Automakers have had several brands under one umbrella for years and in some cases we look at cars that have different badges and wonder what the differences really are. There have been times when a model would look the same across three different brands and the only discernable differences were the features offered on each one. That’s not the case with our comparison test of today where we take two of the models from the Volkswagen Group and see which one would be more preferable to you. In this test you see cars that don’t look anything alike, but do have some key similarities.

The two cars we choose to discuss are the Volkswagen Golf R and the Audi TT. Starting with similarities, they both are built on the same platform and both come from the Volkswagen Group to have similar suspensions and ride qualities. Other than that you wouldn’t even think these two had much at all in common except for the fact they are part of the same group but from different brands. Volkswagen is not a luxury name and Audi certainly is, the Golf R is the highest model of this car while the TT is actually the lowest. Let’s see what else comes from pitting these two against each other.

The Golf R shows up with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can put out 292 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque. This car is offered with two different transmissions, either a six-speed manual or a six-speed dual clutch automatic. With the manual on board the car can reach sixty mph in only 5.3 seconds while the automatic is capable of improving this time to 4.5 seconds. This car brings in the 4Motion AWD system as a standard feature to give you the most traction you could have on the road.

The Audi TT has a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as well, but only offers 220 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. There is only one transmission and that is the six-speed S-tronic automatic transmission and this car can reach sixty mph in 5.6 seconds. The Quattro AWD system of the TT does give it a smooth ride while measuring road conditions constantly and making the necessary adjustments while driving. Another feature that you enjoy on the TT that isn’t offered in the Golf R is the fully digital instrument cluster. This is a 12.3-inch screen that is customizable to show you what you want to see so that you can enjoy the information about what’s going on with the car.

Which car of the two would you prefer? While it seems we aren’t really comparing two like items at all, if you want the speed and the zip of a hot hatch, the Golf R is the way to go as that’s the only way this car is offered. On the TT you will have a fun and active luxury sports car that can be had in coupe or convertible style. This isn’t an easy choice to make, which one is right for you?