2010 Volkswagen Golf Reviews

Golf owners got away to a good start. Then came gearbox woes. New Volkswagen launched a large range of Golf variants here, with a car for everyone, from basic transport to sizzling sportsters such as the GTi and R models. We'll focus on the most popular versions, the regular hatchbacks. The sixth-generation Golf

Those who need a sensible car, yet who also enjoy spirited driving will find the Volkswagen Golf does a good job of meeting these apparently conflicting needs.Even by Australian standards the Golf has grown in size with each new model, going from small to small-medium and finally to medium in overall dimensions. This is partly to provide the extra space needed for occupant crash protection though there is some more interior room as well.Aussies tend to regard them more as transport for a family with preteen children, but if you live in an inner city area in Melbourne of Sydney you may need nothing more than a Volkswagen Golf to fill all your motoring needs. In Europe, the VW Golf is often seen as a full-sized car and it's not unusual to see them carting four large adults about.Golf is chiefly sold as a three- or five-door door hatchback. A 'Golf' four-door sedan was called the Bora from 1999 until the launch of the fifth generation model in 2005, when it was renamed Jetta. Boot space in the sedans is substantially better than in the hatches and the four-door models are certainly worth consideration.VW Golf Cabriolet was sold until 2003. It has good roll-over protection for an open-top car and still offers a reasonable amount of space in the back seat. Access to the boot is difficult with the smallish boot lid sitting very low at the rear. The Cabriolet was replaced by the New Beetle Cabriolet, but in a surprise move, VW reintroduced the Golf Cabriolet in 2012.Engines come in various guises: petrol and diesel; with four-, five- and six-cylinder units. Four-cylinder petrol engines are the most common, coming in capacities of 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litres. The 1.6 will suit most drivers, but those who like to drive hard may find it a bit dull. The 1.4-litre is a brilliant, relatively recent, design and the little turbo unit provides performance with economy.Volkswagen in Australia started a big push in the diesel field several years ago and these engines are now far more common than in the past. With capacities of 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 litres they provide plenty of grunt and turbo lag isn't too bad. Those who enjoy a really good drive should consider the VW Golf GTi. A fun machine for the keen driver, it's rapidly becoming regarded as a classic in the Australian hot-hatch market.Then there's the Golf R range of extreme hotshots. These traditionally had a large V6 engine – 3.2 litres in a smallish car gives plenty of performance. These are tagged as Golf R32. The mk6 Golf R, launched in 2011, takes a different tack, going for 2.0 litres and a high-pressure turbo. Disguising the smaller size of the engine is the change of name to simply Golf R - somehow it wouldn't have been right to replace the R32 with an R20.Six-speed manuals arrived with the fifth-generation Golfs in 2004 and are popular on the used scene. The DSG gearbox, also launched in 2004, is a self-shifting manual gearbox. It provides far better performance than the old-style four-speed automatics used until 2004. However, in those early days the dual-clutch DSG was often slow and awkward at very slow speeds, making it a pain in tight parking situations. Later DSGs have been improved, but still aren't as good as conventional automatic transmissions.This VW is a relatively easy car to work on and spare parts are not overly expensive. The dealer network has expanded from a low point during the mid-1990s and nowadays we hear very few complaints about parts availability or servicing.Insurance charges are about average for an imported European vehicle on most Golf and Jetta models. The high-performance Golf GTi may attract higher premiums, the Golf R32 and Golf R almost certainly will cost you a lot more.WHAT TO LOOK FORRust isn't common in Golfs and is more likely to be the result of bad crash repairs than vehicle design. Have the car inspected professionally, or find another one. Older Golfs that have been kept in the open continuously may suffer from sun-dried dashboard tops and rear parcel shelves.Feel and look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels. Engines should start quickly. Listen for untoward engine noises, especially when it's cold. Look for smoke from the exhaust when the engine is driven hard, particularly on long uphill runs. Make sure a manual gearbox doesn't crunch on fast downchanges.Check that dual-clutch transmissions are positive in their shifts and don't hesitate too much at very low speeds. Be sure the brakes pull the car up evenly. If ABS is fitted you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard stops.CAR BUYING TIPAn area to check early in the piece is the top of the rear bumper. Careless owners may have rested luggage on it while loading the car. And careless luggage packers may also be careless drivers, even careless about having servicing carried out according to schedule. 

Volkswagen set the bar high with last year's seventh-generation Golf, combining a brilliant chassis, ergonomic efficiency and responsive turbo engines.

NEW - It was way back in the 1970s that the Golf GTi took over the hot-  hatch mantle from the Mini Cooper S, but VW has been able to do what   the Brits couldn't; keep it alive and thriving. Today's GTi is the hottest yet in a long line of hot hatches from the   German company. By any measure it's sizzling hot, and for many it's   the benchmark against which all others are measured.There can be no underestimating the fun of driving a GTi, and the   great thing is that it can be enjoyed day in and day out, on any   road, in any weather. Most people agree that there's no end to the   fun to be had with VW's great little hottie. For some the new model that lobbed here in 2005 was a case of   evolution rather than revolution, but why would you radically change   something that has worked so well.The GTi was readily distinguished from its more mundane brethren by   its lower stance, sportier front bumper, front foglights, distinct   grille, GTi badges and rear diffuser. When added up it comes to a   tough looking car. It came as a three-door and a five-door. In its three-door guise the   doors are a little longer and heavier, which means there's a bit of a   stretch back to the seat belt, but it also means easier access to the   rear seat.The engine is a bit of a fire-breather, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-  cylinder unit that delivers all the grunt you could want when presented with an open road free of other traffic, yet at the same time it's docile enough the handle the daily trundle to work without complaint. The gearbox choices were a six-speed manual and the much maligned,   but improved, DSG six-speeder that was offered up as a fun-filled auto.A new diff lock was fitted to the new GTi, which was designed to   improve traction and battle understeer, two things that tend to bring   hot front-drivers back to Earth.NOWMost GTi owners swear by their cars, they usually say they'd never   switch. But like any car they can give trouble. With any hot hatch it's important to search for signs of hard use,   look at the tyres, the brakes and anything else that could come under   extreme pressure when worked hard.Same with the turbo engine, lift the oil filler cap and inspect for   sludge, and check the service book for records of regular oil changes. Thoroughly test drive the DSG gearbox, put it to the sword under all   sorts of driving conditions, observing for any miss-shifts, rough   shifts, shuddering etc. The funky gearbox can be fun to drive, but it   can be a nightmare if its goes wrong and there are plenty of stories   of things going wrong.For most owners the thrill-a-minute driving experience is enough to   forgive any issues that crop up. One owner we spoke to had had a 2005 model for six years and covered   130,000 km without any trouble to speak of, even with the DSG.He felt the DSG was a bit slow on the uptake in city driving when in   Drive and found that driving in manual was smoother. Another owner we spoke to is on his third GTi and so far all is going swimmingly. The DSG in his previous car had a problem with shuddering, but that was sorted out under warranty. Service costs, he told us, are higher than some cars, but then so are all European cars!SMITHY SAYSA great driver sometimes brought undone by its technology.Volkswagen Golf GTi 2005-2010Price new: $40,790 to $42,990Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo, 147 kW/280 NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed DSG, FWDEconomy: 8.1 L/100 km, PremiumBody: 3-door hatch, 5-door hatchVariants: GTiSafety: 5-star ANCAP  

Volkswagen Golf, a solid and sensible German car, is a major player in the European car market and in the last decade has made its mark in Australia as well.Those who need a practical car, but who enjoy driving will find the Golf goes a long way towards meeting each of these conflicting needs. Golf is a pleasant car to drive with good handing and sharp steering feel to let you get involved in what the car is doing, and with plenty of road grip even when pushed hard.These cars remain comfortable even on rough bush roads, though they are more at home in the suburbs than the far outback. These days Golf is a medium-sized car, having grown in size over the years, mainly to provide the extra space needed for occupant crash protection.There's some more interior room as well. In Europe, Golf is often seen as a full-sized car and it’s not unusual to see them carting four large adults about.Aussies tend to regard them more as transport for a family with preteen children, but if you live in an inner city area in Melbourne of Sydney you may need nothing more than a Volkswagen Golf to fill all your motoring needs.Golf is sold as a three- or five-door door hatchback. A ‘Golf’ four-door sedan was called the Bora from 1999 until the launch of the fifth generation model in 2005, when it was renamed Jetta. Boot space is substantially better than in the hatches and the four-door models are certainly worth consideration.VW Golf Cabriolet was sold until 2003. It has good roll-over protection for an open-top car and still offers a reasonable amount of space in the back seat. Access to the boot is difficult due to the odd location of the hinges. The Cabriolet was replaced by the New Beetle Cabriolet, but in a surprise move, VW reintroduced the Golf Cabriolet in 2012.Engines come in various guises: petrol and diesel; with four-, five- and six-cylinder units. Four-cylinder petrol engines are the most common, coming in capacities of 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litres. The 1.6 will suit most drivers, but those who like to drive hard may find it a bit dull. The 1.4-litre is a brilliant, relatively recent, design and the little turbo unit provides performance with economy.Volkswagen in Australia started a big push in the diesel field several years ago and these engines are now far more common than in the past. With capacities of 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 litres they provide plenty of grunt and turbo lag isn’t too bad.Those who enjoy a really good drive should consider the VW Golf GTi. A fun machine for the keen driver, it’s rapidly becoming regarded as a classic in the Australian hot-hatch market.Then there's the Golf R range of extreme hotshots. These traditionally had a large V6 engine – 3.2 litres in a smallish car gives plenty of performance. These are tagged as Golf R32. The latest model, launched in 2011, takes a different tack, going for 2.0 litres and a high-pressure turbo. Disguising the smaller size of the engine is the change of name to simply Golf R.Six-speed manuals arrived with the fifth-generation Golfs in 2004 and are popular on the used scene. The DSG gearbox, also launched in 2004, is a self-shifting manual gearbox. It provides far better performance than the old-style four-speed automatics used until 2004.This VW is a relatively easy car to work on and spare parts are not overly expensive. The dealer network has expanded from a low point during the mid-1990s and nowadays we hear very few complaints about parts availability or servicing.Insurance charges are about average for an imported European vehicle on most Golf and Jetta models. The high-performance Golf GTi may attract higher premiums, the Golf R32 and Golf R almost certainly will.Interiors generally stand up well, but some older Golfs that have been kept in the open continuously may suffer from sun-dried dashboard tops. Feel and look for uneven tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels.Look for scrapes on the bottom edges of the front mudflaps, they will often drag on the ground if the car has been cornered hard. New mudflaps could be a suspicious sign. Engines should start quickly. Listen for untoward engine noises, especially when it’s cold.Look for smoke from the exhaust when the engine is driven hard, particularly on long uphill runs. Make sure a manual gearbox doesn’t crunch on fast downchanges.Check that dual-clutch transmissions are positive in their shifts and don't hesitate too much at very low speeds. Be sure the brakes pull the car up evenly. If ABS is fitted you should feel a pulsing through the pedal during hard stops.Rust isn’t common in Golfs and is more likely to be the result of bad crash repairs than vehicle design. If you do come across any have the car inspected professionally or pass it up for another one.If there’s a problem in a used car get it fixed before you buy it. Don’t fall for the sales persons’ trick of saying you can bring it back later and everything will be sorted out then. It can be a lot harder then...

BMW is king (or should that be president?) with the 3 Series offering 37 variants in sedans, coupes, convertibles and wagons. But Volkswagen isn't far behind and catching with 23 Golf variants, plus seven Jettas - a Golf with a boot - and four Eos - a Golf with a folding roof. And there is the promise of more to come with several models not yet available in Australia.The Golf family tree doesn't just have a lot of lower branches, but several offerings at the top, including the GTI, R and GTD. So if it's a fast Golf you want, you can still select five or three doors, manual or double-clutch automatic, petrol or diesel, all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. But you can't have a six-cylinder engine anymore.VALUEEven though the AWD Golf R series has dropped the six and gone for a turbo four, it has also dropped the prices dramatically. The first R32 cost $63,000. It was followed by the R36 at $55,000. Now the new R arrives at sub-$50,000 for the three-door manual. Two more doors cost an extra $1500 and DSG an extra $2500.In another surprise, the GTD five-door manual and DSG cost less than the equivalent GTI, although the three-door GTI does come in slightly cheaper. All are packed with technology and creature features, making them a good-value high-performance package.TECHNOLOGYDespite VW dropping the 3.2-litre V6 engine in favour of a two-litre, four-cylinder turbo for the new R, power and torque have increased substantially from 177kW and 320Nm in the R32 to 184kW/320Nm in the R36 and now a whopping 188kW/330Nm. At the same time, fuel consumption has gone in the opposite direction from 11.6 litres per 100km to 8.7 in a sign of our tough economic times.It might seem a stretch to add the GT moniker to a diesel, but the figures stack up. The GTD has the two-litre turbo diesel engine from the Passat and Jetta but with 125kW of power, up from 103kW. That's down on the GTI's impressive 155kW, but the GTD has Commodore-sized torque of 350Nm compared with the GTI's 280Nm. It also sips fuel at the more genteel rate of 5.5L/100km in manual compared with the GTI's 7.7.And if you believe a GT should be a Gran Tusimo or Grand Tourer then the GTD is worthy with a touring range of 1000km from its 55-litre fuel tank. Like past R models, the new R model comes with 4Motion all-wheel drive while the GTD and GTI have front-wheel drive.All three high-performance models have optional Adaptive Chassis Control ($1500) that modifies the dampers to the terrain and can be selected on the fly for normal, sport or comfort settings.STYLEA GTI badge has been around since the 1970s and brings with it a hero status among hot hatches. R and GTD don't have the same ring to it. But they all have that GTI style with muscular wheel arches, discreet badging, schimcko wheels and tasty grilles. The GTI has the nicest nose with that red outlined grille.Out back they can be distinguished by the twin exhaust layout. They are on either side on the GTI, on one side on the GTD and together in the middle on the R.Inside is more discreet badging, brushed aluminium trim and various rally-style pedals, sports steering wheels and sporty seats. Yet despite all the sporty accents, the cabins are a very comfortable and homey place to be and the layout of the generous back seats and their 60-40 spilt flat-folding abilities, it's quite a practical cabin for loading anything from groceries to skis.DRIVINGHere are the biggest differences.While all are turbos, the performance varies with the R snappiest off the line and screaming out at the top end, the GTI the quickest to respond with giddying revs and the GTD the best for mid-range torque.Turbo lag is almost a thing of the past, but the GTD does have a slightly wider gap between right foot and reality. If track days are your thing, the R has 4Motion all-wheel-drive and the best grip levels as well as the biggest brakes and lowest suspension. The GTD seems to have the most compliant ride, although the nose does feel a little heavier with accompanying gentle understeer.The petrol models have a delightful sound with that signatory thump on gear changes of unexploded fuel. Surprisingly the GTD also has that sound but without the usual diesel clatter at idle or groan at full tilt. Steering in all three is light and positive with plenty of feedback and no rack rattle and only the GTD has a modicum of torque steer.The six-speed manual gearbox is a delight to use, but like many these days it sits too close to the centre console buttons, so you are forever accidentally hitting switches when you change to first, third or fifth.The DSG is a snappy cog-swapper but sometimes takes a while to change its mind about your driving style if you momentarily drive aggressively. It can take forever to change up a gear once you have settled down. Best to override it and just flick the steering wheel paddle shifters.

How to make the Volkswagen Golf R feel a little lardy and quiet? Jump into the lively GTI.  There's no doubting the R is anything but tardy, but the GTI has more brattish upstart about it.I'm a big fan of proper all-wheel drive systems, not these reactive front-drivers, and the R was certainly worthy, but there's something a little more entertaining about the GTI.  It could be the tartan interior that harks back to the original VW Golf GTi of several decades past.What was supposed to be a special-edition small production run has now racked up more than 1.7 million sales globally and it has long been the benchmark hot hatch.PricingDwelling in the lower half of the $40,000 bracket when fitted with the DSG, the GTI isn't exactly on its own in the segment, with competition from it's own backyard and Japan.The features list has dual-zone climate control, 3.5mm auxiliary input jack, red and black tartan cloth trim, a leather-wrapped flat-bottom sports steering wheel with audio and trip computer controls, 17in alloy wheels, but absent from the list is satellite navigation (a $2500 factory option) and Bluetooth - something that is not just a GTI problem within the Volkswagen group.TechnologyGiven the sixth-generation Golf range is evolution rather than revolution there's not massive changes between the old and the new outside, but top of the pops in new gear beneath the skin is the GTI's Extended Electronic Differential Lock, XDL in VW-speak.The XDL system improves traction and combats understeer - two things that can make or break a front-drive pocket rocket.  The new GTI is the most powerful yet but its emissions have dropped by 19g/km and fuel use is down from over 8 to 7.6 litres per 100km.The GTI can be further tweaked with the addition of $1500 worth of adjustable dampers, which given recent experience in other Golf models with the system would take the edge off the ride around town, which can be on the firm side.DesignThe GTI sits a little lower than the standard model and is distinguished by a new front bumper, front foglights, a model-distinct grille with GTI badge and a rear diffuser - it all adds up to a hot hatch look that reflects its ability. We're in the three-door GTI and it gets longer doors, which weigh a little more and mean the stretch back for the seatbelt is a long way, even for someone with arms on the long side.  The entry to the rear seats is reasonably wide and there's decent space in the rear.SafetyThe little hatchback has a solid feel that is typical of the VW breed and imbues a confident frame of mind for the occupants.  The passive side of the safety equation includes driver and front passenger airbags, a driver's knee airbag, front side airbags and full-length curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes (with red brake calipers), emergency brake assist and pre-tensioner-equipped load-limited front seatbelts.The driver gets electronic brakeforce distribution, hill start assist, traction and stability control, the standard electronic diff lock and the extended version.DrivingThe fun factor in one of these hot hatches can not be underestimated.  Where supercar owners need racetracks to get the best from their mortgage-priced machines, the appeal of these hatches is felt daily.Nipping through traffic is easy on the broad torque surge offered and sport mode makes taking gaps cheekily easy.  There's more refinement but some of the brattish engine and exhaust noise is there in the distance.The three-door can complete the school run duties, with space for bags, pushers and shopping - even a stroller as well.  The backseat is not just for the rugrats either - four adults can be GTI-ed to a destination with a bit of gear on board without concern.But you won't want the excess ballast on your favourite back road, which is the little three-door excels - the firm suspension manages mid-corner bumps with alacrity, using the tricky front diff to turn in with gusto and power out with little fuss - the DSG is generally a useful gearbox, with more smarts than before, but it is still not a mind reader.Low-speed parking duties, particularly on a slope, can see the transmission in two minds, requiring subtle throttle work.  Sport mode on a back road is pretty good, but M mode is manual in name only - it won't hold a manually-selected gear.Leave it Sport and point it at a series of bends and there's plenty of far more expensive thoroughbreds that won't be able to shake it.VerdictThe Golf GTI is still the benchmark all-rounder hot-hatch. 

WHAT gets faster and more powerful while getting cheaper and more economical to run? Volkswagen’s Golf R series. And it also arrives here a lot sooner after release. The first R32 model took two years to get here, one year for the Passat R36 and now less than four months.PricingThe new R arrives at sub-$50,000for the three-door manual, which is a far cry from the first R32 that cost $63,000 and the previous R36 at $55,000. Two more doors cost an extra $1500 and DSG costs an extra $2500.  VGA marketing manager Jutta Friese says five-door will dominate with 80 to 90 per cent of sales and DSG about 85 per cent as is the case with GTI.DrivetrainWhile VW has gone from a 3.2-litre V6 engine to a two-litre, four-cylinder turbo, the power has gradually gone up from 177kW and 320Nm of torque to 184kW/320Nm in the R32 and now a whopping 188kW/330Nm.  Consequently, the 0-100km/h times have also come down from 6.6 seconds to 6.5 (6.2 DSG) and now 5.9 (manual and 5.7 (DSG).VW product marketing manager Valdan Dimic says they prefer to call it ‘downsizing’.  “We continually increase the power, increasing acceleration and at the same time optimising significantly the fuel economy from 11.6 to 8.7 (litres per 100km),’’ he says.VW Group Australia boss Anke Koeckler says while the sporty GTI is the top-selling Golf, the R series was the ‘hero’ car with a niche market.  “We only expect it to be about 10 to 12 per cent of the Golf sales,’’ she says.MechanicalLike the GTI and GTD there is optional Adaptive Chassis Control ($1500) that modifies the dampers to the terrain and can be selected on the fly for normal, sport or comfort settings.  Unlike many of these electronic damper controls in other luxury cars there is a substantial difference between sport and comfort.  The suspension has been lowered 25mm over the standard, but in comfort settings it soaks up the worst potholes.Pulling it all to a grinding halt are massive 345mm front brakes which are only 5mm smaller than the brakes on the big R50 SUV.  Like past R models, it comes with 4Motion all-wheel drive to differentiate it from the front-wheel-drive GTI.  This now features the ability in extreme conditions to transfer 100 per cent of drive through the rear wheels.Styling and fit-outIt arrives with all the usual GT style and there are few clues to picking it from the GTI or new GTD.  One of the easiest ways to pick it is through the twin exhausts. They are on either side on the GTI, on one side on the GTD and together in the middle on the R.Look more closely and you will notice new alloys, black brake callipers with the R-logo and a new bumper design. In front, there are three large air intakes painted in high-gloss black.  In standard trim, it gets Bi-Xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, Tinted rear windows  and LED rear lights..Inside, there is a flat-bottomed steering wheel, shift paddles, blue needles on instruments, aluminium pedals, aluminium door sills with an R logo and special seats with the R logo in the head rest.  “One of the key elements of the interior design is the seats to highlight the sportiness around you,’’ Dimic says.The standard seats have dark-grey Kyalami cloth named after the South African racetrack with ‘San Remo’ microfibre inserts and grey stitching. Leather is a $3300 option and there are $5300 motorsport seats also available.DrivingPlant your foot flat to the floor and there is a delightful explosion out the back every time the DSG box goes up a gear when it hits the limiter.  It’s a joyous sound, accompanied by explosive power as the four wheels grip the tarmac and make haste.On the launch in Tasmania last week (June 11) we turned off the highway just out of Launceston and headed up the B roads into a snow flurry in the mountains, gravel roads and black ice.  In most cars it would be time to exercise extreme caution, but the R takes it all in its stride with an uncanny amount of grip and tidy manners.A few corners found us ploughing ahead through black ice, but there is nothing much you can do about that.  In the main, it turns in tightly – a little tighter with a dab of left foot brake – and stays on line through a corner so long as you keep the throttle on.  Lift off and the chassis doesn’t like it, but things never get wild.Steering is neutral and brakes have a bit of a plush initial feel, unlike the bite of the GTI and GTD.  Practical people with a wild streak can explain the five-door away as a family car and point to the fuel economy figures.  But it’s really that wild ‘R’ streak that we want.VW Golf R historyMk IV R32 launched in Europe in 2002 in limited numbers.  Launched in Australia in 2004 at $63,000.  R32 has a 3.2-litree V6 with 177kW/320Nm and a 0-100km time of 6.6 seconds Mk V R36: Mk V R36 launched in Europe in 2005 and Australia in 2006 for $55,000.  R36 has a 3.2-litre V6 engine with 184kW/320Nm and 6.5/6.2sec (DSG).Mk VI R launched in Europe in February and Australia in June for $48,490 (3-door manual), $50,990 (3-door DSG), $49,990 (5-door man), $52,490 (5-door DSG).  R has a 2-litre direct injection, turbo 4-cylinder with 188kW/ 330Nm and 5.9 secs (manual), 5.7 (DSG).

The VW Golf GTD arrives in five-door variant only with a list price of $39,290 for the six-speed manual or $41,790 for the six-speed DSG automatic transmission.  Volkswagen Group Australia spokesman Karl Gehling believes the diesel is worthy of its "grand tourer" tag because the manual sips fuel at 5.5 litres per 100km giving it a touring range of 1000km from its 55-litre fuel tank. "It's quite clearly a performance model," he says."It might challenge some people's understanding of what a sports car is but it's got all the benefits of sport with economy with an affordable sub-$40,000 price tag. We don't see that he GTI badge will be diluted by this at all."Engine and gearboxOn the question of dilution, while the GTI pumps out an extra 30kW of power, it pales against the GTD's Commodore-sized torque of 350Nm with a comparatively feeble 280Nm. Both the manual and DSG GTD race from standing to highway speed in just 8.1 seconds, but it's still a long way from the GTI's 6.9 seconds.  Yet the manual GTD sips fuel at 5.5 litres per 100km, which is only 0.2L/km more than the standard two-litre diesel providing 1000km of range from the 55-litre fuel tank. GTI manual drinks fuel at 7.7L/100km.  The GTD emits CO2 at 145g per kilometre, up just 6g, while GTI pumps out 180g/km.Market and salesVolkswagen Group Australia product marketing manager Vladan Dimic says the GTD is several vehicles rolled into one. "It's about handling and sportiness, but it's also frugal and economical, and easy on the pocket and the environment," he says. "It will appeal to diehard diesel lovers who have been looking for something sportier."Gehling says few GTI buyers will be tempted by the GTD. He suspects it may rob some of their TDI customers, instead. "Really there's no direct performance diesel competitor," he says.  He expects DSG to account for about 85 per cent of sales as it does in the GTI which represents about 25 per cent of all Golf sales.Dimic says there are at least ‘a couple of hundred’ GTDs in the country and stock should be adequate for demand.  He wouldn't forecast sales volumes. "We have a lot of interest and some orders already," he says.Package and fit-outTechnical officer Thomas Wacker says the GTD shares ‘a lot of similarities with the GTI such as brakes and lowered suspension’.  Although the GTI is lowered 22mm in the front and 15mm in the back and the GTD is dropped 15mm evenly.Outside and inside, there are only a few telltale signs differentiating the GTI from the GTD such as chrome horizontal grille strips, twin pipes on the same side of he car rather than one on either side, seat inserts in grey and some badging.  The GTD even gets the GTI's XDS electronically controlled differential with the ability to redistribute torque between the front wheels and apply braking force to counteract understeer.It comes with a range of options including Adaptive Chassis Control ($1500) that modifies the dampers to the terrain and can be selected on the fly for normal, sport or comfort settings.  Other options include a sunroof ($1900), 18-inch alloys ($1200), satnav ($2500), leather upholstery ($3300), electric driver's seat ($600), park asisst ($1400) and Bi-Cenon lights with cornering function ($2000).DrivingIt is difficult to criticise a vehicle that can be punted hard, never put a foot wrong and still squeeze out more than 800km from a 55-litre tank.  Unless you looked at the tacho you wouldn't think this is a diesel. It sounds and feels way too smooth, it makes a delightful ‘whump’ sound when it hits the redline just short of 5000rpm and it doesn't clatter at standstill.There isn't the urgency of top-end turbo petrol firepower, but there is a prominent rush of propulsion from way down low.  Handling is ideal for our bumpy and twisty country roads, keeping all four paws down on the ground for maximum grip and traction, even in frosty conditions on the launch drive in chilly Tasmania. Not a tyre squeal in earshot.Speed-adjusted steering on many European cars tends to be too light at our ridiculously low highway speeds, but not s the GTD. It feels perfectly weighted right through the speed range.  The cabin is a smart and comfortable place of business with tasteful decor, soft-touch plastic, chrome highlights and a driver's position that is spot-on thanks to a widely adjustable steering wheel that moulds into your hands.Ok, here's the only criticism. Brakes are slightly touchy.

A little burble from the exhaust system, go-kart-like handling, the wind in your hair and a clean set of heels at the lights... that is what many office-bound men and women live for.