Many of you have a loyalty to a particular automotive brand that may have all started way back when you bought your very first vehicle. Admittedly, we totally understand how you fell in love with your very first ride, and that has now become your go-to brand. For some, it was a Chevy model that tugged at their heartstrings; for others, it could have been a Toyota. You may also be the type of driver who swears by vehicles built by a particular country. There are people who will only buy American brands and others who are dedicated to Japanese models. When it comes to the quality of a vehicle, all countries have specific selling points. For example, German cars are well known for their superior engineering. If you haven’t heard about this, it’s a real thing and worth a little research. So if you are trying to decide which sporty hatchback should be calling your garage home, German engineering might influence your choice. Let’s see how that applies when comparing the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R vs 2022 Hyundai Veloster N.
German Engineering
The Volkswagen brand has long boasted about their German engineering, and they say that this is what defines them as an automotive manufacturer. It also sets them apart from the rest of the competition. Ask anyone associated with Volkwagen, and they will explain with passion how precision is everything when it comes to designing cars. We aren’t talking about just the engine or the interior; everything about a Volkswagen is designed and manufactured with precision.
We guess that a better way to explain this is in the details. For example, when the suspension of the Golf R was designed, it was designed to not only perform exceptionally well all on its own, but it must also work in harmony with all of the other components within the vehicle. This is because the engineers at Volkswagen are so precise; they give every single part, no matter how small, an awful lot of attention. It is their belief that even a bushing is a critical component that it must function adequately in order for the entire system to hum right along.
It makes perfect sense once you really start to think about it. The suspension is more than just a means to a smoother ride; it also affects the way a car handles and more. You see just how this affects a car when you test drive the Golf R; that bushing in the suspension was precisely engineered, which is one of the reasons for the excellent handling and smooth ride. And while the Veloster might handle well and offer a smooth ride, the Golf R offers a superior ride.
Flashy and Stylish
In addition to all of the mechanical wonders seen in Volkswagens and other German cars, they also offer a lot of style. Simply pick any image of the new Golf R and take a good look at it. The good looks of the Golf R are in part due to the fact that nothing is overlooked. The low-profile wheels fit precisely in the wheel wells, the rear spoiler lines up perfectly with the roofline, and the slim headlights fit perfectly under the raked hood. You might not hear this ever again, but even the blue accents on the brake calipers look stunning. Now, who compliments a car on the looks of its brakes? There is nothing wrong with the way the Veloster looks; it is indeed quite a stylish car, to be sure. The only problem is that there are too many exterior components that do not differentiate from other models. For example, the honeycomb grille is something we can see in several models from other brands.
The interior of the Golf R is where you can really see the magic of German style and engineering. The new Golf R boasts an updated and high-tech interior with far fewer switches and buttons than other models. This is because you can do almost anything from the central display or even through voice commands. Again, this is a case in which less is better. We could go into a massive list of features found in the new Golf, but let’s just say they don’t hold back on anything. The Napa leather seats that are heated and ventilated are a fine example. Again, there is nothing wrong with the interior of the Veloster; it just doesn’t look or feel like it was designed with as much thought and effort.
Fun to Drive
For anyone who has never driven a German car before, you should put it on your bucket list. German cars offer a perfect combination of performance and comfort when you drive. This holds especially true with the Golf R. The updated and reworked 4Motion all-wheel-drive applies the perfect amount of torque to each wheel for a drive that will have you yearning more.
This might not hold true with all German brands and models, but Volkswagen puts a lot of focus on handling when it comes to the Golf R. We know that it was tested by professional drivers who give the Golf R everything it can handle. Unfortunately, there are a few brands out there that throw out a hot hatch with a drivetrain that barely beats out your typical four-cylinder engine and don’t bother beefing up the suspension for better handling.
There is a lot of talk about the 4Motion system in the Golf R, and it deserves some attention. This system is cutting-edge, and it increases the Golf’s acceleration, traction, and road grip. In a nutshell, the system sends power to whatever wheel needs it at a particular moment. For example, it can sense when a wheel starts to spin, and it will cut power to that wheel and send more power to the other wheels. The beauty of this system is that the driver never knows what is going on; all they know is that they are behind the wheel of an exceptional car.
Not to kick a dead horse here, but once again, the Golf is favored over the Veloster in terms of overall handling. The Veloster’s basic front-wheel drive system simply cannot compare to VW’s 4Motion – and that’s even before you dive into the details. Once again, the German manufacturer has made it a priority to improve even the most minor details in terms of engineering and it shows.
An Ideal German Car?
When the discussion at the dinner table has turned to cars, there will be talk about German engineering. German cars have long set the benchmark for technology, and most of the best luxury cars and sports cars come from Germany. But there is more. German brands have also led the way in producing cars that are reliable, high-quality, and stylish. After all, you aren’t going to sell a car to an American that is not good-looking.
German brands like Volkswagen continue to raise the bar when it comes to not only the quality of cars but with an emphasis on how well they drive. The Volkswagen Golf R is an excellent example of taking that extra effort to design and produce a stylish car that excels in handling. So the next time you hear the words “German engineering,” you might not be able to help but think about the new Volkswagen Golf R.
