Braking performance of both is eye-popping. Throw the anchors out in the EVO – Brembos with massive 350mm ventilated discs up front, and 330mm rear – and you’ll feel like you’ve lassoed a stump. The R32, running fractionally smaller 345mm front discs and 310mm discs at the rear may struggle with prolonged hard-braking at the track, but in real-world driving is a match for the EVO.
Of the two twin-clutch transmissions – the R32’s DSG and the EVO X’s TC-SST – in ‘normal’ sports mode, there is little to separate the operation of either. Each works flawlessly. Even drivers with an avowed ‘manual’ preference cannot fail to enjoy the solid ‘blink of an eye’ changes – up and down - of a twin-clutch box.
Each has steering-mounted paddles (or you can flick the shifter) for manual gear changing. Though the EVO X’s paddles are fixed to the column (and you can find your hands away from them in hard cornering), they are larger and easier to use than the smaller ones on the R32 – though the latter’s are fixed to the wheel. (We found them a tad too small - when things get frantic you can miss a change.)
In keeping with its track leanings, the EVO’s selectable super-sport setting is off-the-scale mayhem. It holds changes to near the redline and is impossible to use except at the track or on a very open road (unless you want to do a bit of granny-scarin’).
Everywhere you look the EVO is more hard-core. The R32 is fast, but a more agreeable citizen.
On style, highly subjective we know, you would have to give it to the R32. It sits squat, nestled low over fat rubber and 18-inch ‘Omanyt’ alloys, in-board twin pipes, deep front spoiler and purposeful nose. The current Golf has always been easy on the eye. In R32 guise, it just looks better.
The EVO X has not been so fortunate with its genes. The standard Lancer has a tippy-toes look courtesy of a high belt-line, slab sides and narrow track.
The EVO X, hunkered low over pumped guards, a wider track, and fat, fat rubber on 18-inch BBS forged aluminium wheels, vastly improves the Lancer’s lines. It is not as ‘out there’ as the EVO IX, but with vented bonnet, massive intercooler sitting low in the deep front dam, rear diffuser and big twin pipes, there’s no mistaking its bruising sporting intent.
Inside, for style and comfort, the R32 also takes the cigar. The Volks cockpit is a very nice place to be. Big clear dials, styled sports wheel, brushed metal highlights, embossed leather Recaros – there is an understated class to the R32. It’s as black as a mortician’s eyebrow but pleasing to the eye nonetheless and comfortable and quiet.
This is not to say that the EVO is underdone or short of the mark. It’s not. Many will no doubt prefer its uncluttered, no-nonsense style. Its Recaros grip like a vice, the trim highlights are real carbon fibre and the fit and finish of the broad dash and surrounds as good as you’ll find. It also offers (with the MR) heated front seats and a suburb-thumping Rockford Fosgate sound system.
There is a sense that the EVO X is hewn from stone. Everything about it feels immensely strong and heavily over-engineered. Inside and out, it feels like it could be dropped from a very great height without breaking anything.
2009 Holden Cruze CDX 
2010 FPV F6 E 
2010 HSV Clubsport R8 
2009 BMW 335i Sedan 
2010 BMW 120d Hatch manual (E87) 
2009 Holden Commodore SS Sportwagon
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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