VW Golf R 2026 long-term review: Final verdict on a classic hot hatch Life&Style When I first enquired about running a Golf R, I expected this to be a swansong of sorts. The eighth-generation VW Golf was to be the last, we were told, as the electric ID.3 filled the family hatchback-sized hole in the Volkswagen range. Thankfully, reports of the Golf’s demise were a little premature. Volkswagen had [...]
Volkswagen Transporter Sportline 2026: The van that wants to be a VW Golf GTI Life&Style Imagine an illicit liaison between a Volkswagen van and a Golf GTI. The result, nine months later, might look something like the Transporter Sportline. So, is this flagship ‘sports van’ a welcome addition to the family? If the idea of a sports van sounds like a contradiction in terms, tell that to the thousands of [...]
Volkswagen Golf R: RIP to the ultimate hot hatch? Life&Style A decade ago, when its Mk7 predecessor roamed the roads, the Volkswagen Golf R faced a plethora of hot hatchback rivals. These included the Ford Focus ST and RS, Honda Civic Type R, Peugeot 308 GTI, Hyundai i30 N and Renaultsport Megane. All have since been quietly euthanised and not replaced. The venerable Audi RS3 [...]
European carmakers slam on the brakes after Trump tariff shock May 4, 2026 Volkswagen reveals €4bn hit even before Washington threats to tear up the Turnberry Deal’s pledge on car import tax Shares in European carmakers were stuck in reverse on Monday, after the sector became the latest to be caught up in threats into the weekend from US President Donald Trump. The White House announced fresh plans [...]
Mercedes Benz joins legal battle over £9bn motor finance scheme April 29, 2026 Mercedes Benz is confirmed to be among the four legal challenges lodged against the UK financial watchdog’s motor finance redress scheme. The financial services arm of the German car giant is set to challenge the scheme that puts the car finance industry on the hook for £9.1bn in compensation. The carmarker has thus far set [...]
Volkswagen Golf R 2026 long-term review: First report April 20, 2026 The Volkswagen Golf R ticks a lot of boxes on paper, but what is this 333hp hot hatchback like to live with? Tim Pitt finds out. If you could only own one car, what would it be? My initial impulse says a Ferrari F40 – the poster I had blu-tacked to my bedroom wall. However, [...]
Can Volkswagen really pivot to defence? April 17, 2026 Can Volkswagen really pivot into defence? Saskia Koopman examines whether one of Europe’s great industrial names can reinvent itself for an era of rearmament. For most of its eight-decade history, Volkswagen has stood as a symbol of Europe’s industrial might – churning cars out at scale and underpinning entire regional economies. But at the company’s [...]
Volkswagen Passat Estate review: Second place in the space race January 21, 2026 Volkswagen has celebrated several big birthdays in recent years, with both the Polo supermini and Golf hatchback marking their 50th anniversaries. Yet the Passat, first launched in 1973, seemingly did not merit a special commemorative edition when it turned 50. Volkswagen has launched a new version of the Passat, though, now only available in estate [...]
Electric vehicle grants return, but most buyers will miss out July 16, 2025 The UK government has reintroduced grants for electric vehicles (EVs) in a bid to boost lagging consumer demand, but industry insiders warn that most buyers may be left behind. Unveiled late last week, the new electric car grant will offer up to £3,750 off the price of a new EV, targeting models priced under £37,000 [...]
Little respite for carmakers despite Trump’s tariff rowback April 30, 2025 Donald Trump’s rowback on tariffs provides little respite for a global car industry already struggling to cope. Following intense lobbying from manufacturers, the mercurial US president on Tuesday introduced a set of relief measures for carmakers which enable them to pay less in import taxes for foreign parts. While the move will be welcomed by [...]