VW Golf GTD
FIRST DRIVE We see if facelift works well on big-selling hot diesel
Facelifted version of big-selling diesel assessed
BRITISH customers love a hot hatchback, but as our taxation and company car rules are still weighted towards diesel, it’s no surprise that the Volkswagen Golf GTD has been one of the most popular versions in the model’s line-up. Now it’s been updated to bring it into line with the Golf’s mid-life facelift.
The GTD still gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel producing 181bhp and 380Nm of torque. This drives the front wheels via a six-speed manual box as standard. The DSG option has changed, though, so the dual-clutch auto tested here is now a sevenratio unit instead of the old six-speeder.
With DSG, the GTD can crack the 0-62mph sprint in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 143mph, while claiming economy of 57.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 129g/km. That’s a healthy efficiency advantage over the petrol-powered GTI, which is worth knowing if you’re considering a fun Golf as your next company car.
Facelift
The rest of the package falls into line with other facelifted Golfs, getting the same new bumpers and headlights. The standard kit list also includes 18-inch alloys, dualzone climate control, sports suspension and seats, plus VW’S 12-inch Active Info Display digital instrument panel.
There are significant upgrades to the infotainment system, too, with a Discover Navigation set-up that features an eightinch touchscreen. It also incorporates Car-net, which offers real-time information on everything from car park charges to fuel prices at nearby filling stations.
In many ways, we prefer Discover Navigation to the more expensive (optional) Discover Navigation Pro, because while the top-spec unit’s 9.2-inch screen is crisper, it loses the shortcut buttons down the sides, as well as the rotary switches that allow you to zoom in and out of the maps.
On the road, the GTD delivers one of the latest Golf’s best driving experiences. The new dual-clutch gearbox’s shifts feel a little quicker and noticeably smoother than before. That’s a good thing, because the prodigious torque on offer keeps the transmission on its toes, allowing you to make very rapid progress with remarkably little effort.
Should you decide to take control, you can stick the DSG into manual mode and rev the engine out a bit more before shifting up with the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Do this and you’ll hear a fairly gruff engine note; acoustic engineering makes the GTD’S sound about as appealing as a four-cylinder diesel can, but it’ll never match the aural delights of a petrol turbo.
“GTD delivers one of the latest Golf’s best driving experiences”