MotorTrend

2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL Premium R-Line Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon has been newly refreshed for 2021. Is this luxury sedan worth the price?

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2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI Shows Its Stuff on the Test Track

The New 2019 Volkswagen Arteon attempts to stretch the VW brand into the premium space, but just how fancy is the new four-door?

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7 Reasons Why the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon Is a Super-Fancy VW

VW turned its hot hatch into a swift sedan. Welcome the new GLI, with the same powertrain as the much-lauded GTI. Will AUTOMOBILE’S Billy Rehbock love this accessible, six-speed sedan with spunk and a trunk?

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Behind the Wheel: the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

For the first time in decades, the hottest Jetta is ready to compete with its famous hot hatch brother, the GTI. To see if the promise of “GTI-like performance” is true, we took this fast sedan to Fontana?

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First Test: the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

The retro-styled ID Buzz electric van has finally landed in the U.S.! We give you a look at five things that make it unique from the European version.

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2025 Volkswagen ID Buzz: Five Things To Know

Volkswagen packed the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport with an abundance of cool and useful technology. Motortrend’s own Mark Rechtin does a complete walkthrough.

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2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: Tech Features

Footage of the 2025 Volkswagen ID7E EV. Video courtesy Volkswagen.

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2025 Volkswagen ID7 EV Running Footage

The Hyundai Palisade is one of the top-selling 3-row SUVs in the North American Market - but does the updated 2023 Calligraphy edition do enough to justify the $50,000 price tag?

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2023 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy First Test

Two turbocharged legends face off: the 2025 Toyota GR Corolla Premium Plus and the 2025 Volkswagen Golf R Black Edition. Both bring over 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a reputation for delivering pure driving thrills. But which one is the ultimate hot hatch for 2025?

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Do We Have to Choose? 2025 Toyota GR Corolla vs. VW Golf R

History repeats in the best way for Volkswagen’s icon: the Golf lineup—GTI and R—earns MotorTrend’s 2026 Car of the Year. In refreshed Mk8 form, both models sharpen design and tech while honoring hot-hatch roots. Outside: crisper headlights, reshaped bumpers, illuminated grille bar, and a bolder R with aggressive aero and an available Euro Style package (lighter seats, no sunroof, Akrapovič titanium exhaust). Inside: a cleaner cabin centered on a quicker 12.9-inch infotainment system with conversational voice control powered by ChatGPT. On the road, MQB chassis tuning, stiffer springs, and revised mounts make it more planted and playful. Power comes from a 2.0L turbo: GTI 241 hp/273 lb-ft (FWD), R 328 hp/295 lb-ft (AWD), both with a responsive 7-speed dual-clutch. IQ.Drive driver assists are standard. Efficiency stays strong (up to 27 mpg combined GTI; 25 mpg R), and value impresses (GTI from $33,670; R from $48,325). A daily driver with real thrills—this is the Golf at its best.

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The 2026 MotorTrend Car of the Year Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI + R