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our test drives or view them all

Volkswagen Golf GTD (170)

WHY would you want a diesel Golf hot hatch?

I’ve been struggling with that question all week after testing Volkswagen’s turbodiesel sixth generation Golf GTD – the oil-burning sister of the fabulous GTI.

Both have two-litre engines, both have brilliant chassis, unimpeachable build quality, and handle as you would expect a sporting hatch carrying the GT moniker.

But I can’t say I’m a fan of the GTD. It’s only £565 cheaper than the petrol GTI alternative, so there’s no real purchase incentive.

Even when it comes to fuel consumption I can’t say the 38.7mpg average achievable with the petrol GTI would put me off the GTD with its 53.4mpg – especially as diesel fuel is generally more expensive than petrol.

So, you’re thinking I didn’t like the GTD? Wrong, I loved it.

The dilemma is simply that the 208bhp GTI is a better hot hatch and that’s the one I’d buy.

But I’m not everybody else. The 168bhp GTD has its followers and they don’t give a stuff for the petrol GTI. They like the diesel’s undeniable grunt and strong pulling power.

I just can’t see why you couldn’t get the same pleasure from the GTI – with a better exhaust note, swifter acceleration and far sharper throttle responses.

Enough of the GTD/GTI debate. How does the diesel hot hatch deliver? It’s a true sports car. Diesel or not, it’s no sluggard.

Rest to 62mph lags behind the 6.9 seconds of the GTI, but at 8.1 seconds the difference is really not that noticeable in everyday driving.

The standard close-ratioed six-speed manual gearbox is slick and a delight to slice through on a twisty road.

A brief excursion to Laxford Bridge via Loch Shin and returning through Ullapool proved that the car’s agility on a demanding narrow road was in true GTI character.

Perhaps the engine could have responded more swiftly to the throttle, but it pulled strongly if you were in the right gear and when you ease off it trundles happily at low speed.

But you have to choose your revs and gear carefully. Sixth is very much an "overdrive" ration. At 70mph in this cog the engine is turning at just 2000rpm – well into the 258lb.ft of torque that flows between 1750rpm and 2500rpm, but not all that responsive. The petrol GTI has 206lb.ft and still feels much livelier.

But drop into fourth and at 70mph the revs sit at 3000rpm – theoretically past peak revs but responsiveness is far sharper.

The test car was running on £410 optional 18-inch low profile Continental Contact2 covers. The profile was a tarmac-hugging 40 per cent and I had expected a bum-numbing ride – but thanks to the three-position ACC adaptive suspension option fitted to my test car and great hugging sports seats, the GTD need not cripple you after a lengthy drive.

Round town I found it best to leave the suspension in “comfort” or “normal” – slipping into “sport” in town or any road with a post big freeze broken surface is likely to loosen your fillings.

But given a smooth, twisty and drying road, “sport” is a rewarding selection for squirting the GTD along with power.

The 40-section Contact2s bite well and give the front drive hatch tenacious grip, and the steering is sufficiently sharp to make you forget about the diesel lump just ahead of your lap.

Try too hard in a tightening open bend and the GTD will oversteer mildly. But the standard ESP quickly gets the car under control and I never got anywhere near the stage when I felt the road was too much for this beautifully-assembled oil-burner.

Brakes and clutch match the car’s sporting character, and the latest Golf 6 dash architecture has a real feeling of class about it.

Switchgear is well positioned and operates precisely – just as I would expect from a high quality German product.

One of the most surprising aspects of this hot Golf is its overall refinement – especially once you dump the ACC’s hard ride “sport” programme.

Noise levels are remarkably low in the cabin – thanks in part to the five-layer windscreen that allegedly has some acoustic deadening properties.

It seems to work because the two-litre TDI was never anything more than an urgent thrum at full throttle and a typical diesel beat at idle.

It’s a fairly heavy car at nearly 1.4 tonnes. But that only underlines the great feeling of security and solidity the entire Golf range imparts.

Of course, Golf GTD buyers are like the rest of badge followers. They want the car for more than just sport.

The roomy cabin on three- or five-door GTDs is exceptionally well trimmed and comfortable. Head and leg room in the back is far better than the old Golf4 and feels fresher than the Golf5.

Boot space is generous, despite a deep loading lip. With the rear seats in use there is a useful 350 litres of luggage capacity that expands to 1,305 litres when you drop both backrests on the standard split/fold system.

But what a pity Volkswagen spoils the picture by leaving owners with a step between the firm rear floor and the seats – it would have been so much better if the seats had folded flat.

Mind you, the inclusion of a ski hatch in the larger portion of the split rear seat boosts practicality.

As is always the case, my GTD test car came with extras – options that reflect the car’s inherent quality and added an uncool £5,275 to the cost.

The £2,055 touchscreen nav and DVD system was impressive, easy to use and well integrated – a worthwhile option for the music-loving driver who needs navigation.

I also liked the £765 adaptive chassis control and the £365 winter pack with heated windscreen and seats.

But I found the £1,110 adaptive bi-xenon lighting system a bit steep, the £580 all-round parking sensors and rear camera rather unnecessary, and the £410 Vancouver 18-inch alloy option pointless when the standard 17-inch Porto look great and marginally improve the low-speed ride.

As a sports machine the GTD ticks most of the boxes. In isolation it’s a great performer and capable of 138mph – but with a sharper GTI costing so little more, I can’t help but wonder why anyone would want a diesel compared to the petrol. And that’s where I came in!

Rating: 7.5/10

FINAL THOUGHT: Top quality diesel hot hatch flawed because of its more accomplished two-litre petrol GTI sister. Expensive, but rewarding to drive and frugal if you can avoid the temptation to explore the engine’s incredible torque.

Volkswagen Golf GTD (170)

• Price: £23,610 (three-door); £24,195 (five-door)
• Capacity: 1968cc
• Power: 168hp
• 0-62mph: 8.1 seconds
• Maximum speed: 138mph
• Economy: Combined 53.3mpg; Urban 40.4mpg
• CO2 emissions: 139g/km
• ESP: Standard
• Insurance: Group 15