Volkswagen announced that Car and Driver magazine has named the Golf GTI and Golf R to its prestigious 2026 “10Best” list.
The GTI has received this award for the twentieth time and the Golf R for the fifth time.
“We’ve always loved the current Volkswagen GTI’s combination of value, practicality, performance and personality, but it’s the interior improvements Volkswagen has implemented for 2026 that earned it a spot on the 10Best list,” said Car and Driver Editor-in-Chief Tony Quiroga.
“And the design of the Golf R is practical, but beneath this conservative shape lies a sports car that accelerates to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.”
“Golf models have a special place in the hearts of drivers: they are practical, but also bring true joy behind the wheel,” said Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Volkswagen of America.
The GTI created the myth of the hot hatch, and the Golf R shows how far that idea can go. It’s no surprise that these cars continue to win awards and conquer new generations of enthusiasts.
Car and Driver’s annual “10Best” list features 10 of the magazine’s most popular new cars, rated for value, fun and performance.
Nominees include all-new vehicles, those with significant updates, the 10Best winners of 2025, and eligible vehicles that were not available for the 2025 competition.
The competition will select the 10 best cars and the 10 best trucks and SUVs: all must have a base manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $115,000 and be available for sale in the United States by January 31, 2026.
For this year’s awards, the editors evaluated more than 90 new vehicles within two weeks.
Updates to Volkswagen’s 2025 sports hatchback brought fresh looks and improved technology, as well as an increase in power for the Golf R models from 315 to 328 horsepower.
For 2026, the Golf GTI models continue to be available in S, SE and Autobahn trim levels, with the suggested retail price for S trims starting at $34,590.
The 2026 Golf R is available only as a standard model with a suggested retail price starting at $49,455.
The available European Style Package includes an Akrapovič titanium exhaust system, European sport seats and the elimination of the sunroof, resulting in a weight saving of almost 36 kg. Shipping to destination is $1,275 for both models.