Behind this year’s recognition of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R as “MotorTrend Car of the Year 2026”, lies an extremely demanding testing process that tested the limits of humans and machines.
Testing took place at the Honda Proving Center (HPC), in the heart of California’s Mojave Desert, in conditions ranging from 45°C heat to heavy thunderstorms. In this environment, each candidate car underwent exhaustive measurements of acceleration, braking, lateral grip and behavior on the track and public road.
MotorTrend’s panel of seven experienced journalists and engineers – led by Johan de Nysschen, former top executive of Audi, Infiniti, Cadillac and Volkswagen Group North America – evaluated 20 models in 14 different series, strictly applying the institution’s six criteria.
The Golf GTI / R stood out for its consistency its driving behavior, its technological maturity, its ability to balance power and everyday usability, as well as for his emotional response. The committee described his win this year as “proof that thoroughbred cars still inspire, even in the age of SUVs and electrification.”
This is the third time that a Golf has been distinguished as “Car of the Year” by the MotorTrend comes to seal an ever-renewing legend — and to remind that the essence of driving remains unaltered in Volkswagen’s DNA.
Source: Skai
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