The new Golf range expanded further recently with the GOLF GTD. A dynamic Diesel if there is one, setting undoubtedly (again) new standards in its class, being also the most powerful Golf Diesel ever to come off the VW production line(s), with its 170 hp (125 kW) of sheer delight.  We were so lucky to test one silver grey example just a few weeks after its introduction in our country, and indeed, what a delightful car it is!  

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Creating a legend…

The Golf GTD range has indeed won the hearts many enthusiasts, right from its first introduction, now already some 27 years ago. The turbo-driven Diesel caused more than a quarter of a century ago  nothing short of a sensation, combining for the first time above-average performance with an impressive economy. The GTD introduced the TDI engine, and made this power unit into an instant legend. This TDI-mythos continues until this day, and the VW engineers have surpassed themselves again, by giving the engine a distinctly sporting exhaust note.

Besides this, this ultra modern engine (common rail, with injection pressure of not less than 1800 bar) has an increased torque (350 Nm) but is more economic (our average test consumption  was only slightly above 5 litres for 100 km). The car is also cleaner, reaching Euro 5 emission standards with a CO2 output of only 139g/km.

The Golf GT(I) experience…  

A sporting Golf is altogether a class on its own. Rarely has a passenger car reached such a good balance between performance, surefooted and agile handling, safety, quality finish, ease in everyday use, durability, and last but not least economy. Sliding behind the beautiful wheel, with the flattened contour at the bottom, evoking this sporting F1 aura, we were again impressed by the well-finished and supportive seats, the excellent seating position, , the precision feeling of the gearbox, the beautiful instrumentation, the workmanlike and solid finish of the car.

The engine burst into life with uncanny docility and remains vibrationless throughout. Indeed, this Diesel has learned manners, and its noble sound echoed along the houses on the Brussels streets and boulevards. Plenty of power at hand in any gear, which made for relaxed driving in town, on country roads and on the motorway.

But it is this unique taut agility, this precision control of the car on winding roads and the constant eagerness of the engine which make GTI driving unique. And the GTD has plenty of it…

For the enthusiasts who like statistics, let it be said that this wonderful engine produces a specific torque of 177,8 Nm per liter, we need not say more!

The seats provide excellent support, and were finished with "Vienna" leather in our test car...

We drove the manual six-speed gearbox version, but this GTD can also be ordered with the excellent GTD automatic transmission. You can read our comments on this wonderful gearbox elsewhere on the site. Of course, the gearbox is so efficient that it achieves virtually identical performance figures as the manual box: The GTD will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 8.1 seconds, and its top speed is in the region of 222 km/h.

It has the looks…

Of course, a GTD and GTI have always looked the part, and the latest generation makes no exception to this golden rule. The GTD sits with its 225 tires on light alloy 17 inch wheels, and their design is called “Seattle”. The suspension is of course lowered by some 15 mm, and feels tout, but is not uncomfortable.

The lowered front skirt is identical for both GTD and GTI, and houses the vertically-placed fog lamps. The grille and headlights are also identical for both variants, only the GTI has a red strip in its grille, with the GTD this strip is chromed. The rear lights of both top-Golf models are darkened, and both have a double chromed exhaust, just to sound and also look (very) nice indeed.

Our test car was equipped with optional high quality leather, dubbed “Vienna”, and an excellent  hard disk navigation system.  The total price of our test car was some 35.588 Euro’s, but we would say it is worth every cent of it. The sheer driving pleasure, the finish, the durability, the ease of use and the frugality of the car make it the benchmark throughout. And this will translate in its second hand price, as it always has done…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Photographers notes: The photos were taken with the Nikon D40. As shots in direct sunlight are always difficult, we underexposed 0.3 EV, where the silver grey color of the test car helped. In Photoshop, we still reduced further the contrast and brightness of some photos, especially the interior detail photos of rev counter and speedometer.  

The Golf GTD proudly wears the VW badge...

The GTD letters on the steering wheel tell it all: this is a sporting thoroughbred.

Using the six-speed gearbox was a delight...

Our test car had quality leather throughout...

The speeedometer scale reaches 280 kmh...