Meet the all-new £40,000 Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet

How much would you consider paying for a Volkswagen Golf? That’s a question that struck us when we looked through the spec and price list of the new Golf R Cabriolet.

It’s a pertinent question, even if you can easily afford its £38,770 base price, because nobody likes throwing money away and you’ll think twice before opting for the range-topping VW Golf if the second-hand market doesn’t share your enthusiasm.

For around the same price you could have a BMW Z4 sDrive35i Roadster or a 2.7-litre Porsche Boxster, neither of which are four-seat convertibles, but it certainly makes you think doesn’t it?

The Golf R Cabriolet is powered by VW’s 261bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, connected to a standard six-speed DSG gearbox transmitting power to the front wheels. A 0-62 mph time of 6.4 seconds is brisk (0.9sec slower than the three-door all-wheel drive Golf R), if not exceptional and it can reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Design cues are as per the Mk6 Golf R (on which it is based), with a bespoke front bumper with gloss-black grille and ‘R’ logo, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlights with black housings, gloss-black door mirror casings and black-painted brake callipers with an R logo.

Side sill extensions, a gloss black rear diffuser, smoked LED tail lights and chrome-tipped exhausts complete the understated look while 18 or 19-inch ‘Talladega’ alloy wheels are fitted in either ‘Sterling Silver’ or optional ‘High-gloss Black’.

The interior is awash with the usual ‘R’ logos on the head restraints, steering wheel, dashboard trim and gear selector, while the four individual sports seats are covered in ‘Vienna Cool Leather’ as standard.