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

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...

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.

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