The Golf GTD stepped into his brother’s shoes and became a hot-hatch icon among the diesel fans across Europe.
It was fast, fuel-efficient, and with respectable torque for its size.

The first Golf GTD was introduced in 1982 and it only offered 70 hp, which were about 45 less than on the GTI. But the idea was well-received by the public. It offered enough fun at the fraction of cost for fuel. In 2013, the GTD offered less power but more torque than the much acclaimed GTI version.

The outside design is instantly recognizable Golf. There are some small details to tell the difference. On the front, there was a red line that went across the grille and was continued inside the headlights. The bigger front bumper included some air-scoops and the narrow grille had a honeycomb mesh design. The aerodynamic side-sills made the car look sportier, and so was the rear roof-spoiler. Due to its 3-door bodywork, the hot-hatch appearance was granted. It rode on standard 17” light-alloy wheels. In the rear, it featured twin exhausts on one side.

Inside, there were some classic design cues and some modern touches. The three-door version featured a longer door when compared with the 5-door version, but offered the same roomy interior for the backseats. The instrument panel though it was modern, with big round dials for the speedometer and tachometer. Between those two there was a small LCD display for the on-board computer. The infotainment unit was on the center console and it could feature a navigation system.

The all-wheel independent suspension and the optional adaptive dampers made the car planted to the road. And that was a must, considering the 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine under the hood.