2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Golf GTE and Golf GTD compared

Volkswagen has revealed three hot new Golfs: petrol GTI, hybrid GTE, and diesel GTD. We compare them to see how they measure up.

Volkswagen Golf GTD GTI GTE

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has been revealed in eighth generation form – along with two siblings, the hybrid Golf GTE and diesel Golf GTD.

In revealing all three at once, Volkswagen aims to future-proof the hot Golf line from launch. Customers can choose which flavour of fuel best suits their performance Golf. So what is the choice on offer?

ALSO SEE: Volkswagen Golf GTI history in pictures

Visually, the three hot Golfs are closer than ever. The GTI, GTE and GTD badges all share the same typeface, and are all in the same place. It’s the colour ID that differs: red for GTI…

Volkswagen Golf GTI

… blue for GTE…

Volkswagen Golf GTE

… and silver-grey for GTD.

Volkswagen Golf GTD

This carries across to the tartan seat trim (officially called Scalepaper) inside. Here’s the GTI…

Volkswagen Golf GTI

… the GTE…

Volkswagen Golf GTE

… and the GTD.

Volkswagen Golf GTD

Golf GTI, GTE and GTD: engines and performance

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The new Golf GTI has a 245hp 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It has a six-speed manual as standard, or a seven-speed DSG auto as an option.

Volkswagen Golf GTE

The new Golf GTE shares the same 245hp output as the GTI, but it’s produced in a different way – from a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine serving up 150hp, combined with an 85 kW electric motor.

With the help of a new lithium-ion battery, maximum pulling power (or torque) actually exceeds the Golf GTI, and it can be driven at speeds of up to 82mph in pure electric mode.

A seven-speed DSG gearbox is standard.

The electric range is around 37 miles before it needs to be plugged in and recharged. And if the batteries have enough charge, the Golf GTE will always start out as a zero-emissions pure electric vehicle.

Volkswagen Golf GTD

The Golf GTD has a 2.0-litre turbodiesel that produces 200hp, and the same amount of pulling power as the Golf GTE.

Like the hybrid GTE, it too only comes with a seven-speed DSG – so the only hot Golf available with a manual gearbox is the regular GTI.

And diesel-haters, worry not: the new Golf GTD has ‘twin dosing’ selective catalytic reduction, with dual AdBlue injection. This ‘greatly reduces’ NOx emissions even compared with its predecessor.

Golf GTI, GTE and GTD: equipment

As standard for each hot new Golf are 17-inch alloy wheels (18-inch and 19-inch versions are optional), a custom front end, rear diffuser and spoiler, bespoke exhaust tailpipes and red brake calipers.

The GTI and GTD have sportier, 15mm lower suspension. So they visually sit a bit closer to the ground… 

Volkswagen Golf GTD

… than the Golf GTE. 

Volkswagen Golf GTE

All three have a front axle differential lock, plus a sound actuator for a more purposeful engine soundtrack inside.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

They all have the fully digital cockpit of all new Volkswagen Golf 8 models, colour-keyed respectively – red, blue or silver.

Detail differences

They’re not fully identical. The Golf GTI and GTD have logos on the front wings.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

They’re missing on the GTE – instead, it has a filler flap on the passenger side, to charge the battery.

Volkswagen Golf GTE

Exhaust tailpipes also mark the differences at a glance. The GTI has dual exhausts – one left, one right.

The GTD has a double tailpipe on the right…

Volkswagen Golf GTD

… and the GTE has no visible tailpipes at all.

Volkswagen Golf GTE

It’s the colour bar in the front grille may become the biggest at-a-glance differentiator: red for the GTI, blue for GTE, silver for GTD.

Volkswagen Golf GTD

This colour key is highlighted by the LED daytime running light strip in the headlights when the car is running.

Oh, and the radiator grille itself can optionally be illuminated too: surely a must-have option for new Golf GTI, GTE and GTD owners?

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Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

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