Second price drop alert! 2022 Volkswagen Golf R feature change prompts another rare cost decrease for new Audi S3, Mercedes-AMG A35 and BMW M135i rival

Ahead of its launch in April, Volkswagen Australia has lowered the new Golf R hot hatch’s pricing for a second time – a rarity for any brand or model in recent years.

That said, both price drops weren’t by design, as Volkswagen Australia chose to de-specify the Golf R hatchback to maintain its initial production allocation and keep customer deliveries on time.

Volkswagen Australia passenger vehicles brand director Michal Szaniecki said: “With more than 7000 expressions of interest in the new R range and in excess of 1000 deposits, our foremost intention is to meet rapidly growing customer demand.”

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In this instance, the Golf R’s standard Harman Kardon sound system became unavailable due to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage, so it reduced the Golf R hatchback and related wagon’s pricing by $1000, to $65,990 and $68,990 plus on-road costs, respectively.

However, an unspecified number of locally bound Golf Rs have already been built with the Harman Kardon sound system, so it will be available as a – you guessed it – $1000 option. It, therefore, joins the only other extra, a $1900 (hatchback) or $2000 (wagon) sunroof.

As reported, having been $67,990, the Golf R hatchback’s price was also decreased by $1000 last month, with that change made due to the removal of its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine’s petrol particulate filter (PPF).

This tweak means the Golf R hatchback’s engine produces 20Nm less torque intended, at 400Nm, although its 235kW of power is unchanged. Its wagon sibling, however, still gets the PPF and, therefore, the maximum outputs.

Like the PPF, Volkswagen Australia is planning to make the Harman Kardon sound system standard range-wide as part of a future model-year update for the Golf R, potentially as soon as MY23.

For reference, standard equipment in the Golf R still includes a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, a 4Motion all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and Drift Mode, Matrix LED headlights, 19-inch Estoril alloy wheels, adaptive sports suspension, keyless entry and a sports exhaust system.

Inside, push-button start, a 10.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system, satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, digital radio, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, heated and cooled front seats, tri-zone climate control and Nappa leather upholstery.

Advanced driver-assist systems in the Audi S3, Mercedes-AMG A35 and BMW M135i rival extend to autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep and steering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, and park assist.

2022 Volkswagen Golf R pricing before on-road costs