Volkswagen’s latest Golf has won many accolades for economy and reliability. The GT versions are different.
The performance of the Golf GTD is what really makes it excel. In this case, GTD equals a high-performance diesel car – the same way that we associate the GTI letters with high performance in a petrol-powered Golf.
This car does deliver on power, but it’s power that you have to pay for. The engine under the bonnet of this car is a 2.0-litre turbocharged common-rail diesel engine (TDI) with 184bhp output. That’s 34bhp more than the top-performance normal Golf. I expected it to be lively and it sure was.
Even more impressive than the power is the engine’s high torque, at 380Nm, and it’s this feature that allows the car to accelerate so quickly. This diesel Golf can reach 100km/hr, from a standing start, in just 7.5 seconds.
But is this a practical car, or even one that is desirable? We all know the answer to that one, mainly for all the practical reasons.
The price for the three-door entry model is €37,245, or £25,285 in Northern Ireland – out of reach in every sense.
For the Golf enthusiasts, and there are many of them, this is a car of their dreams. The styling is Golf, but the emphasis is understated, hints of its high-performance ability are subtle.
The GTD badging, the red brake calipers and the unique alloy wheels, all make it a car that gets noticed, but not just by everyone, and maybe that is what makes it so desirable.
If you’re a driver who also likes the emotion that comes from that special engine noise then this Golf will also appeal to you.
Hit the accelerator and the feeling of power is confirmed in an engine sound that swiftly migrates from a hum to a powerful grunt. It’s an engine noise that gets an instant response from younger men and I can’t fully answer why.
There is huge diesel power in the car, but in relation to older models the economy is reasonable. Who would have thought 10 years ago that a Golf GTD could achieve an economy rating of 23.3km/litre (4.3 litres/100km or 67mpg)?
My test drive was shorter than usual and I still achieved a result close to that figure, which somewhat surprised me.
The car drives as a sports-type car, with that low-to-the-ground feeling and a sporty suspension, which makes it a little hard on the road. However, its road holding on corners is very impressive.
I had the DSG (automatic) gearbox version for the test and once I mastered it in terms of selection it was fun to drive.
The auto (drive) selection gave the smoothest performance, while the sport setting confirmed that I was in a performance car with lots of power and the engine noise to match.
The Golf GTD has all of the safety features of a standard Golf, boosted by a better braking system to cope with the extra power.
It comes with smoked LED rear lights, an LED licence plate, standard BiXenon headlights with LED daytime-running lights, chrome dual tailpipes, 18-inch Nogaro alloy wheels with 225/40 tyres, side skirts, a rear diffuser, sports suspension and a large roof spoiler.
The distinctive interior of the GTD features tartan Jacara Grey sports seats, a black roof lining, a sporty steering wheel and stainless steel pedals.
There is also a GTD-specific gear lever, trim strips and an instrument cluster.
The car has what’s called white ambience lighting, two-zone climate control and a touchscreen infotainment system, which also includes DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.
Golf enthusiasts will love this car. For others, it’s fun to drive but very expensive to buy.
Ford has some competition for the Golf GTI in the Focus SR, but there is no diesel power rocket to match this Golf. CL
Volkswagen Golf GTD
Engine 2.0-litre dieselEngine power 184bhp 0-100km/hr 6.7 secondsEconomy 23.3km/litreFuel tank capacity 50 litresCO2 emissions 109g/kmRoad tax band A3 (€190)Main service 20,000km Euro NCAP rating Five Star (2009)Towing rating 2,700kgWarranty Three yearsEntry price €37,245 NI price £25,285
Volkswagen’s latest Golf has won many accolades for economy and reliability. The GT versions are different.
The performance of the Golf GTD is what really makes it excel. In this case, GTD equals a high-performance diesel car – the same way that we associate the GTI letters with high performance in a petrol-powered Golf.
This car does deliver on power, but it’s power that you have to pay for. The engine under the bonnet of this car is a 2.0-litre turbocharged common-rail diesel engine (TDI) with 184bhp output. That’s 34bhp more than the top-performance normal Golf. I expected it to be lively and it sure was.
Even more impressive than the power is the engine’s high torque, at 380Nm, and it’s this feature that allows the car to accelerate so quickly. This diesel Golf can reach 100km/hr, from a standing start, in just 7.5 seconds.
But is this a practical car, or even one that is desirable? We all know the answer to that one, mainly for all the practical reasons.
The price for the three-door entry model is €37,245, or £25,285 in Northern Ireland – out of reach in every sense.
For the Golf enthusiasts, and there are many of them, this is a car of their dreams. The styling is Golf, but the emphasis is understated, hints of its high-performance ability are subtle.
The GTD badging, the red brake calipers and the unique alloy wheels, all make it a car that gets noticed, but not just by everyone, and maybe that is what makes it so desirable.
If you’re a driver who also likes the emotion that comes from that special engine noise then this Golf will also appeal to you.
Hit the accelerator and the feeling of power is confirmed in an engine sound that swiftly migrates from a hum to a powerful grunt. It’s an engine noise that gets an instant response from younger men and I can’t fully answer why.
There is huge diesel power in the car, but in relation to older models the economy is reasonable. Who would have thought 10 years ago that a Golf GTD could achieve an economy rating of 23.3km/litre (4.3 litres/100km or 67mpg)?
My test drive was shorter than usual and I still achieved a result close to that figure, which somewhat surprised me.
The car drives as a sports-type car, with that low-to-the-ground feeling and a sporty suspension, which makes it a little hard on the road. However, its road holding on corners is very impressive.
I had the DSG (automatic) gearbox version for the test and once I mastered it in terms of selection it was fun to drive.
The auto (drive) selection gave the smoothest performance, while the sport setting confirmed that I was in a performance car with lots of power and the engine noise to match.
The Golf GTD has all of the safety features of a standard Golf, boosted by a better braking system to cope with the extra power.
It comes with smoked LED rear lights, an LED licence plate, standard BiXenon headlights with LED daytime-running lights, chrome dual tailpipes, 18-inch Nogaro alloy wheels with 225/40 tyres, side skirts, a rear diffuser, sports suspension and a large roof spoiler.
The distinctive interior of the GTD features tartan Jacara Grey sports seats, a black roof lining, a sporty steering wheel and stainless steel pedals.
There is also a GTD-specific gear lever, trim strips and an instrument cluster.
The car has what’s called white ambience lighting, two-zone climate control and a touchscreen infotainment system, which also includes DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.
Golf enthusiasts will love this car. For others, it’s fun to drive but very expensive to buy.
Ford has some competition for the Golf GTI in the Focus SR, but there is no diesel power rocket to match this Golf. CL
Volkswagen Golf GTD
Engine 2.0-litre dieselEngine power 184bhp 0-100km/hr 6.7 secondsEconomy 23.3km/litreFuel tank capacity 50 litresCO2 emissions 109g/kmRoad tax band A3 (€190)Main service 20,000km Euro NCAP rating Five Star (2009)Towing rating 2,700kgWarranty Three yearsEntry price €37,245 NI price £25,285 
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