Currently reading: New Volkswagen Golf GTD goes on sale priced from £32,790

Hot hatch has potent new 2.0-litre TDI engine with extra 16bhp and a claimed range of more than 500 miles

The new Volkswagen Golf GTD is now available to order in the UK, priced from £32,790, making it the cheapest GT version of the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf

That price, £670 less than the manual petrol GTI, broadly maintains the kit offering of the pricier GT models. That means the 'IQ light' LED matrix headlights with automatic high-beam and an illuminated grille, LED honeycomb-design foglights and 18in alloy wheels are standard. 

Also included are keyless entry, tri-zone climate control, front sports seats and heating and electrically folding mirrors with puddle lights. Furthemore, there's an aluminium gear lever and a heated leather steering wheel. 

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The GTD badge was first used in 1982, and today's car is conceived as the long-range ‘endurance athlete’ of Volkswagen's hot hatch family. This latest version of the Mk8 Golf features styling updates to match the new versions of the GTI and GTE and has a claimed range of up to 600 miles. 

It's powered by a new version of Volkswagen’s EA288 Evo four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which has been tuned for 197bhp, up from 181bhp in the previous GTD, and 295lb ft of torque. Unlike the the GTI, the GTD is offered with only a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. That translates to a 0-62mph time of 7.1sec and a top speed of 152mph. 

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The revamped engine uses two selective catalytic reduction filters with dual AdBlue injection. Volkswagen claims the system “greatly reduces” NOx emissions over the previous model. CO2 emissions are quoted at 137g/km, while WLTP fuel economy is 51.4-54.3mpg.

 It uses the same suspension set-up as the GTI, with McPherson struts up front and a multi-link system at the rear. It also features Volkswagen's new Vehicle Dynamics Manager system, which controls both the electric differential (XDS) and the adaptive dampers (Dynamic Chassis Control).

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The GTD sits 15mm lower to the ground than the standard Golf, plus it features a front axle differential lock and sound actuator. Like all other Mk8 Golf variants, it will be offered only in five-door form.

The exterior and interior design tweaks mirror those of the GTI and GTE. All three feature a restyled front grille, a large honeycomb-patterned air intake, a diffuser and a roof spoiler. The GTD also gains a silver light bar across its grille.

The GTD badging is now all in silver (it's red for the GTI and blue for the GTE), and the car sits on 18in or 19in alloy wheels. The diesel also gains red-painted brake calipers, like the GTI.

As with the regular Mk8 Golf, the interior largely is largely devoid of physical controls, with many functions being moved onto a large 10.25in digital instrument display (which features GTD-only silver display options) and a 10in infotainment touchscreen. It also gains a new sports steering wheel with capacitive touch controls.

Notably, the GTD also gains its own version of the GTI’s famed tartan seat fabric, using grey highlighting on the pattern rather than red.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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Flash Harry 28 February 2020

This just looks like all the

This just looks like all the other Mk8 versions it just seems that they signed off the design at the designers Christmas party when the wine was in and logic was out. One word -mess!

AddyT 27 February 2020

Ignoring Soldi and Dieselgate

Ignoring Soldi and Dieselgate, my two pence....

I should think the car will be quite good, however, I would never swap my 7 GTD for one of these. I don't like the exterior look at all and yes the interior has moved on, but neither is it game changing. I drive a different car for work which is the new A Class. Sure it's lacking in many areas, and against my GTD, but the interior is superior to the one in this new Mk8 - there's just something amiss. But ignoring the Merc, overall, even with the less favourable MK7 interior I would still take it anyday of the week. I couldn't care less about a few more horsepower - if it mattered that much you would just chip the 7. I am sure the 8 may look more modern as it approaches on the other side of the road, but side on and from the rear, it is not a looker at all IMO! Strange design choice from VW I think and wasn't expecting it. Sure standard 7's look a touch dated/boring but the sportier ones still look pretty fresh so this is a strange one for me. I have several (non-VW owning) friends who think the same!

soldi 27 February 2020

Worthless

The real reason you won’t swap to an 8 is because you’ve realised your 7 is worthless as nobody in their right mind would buy a 2nd hand diesel. Especially not a VW diseasel
armstrm 28 February 2020

soldi wrote:

soldi wrote:

The real reason you won’t swap to an 8 is because you’ve realised your 7 is worthless as nobody in their right mind would buy a 2nd hand diesel. Especially not a VW diseasel

In reality the values of used VW diesels have held up and thousands change hands everyday.

Someone else on this thread has already summarised you perfectly.

soldi 28 February 2020

armstrm wrote:

armstrm wrote:
soldi wrote:

The real reason you won’t swap to an 8 is because you’ve realised your 7 is worthless as nobody in their right mind would buy a 2nd hand diesel. Especially not a VW diseasel

In reality the values of used VW diesels have held up and thousands change hands everyday.

Someone else on this thread has already summarised you perfectly.

Ha - people always resort to insults when they know they’ve been beaten!

armstrm 2 March 2020

soldi wrote:

soldi wrote:
armstrm wrote:
soldi wrote:

The real reason you won’t swap to an 8 is because you’ve realised your 7 is worthless as nobody in their right mind would buy a 2nd hand diesel. Especially not a VW diseasel

In reality the values of used VW diesels have held up and thousands change hands everyday.

Someone else on this thread has already summarised you perfectly.

Ha - people always resort to insults when they know they’ve been beaten!

Yes, you proved that point a few posts back.

Rick Maverick 27 February 2020

Lame ...

.... VII facelift. "Now with cheap plastics you can cuddle!!!"