VW Golf GTD review

"You won't necessarily notice how fast you're going"

What is it?

It’s a diesel Golf with pretensions on being as sporty as the Golf GTI. However a three door version starts at £21,850, making it just £500 less than a ‘proper’ GTI. It can do 50mpg and It does have 70nm more torque than its petrol powered cousin, but does that extra twist make a big enough difference?

Watch our Vauxhall Astra Vs VW Golf Shootout

What does it look like?

Its looks like a Golf, but keen eyed car nuts will be able to spot the GTD a mile off. In place of the Golf’s red grille piping, there’s a GTD-only chrome surround. In place of the GTI badges, the GTD moniker is popped on the grille and the bootlid. The GTD doesn’t get the GTI’s split exhaust pipe set up, either – they’re discreetly popped to one side. Otherwise it’s pretty much standard Golf. Which is no bad thing.

What’s it like inside?

Inside it’s typical Golf. And wonderfully Germanic. Everything fits together perfectly and feels solid enough to weather a storm of children trying to pry it apart ‘just to see what happens’. It’s GTD touches really set it off though. It has a flat-bottomed ‘wheel adorned with a metal GTD logo, steel peals and our test car came coated in leather. There are also touches of chrome on the window rocker buttons and gear lever – which all make the Golf feel like the premium product we expected it to be.
We also liked the media system on our test car – there are five different inputs for external media, and the stereo really does sound fantastic (we do need to apologise to the passers by while The Darkness was playing at full blast).
In 1930’s vernacular – it’s a bit spiffy.

What’s it like to drive?

With 70nm more than the GTI, it’s certainly quick. On the motorway putting your foot down can see you reaching very illegal speeds with ease. And because it’s quite quiet you won’t necessarily notice how fast you’re going.

Grip is impressive, too. While it’s not fitted with the GTI’s XDS electronic diff, the GTD feels planted on the road. It takes effort to make the tyres squeal.

While the GTD’s 0-62mph time of 8.1seconds is over a second slower than the GTI’s, but on the motorway the GTD’s torque certainly comes in handy. Sadly even that can't stop it from being merely a warm-hatch, not a hot one. Also, the GTD’s setup, though similar to the GTI’s, just isn’t as good as it’s petrol cousin’s.

Verdict

The Golf GTD was living in a big shadow – and doesn’t really emerge from it. While it’s got bags of torque, 50mpg frugality and typical Golf looks, it’s badge still has a letter ‘D’ on the end. Which isn’t the ‘I’ that people fantasise about. Perhaps by the time Mk IX Golf arrives the GTD will be as good as the GTI, but not now.
However if you want an entertaining motorway cruiser then you’re in luck – because VW has something you may like.

by Alex Goy