EVO is simply a belter. Quicker away from the line, faster through the gears, and quicker to any speed you care to nominate (before good sense cuts in), the EVO X will simply draw away to show its heels to the R32.
That said, in ‘real-world’ driving there’s not a hill of beans in it. (Ok, maybe one hill of beans.)
So, both all-wheel drive, both with twin-clutch state of the art transmissions, both capable of running to around two-and-half times the legal speed limit, and each able to propel you to the horizon in the space of a few heartbeats… they’re kinda the same then, right? Wrong.
It is not only their parent companies that are at opposite points of the compass, the design philosophies under-pinning each are at perfectly opposite poles. All that they share is four wheels, four doors, all-wheel drive and a willingness to go very, very fast.
So, what is the essential R32? Why is it so different in the way it has been realised?
It’s different because the R32 is about balance. It’s less of a single-focus track weapon than the EVO X despite Mitsubishi’s efforts to civilise its wildest child. With the R32, Volkswagen has set about creating a car capable of baring its teeth and running at the head of the hounds on the weekend, but with the suppleness, subtleties and creature comforts demanded of an involving everyday driver.
It’s a tricky balancing act, the danger is failing on both scores, but Volkswagen would seem to have managed it with the R32.
You can thus drive it to the track without bruising the kidneys. You settle ‘in’ to the R32, it wraps around you like a baseball glove. It is more tactile than the EVO: the leathers are softer; it feels less raw-boned; it isolates the cabin better from road-roar and wind noise. And, best of all, it sounds like heaven. The R32 emits a glorious basso-profundo at lower revs, rising to a race-car wail at the limiter. It is one of the best V6 sounds you’ll hear, and has the EVO’s metallic rasp beaten hands down.
The R32 also feels more settled at the wheel in high-speed touring. From the driver’s seat, the EVO X feels more ‘live’: more twitchy, and, perhaps, quicker to punish you for your sins if you should over-cook things.
The R32’s short, ‘square’ wheelbase, front-biased with V6 nestled over the front wheels, has its advantages in press on driving. Power in hard to a corner, a dab on the brakes, then hard again on the juice, and you can slide the R32 in, square up the exit and power out. It’s nice, a lot of fun, and will knock seconds off the R32’s point-to-point times.
2009 Skoda Superb V6 3.6 FSI Elegance 4x4 
2009 Holden Cruze CDX
Comments
Click here to jump to Add Comment box
How do you get a picture next to your name?
Get a Gravatar. Click here to find out more.
Nice Article Lads… I personally loved the R32, I am going to have to make a point of getting out and sampling the Evo X now to make my own comparison
Agree they are both great cars, not an obvious comparison but well done for looking at two cars that appeal to a common market, elbeit for different reasons. Once I sell my IX I’ll have to decide whether to grow up or not…. R32 or X MR, with a family my mountain jaunts and track days are far fewer so maybe the time has come? I think the only thing that will keep me in an Evo is the improved interior and accessories in the MR combined with the TCSST for my daily crawl down the Westgate….. Decisions… decisions….
Nice review! Like Brett I didn’t really see them as being similar cars, but the Insider definitely convinced me otherwise! Kudos for not following the rest of the flock and doing YET ANOTHER Evo vs. STi article too!
Hmmm…nice situation to be in Brett. I’d take the R32 myself, it’s very ‘liveable’ and a hoot to drive with that exhaust note and DSG blipping the throttle for you.
Good write up guys, I think it captured the character of each car and gave fair assessment. I’ll be getting a new ride so took my prettier half to an auto show - 350Z ‘not practical enough’, EVO X ‘too boy racer’, R32 ‘just right’
I went the R32 route, I was first smitten with the sound of the VR6 when test driving a Bora V6 4Motion with my old man. He didn’t go ahead but I later traded in my WRX to buy one. I agree with Mike’s comments re: DSG, which is really quite good, but absolute control would be my preference too. Mine is DSG and as a ‘manual driver’ have found it to be not quite to my taste once the initial honeymoon period was over.
On a side note I am not certain that the standard seats are Recaros, optional Recaro racing buckets are available (which are tops!), similar to those in the Audi RS4.
Brett - maybe the X will be a more civilised compared to your IX. I catch a taxi with shot dampers and think “this is so much better than my IX with 10/8kg coilovers and thick sway bars”!
I am waiting for my R32 to arrive. Have just sold a 2007 Gti DSG to get it. Absolutely loved the GTi. Having had a DSG box now I would never go back to a manual. I own a 2006 MB SLK280 as well. I hope I will still want to drive that too when the R32 arrives!
From what i gather they have ditched plans for an R36. The rumour mill suggests they may make a MkVI R42, which is a 350hp turbo version of the 2.5 5 cylinder, the one the Audi TT-RS is picking up. If this is the case The R will lose its amazing exhaust note but gain an incredible amount of horsepower over the 3.2L R’s.
Have driven the R32 and was basically….ho hum… generally unimpressed. Given it was within a couple of days of driving the STi. Quite simply the R32 was nice inside and had a very nice exhaust note, but the drive and performance itself was uninspiring comparatively. Not sure that I would buy one really.
Have driven R32 friday 17-10 2k8.NO WHEEL SPIN ,but it made up 4 it on the paddle shift LAUNCH.Interior smooth,seat,s that you can lower yourself like a kart racing style ,the feel of R32 wrapping around you.But the BEST point THE HOWLING EXHAUST THAT DOESNT SEEM TO ERASE FROM MY MIND.WANT 1.FOR SECOND HAND 18KM $52,000.have to sell all my other car for this Missile.
I would buy the R32 because I know how good the standard golf is compared to a Lancer, though the current Lancer is much better than its predecessor. But I must admit the Evo X looks more interesting and dynamic, but the R32 is more civilized and acceptable with the classy ladies. Hum decisions, impossible solution: I’d buy both and put the good stuff from the Evo X into the forthcoming new Golf GTI-R.
We currently drive an 08 VW Golf 2.0 TDI w/DSG (sensible and fairly fun); Now in a position to call that the wife’s car and get my own TAC taunter. So I went off to test drive R32…. as Flying High stated, I too felt Ho Hum… so off to drive the Subarus…ho hum some more, and as a previous manual lover, I can’t seem to stand anything that’s not DSG like these days…so thanks for the great write-up and I am off to try the Evo next; if it doesn’t rock my world, then I am seeing a chipped up GTI in my future..(prefer a bit of wheel barking from time to time).
fantastic read! Provocative POV, great pics, well written.
nazi win