Volkswagen Golf GTD review

This is the all-new Mk8 VW Golf GTD – the ideal version if you want your Golf to look sporty and be fun to drive, but who also do a whole load of motorway miles.

If you imagine that the new VW Golf GTI is the 400-metre runner in the range, well the Golf GTD is the 5000-metre runner, so it’s still quick, but it can also go a long way without effort. Indeed, it looks like a regular Golf that’s been given a pair of trainers and a couple of sweatbands.

It costs from around £33k and comes with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, 18-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, keyless entry and three-zone climate control. And where the Golf GTI has red highlights, the GTD’s are silver.

The VW Golf GTD gets the same basic interior as the Mk8 Golf, which is a good thing. It’s all very minimalist and classy, with barely any buttons or fiddly details. You get a sportier steering wheel, plenty of sporty stitching, and sports seats with chequered trim. You also get mood lighting with 30 customisable colours. Oh, and there’s even a snazzy start button that pulses red before you start the engine.

As standard, there’s an 8-inch infotainment system and a 10-inch digital driver’s display but you can pay extra to get a pair of 10-inch screens instead. Both displays come with special GTD-specific graphics and you can customise the driver’s display using buttons on the steering wheel. There’s also the option to use voice commands to control lots of the car’s features – just like in the standard Golf.

The GTD is the Golf for the person who wants to look like they're in a GTI, but actually values economy above hooning pace.

The 2.0-litre diesel engine produces 200hp. Even though that’s 45hp less than the GTI, it still makes it the most powerful diesel Golf ever. It also pumps out 400Nm of torque, so it should feel pretty rapid. VW says its two catalytic converters and dual AdBlue injectors also make the GTD’s engine one of the ‘cleanest diesel engines in the world’.

The new Volkswagen Golf GTD gets independent suspension all-round, which should help it feel agile through the corners. You can also pay extra to have it fitted with adaptive dampers. These let you stiffen everything up for hooning down country roads and soften the ride for cruising home on the motorway.

You can personalise these settings through the infotainment system, too. So you can fine-tune your favourite setup and save it.

Come back soon for a full in-depth review of the VW Golf GTD, meantime check out the latest Golf GTD deals and have a look at its petrol equivalent, the VW Golf GTI.