Skip advert
Advertisement

VW Golf GTD

Our man has a lightbulb moment when loading hatch

Pros
  • CRITICS argue that the Golf is too expensive – but if you can afford a GTD, it rewards you with an array of dynamic talents. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, on the motorway or blasting along country roads, the VW is absolutely brilliant. Without exception, everyone who drives it wants to keep it.
Cons
  • IN our last report, we criticised the Golf’s soft red paint, which had picked up a couple of stonechips, but thankfully, it hasn’t collected any more. Inside, our model is loaded with kit, although sat-nav, Bluetooth and adaptive suspension all cost extra – excellence never comes cheap.
Find your Volkswagen Golf
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

They don’t happen very often, but I’ve had a eureka moment! No, it’s not an important scientific discovery. Rather, I have figured out how to fit a double buggy into the back of the long-term Volkswagen Golf GTD.

In its first report, the hot diesel was given a warm welcome to our fleet, and I suggested it could be the best vehicle in the office car park. But I had one issue – on my first attempt to load the Pinnock clan, we realised our double buggy wouldn’t squeeze in the luggage bay.

Advertisement - Article continues below

And ours isn’t one of those all-singing, all-dancing buggies with tyres that look as if they’ve been taken off a BMX bike. It’s a simple Maclaren – a pushchair staple for parents across the country. If it wouldn’t fit in the back of our favourite family car, chances are hundreds of other motorists are in the same boat.

So, I set to work on finding a solution – and a trip to collect a large rug gave me an idea. The GTD’s ski hatch accommodated our new roll of carpet, and as I stood there feeling pleased with myself for shoehorning it in, I suddenly wondered if the buggy would fit through, too.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

T-Roc

2022 Volkswagen

T-Roc

42,217 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £16,800
View T-Roc
Ibiza

2024 SEAT

Ibiza

27,612 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,300
View Ibiza
Discovery Sport

2023 Land Rover

Discovery Sport

24,390 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £31,400
View Discovery Sport
Ibiza

2024 SEAT

Ibiza

15,574 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £17,200
View Ibiza

By the time I got home, I was convinced it would. And the good news for parents – and would-be Golf buyers – is that it does! With a shove and wiggle, the collapsed framework of plastic wheels and canvas now fits between our two daughters in the back seat. And that means I’ve been able to use the Golf at every available opportunity.

As a result, the VW has already racked up 6,678 miles. However, it’s not all good news. While I’m still telling everyone who will listen that the Golf is the most complete vehicle in the car park, it hasn’t had things all its own way.

In Issue 1,111, it met road tester Graeme Lambert’s SEAT Leon FR TDI in a long-term twin test – and came away with a bloodied nose. We agreed that the VW was the better car, but struggled to justify the hefty premium it commands over its Spanish rival. Get carried away with the options, and you can end up with a £27,000 GTD – that’s BMW 3-Series money!

Still, the cabin is easily good enough to rival the BMW’s. At the end of a long day in the office, it’s the perfect antidote to rush hour. The Golf’s high-quality trim and simple controls soothe the stress away, while its punchy engine is perfect for nipping into gaps in the gridlocked streets. And now, I can do all this with 2.4 children on board, too!

Extra Info

“The best things in life rarely come cheap. But given the GTD’s wide range of talents, the high price is easy to forgive. Fast, fun, refined and practical, it has a strong claim to the title of ultimate family hatch.”
James Disdale, Road tester

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £1,724 off RRP*Used from £5,500
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,800
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £1,882 off RRP*Used from £18,900
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,065 off RRP*Used from £14,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range
Leapmotor badge

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range

The Stellantis-backed brand will launch a Volkswagen ID.3-rivalling small car with almost 20 per cent more range
News
23 Apr 2025
New Renault Clio prepares for launch: And it's not an EV
Renault Clio Mk6 (camouflaged) - front 3/4 tracking

New Renault Clio prepares for launch: And it's not an EV

The Clio isn’t going anywhere despite the reemergence of the Renault 5
News
22 Apr 2025
Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering
Opinion - Shanghai Auto Show

Chinese cars can’t match their European rivals when it comes to engineering

Deputy editor Richard Ingram was surprised by the sheer variety of Chinese cars when visiting the Shanghai Auto Show
Opinion
24 Apr 2025