Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £21,399. Borrowing £19,259 with a £2,140 deposit at a representative APR of 10.9%.

48 monthly payments
£316.40
Fixed interest rate
10.9%
Total amount payable
£27,818.21
Cost of credit
£6,419.21
Optional final payment
£10,491.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

VW Golf GTD buying guide

What versions of the Volkswagen Golf GTD are there?

There was a time when you could get the Golf GTD as an estate car and a hatchback but, for the latest version on sale at Motorpoint (based on the Mk8 Golf), the GTD is only available as a five-door hatchback. It gets a sportier bodykit than any other diesel Golf, with a distinctive hexagon pattern in its lower front bumper. This is offset by LED matrix headlights, which let you use main beam more of the time, thanks to clever tech that automatically avoid dazzling oncoming and passing cars.

VW Golf GTD interior and technology

The GTD sits near the top of the Golf range, so gets loads of usually optional kit as standard, as well as a sporty cabin ambience. This comes courtesy of a dark rooflining instead of the usual beige, along with stainless steel pedals, LED ambient lighting and lots of silver-grey stitching. 

Like other Mk8 Golfs, the GTD gets a high-resolution 10-inch digital driver's display and a large 10.25-inch infotainment screen that features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The two screens sit side-by-side, almost giving the impression of one large continuous screen, helping the dashboard feel modern and high-tech.

Because the GTD is the sister car to the petrol-powered GTI, you get a pair of sporty seats for the driver and front passenger, designed to hug you tightly as you tackle corners. They're not heated as standard though, so keep an eye out for cars with that option.

VW Golf GTD engine and performance

There's only one engine available for the Golf GTD, and that's a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with 200hp and a punchy 400Nm of torque. There's no manual gearbox option, so all Mk8 GTDs use Volkswagen's quick-shifting DSG dual-clutch automatic, which you can control using paddles behind the steering wheel, or just leave to its own devices. 

As you'd hope, the GTD is far quicker than your regular diesel Golf, sprinting from 0-62mph in 7.1 seconds. It's fun in the corners too, thanks to stiffer sports suspension and a clever braking system that mimics a limited-slip differential on the front axle to help you power out of corners without wheelspin.

Despite the performance available, the GTD's capable of an officially claimed 54mpg – not to be sniffed at, and far more economical than the petrol-powered GTI's 38mpg average.

Volkswagen Golf GTD frequently asked questions

While the Golf GTD isn't as quick as its petrol powered brother – the GTI – the diesel car has a 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds. That's still brisk, but it's the in-gear acceleration that'll impress you. Thanks to the torquey diesel engine, the GTD is brilliant at overtaking dawdling traffic, then settling back into a 50+mpg cruise.

It absolutely is. Only a handful of manufacturers still sell performance diesels, with the mechanically similar Skoda Octavia vRS diesel being one of its few rivals. It's great fun to drive and handles sharply, but is still comfy enough for long distances. Factor in the decent boot space and usable rear seats, and you've got a family hatchback that could surprise a few people.

Volkswagen says that GTD stands for Gran Turismo Diesel. So it's a diesel grand tourer.

The GTD's 2.0-litre diesel engine has 400Nm (295lb ft) of torque. That's only 30Nm more than the petrol-powered GTI, but you'll feel the extra torque earlier in the rev range than in the GTI – which can make the GTD feel faster when you accelerate at lower revs.