Volkswagen Golf GTD Estate, car review: Practicality allied with efficiency and hot-hatch performance
Does VW’s latest wagon really offer the best of all worlds? We find out
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Is Volkswagen’s latest Golf GTD Estate an excellent all-rounder or merely a jack-of-all-trades...? It aspires to be the former, of course – but our task is to decide whether it’s succeeded.
Let’s look at the facts on paper. Foremost, it’s an estate – which means its primary purpose is to carry stuff you can’t fit in a hatchback. With a 605-litre luggage space, it ticks the box. It’s also got a hot 2.0-litre turbodiesel; a sub-8.0-second 0-62mpg time isn’t to be sniffed at, and puts this load-lugger firmly in hot-hatch territory. Another tick. All this, plus 64.2mpg economy and a high level of standard equipment. Things are looking good...
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So, what’s it like on the road? Well, the diesel engine acquits itself well. From the cabin it’s surprisingly quiet, refined and, once start-up is out of the way, virtually vibration-free. Its characteristically hefty torque rolls out long and broad from low in the range all the way to 4000rpm-plus, and its 181bhp will keep performance fans very happy.
The GTD Estate has a 15mm lower ride height, and in Sport mode our car’s £830 optional adaptive dampers tweaked the already excellent handling. Another boon for press-on drivers, if a little twitchy. The Comfort setting will better suit long-distance cruising will a full load on board. The variable steering rack feeds back well to the chunky, flat-bottomed wheel, although we prefer Normal to Sport mode.
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Inside, the Golf’s well-built cabin feels suitably sporty. The supportive tartan-trimmed seats and golf ball-styled gearlever are a nod to GTIs of old, and complement the traditionally racy aluminium pedals and bang-up-to-date 6.5in infotainment screen. At the rear, that accommodating luggage area has been thoughtfully designed, and extra-helpful touches include flat-folding rear seats, underfloor storage and a low load lip.
Our verdict? Practical, fun to drive and with very reasonable running costs, the latest Golf Estate is definitely a great all-rounder. Compact family load-lugging at its best.
Volkswagen Golf GTD Estate
Engine: 2.0-litre diesel
Price from: £28,285
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 280lb ft
0-62mph: 7.9 seconds
Top speed: 144mph
Fuel economy: 64.2mpg
CO2: 115g/km
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