SEEMS there are lots of people with a real soft spot for the Volkswagen Golf.

So when the GTD rolled up, there were lot of admiring glances – and what’s not to like?

This handy hot hatch is a perfect combination of looks and performance, meaning you can have your cake and eat it too. It’s sharp, spacious and it looks sassy. It’s also an engaging drive and you’ll get more than 60 miles to the gallon (if you drive in a very economical fashion).

Lower emissions means you’ll pay less tax, so Volkswagen expect a lot of GTDs to become company cars.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged common rail diesel, the GTD’s maximum torque has risen from 350Nm to 380Nm from just 1,750rpm.

Like other Golfs, a driver profile selection is available, offering four different programmes to allow you to match car settings to your desired driving style.

It comes with smoked LED rear lights, along with standard bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, chrome dual tailpipes, 18-inch alloy wheels, side skirts, a rear diffuser and sports suspension.

Standard features including progressive steering, white ambience lighting, climate control and a touchscreen infotainment system which also includes DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.

Distinctive GTD interior features such as the quirky tartan sports seats give it that extra touch of style, along with a sporty steering wheel, and stainless steel pedals; the trim strips, instrument cluster and gear lever are also specifically designed for the GTD.

A high level of safety equipment also comes as standard. Active safety features include the Automatic Post-Collision Braking system, which automatically applies the vehicle brakes after an accident to reduce the chances of a second impact; the pre-crash system, which tensions seatbelts and closes windows and sunroof, if an accident is likely, to improve the effectiveness of the seven airbags.

It is estimated that a quarter of motorway accidents are caused by driver tiredness so the GTD’s fatigue detection system is particularly valuable for company car drivers who travel long distances.

Optional equipment worth its salt includes 19-inch ‘Santiago’ alloy wheels (£965), a rear-view camera (£165), touchscreen satellite navigation (£735 or £1,725 depending on system) and an impressive Dynaudio sound pack with 10-channel amplifier and eight speakers for £525.

Factfile
Car:
Volkswagen Golf GTD 2.0 TDi
On the road: £27,355
Top speed: 142mph
0-62mph: 7.5 seconds
Fuel: 67mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 122g/km