Volkswagen Golf R32 (2005 - 2008)

The Golf R32 brought six-cylinder character and all-wheel drive to Volkswagen’s compact hatchback line. Its narrow-angle VR6 engine gave it a distinctive sound, while the Haldex-based 4Motion system helped put the power down more effectively than a front-drive GTI.

Its significance is that it created the modern Golf R lineage. The R32 was more mature and muscular than the GTI, establishing a premium performance hatch formula that Volkswagen would continue with later turbocharged Golf R models.