Introduction 

What’s New: After a four-year absence, Volkswagen’s R32 returns to the U.S. market for 2008 with a 250-horsepower six-cylinder engine, the brand’s Direct Shift Gearbox automatic transmission, standard front-side and side-curtain airbags, and standard features aplenty for the starting price of $33,630. If you want one, act quickly!

Competes With: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru WRX STI

What We Think: For the price, the R32 delivers in terms of style, quality, and overall appeal. What we fault is a powertrain needing a few more horses and handling dynamics that could use some fine tuning at the limits – precisely where the bulk of R32 buyers will likely venture.

Volkswagen R32 – 2008 Review: There seem to be three types of people in the world – those who don’t get it, those who are proficient, and the experts. It’s these basic categorizations that dictate our personal and professional goals, which in turn affect how much we study and learn, the time we take to practice and the effort we expend in a variety of activities. In short, it’s about finding something we enjoy, something we can excel at, and sometimes that requires finding a niche – a unique angle all our own.

It’s a concept that translates to the world of cars. Take sport compacts as an example. Currently, there’s a battle going on between Mitsubishi and Subaru, as the Evolution continues to swap paint with the WRX STI. These are the established kings of affordable boosted hot rodding. However, with its launch of the 2008 R32, Volkswagen is carving out its own niche, taking aim at the crowd just left of center. If the R32 had a tagline, it would probably read something like this: If you can’t beat them in performance, beat them in style and refinement.

A quick check of 0-60 mph times proves that the R32 won’t win a drag race against its main competitors, and we can say after a week of testing that its handling doesn’t quite measure up either. But this Volkswagen is an immensely fun toy, and thoroughly trounces its competition with its luxurious materials, relatively sophisticated styling, and fully loaded price of about $35,000. Rather than trying to outrun it’s the Evo and STI, the R32 aims to outclass those heavyweights, and for buyers who don’t spend their days speeding from red lights and every weekend at the track, it might be time to start thinking Volkswagen.