Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Mk7 Golf GTD (2014-2020) review – interior and tech

Frugal and refined but at the cost of excitement

Evo rating
RRP
from £27,225
  • Fit and finish, looks great
  • Chassis doesn't allow much fun

Interior and tech

VW's fit and finish is extremely good. Every single element of the Golf, from the door handles to the steering wheel, feel solid and well made.

To help instill the GTD with some of the GTI’s hot hatch essence it gets tartan-trimmed seats, albeit in a muted black and grey combination rather than the splash of red of the GTI or the GTE’s blue theme. A GTD badge on the steering wheel means there are just enough nods to its sporting credentials to make the car feel special, without over the top badges and stripes.

The seats are comfy and offer plenty of side bolstering to keep you supported when cornering. Combined with a widely-adjustable steering column, most drivers should be able to happen upon a suitable driving position. However, a little more reach from the steering wheel would be nice, as we found that to get close enough to the wheel, our legs were quite bunched up.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Golf range gets digital dials with an Audi-style ‘virtual cockpit’ display and a large 8-inch central touch screen. These touches have made an already pleasant interior feel more modern, and with fewer buttons, more advanced still.

The optional Discover Nav Pro infotainment system comes with an even larger 9.2-inch central screen. The volume and scroll dial of the standard system are replaced with touch gestures for the top-spec unit and, although it looks neater without them, it isn’t as quick and intuitive to use.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Volkswagen Passat 2025 review – a breath of fresh air next to leaden EVs
Volkswagen Passat front
Reviews

Volkswagen Passat 2025 review – a breath of fresh air next to leaden EVs

Being ‘only’ 1500kg has its advantages. The latest Passat in petrol-only form reminds us ‘normal’ cars can and should be above average
16 Apr 2025
Why the Vauxhall Astra should have been given a different name
Vauxhall Astra GSE
Opinion

Why the Vauxhall Astra should have been given a different name

It’s time to reassess a perennially underrated hatchback, says Porter
17 Apr 2025
Morgan Supersport 2025 review – Malvern's alternative to a Porsche Cayman GTS
Morgan Supersport front
Reviews

Morgan Supersport 2025 review – Malvern's alternative to a Porsche Cayman GTS

Morgan’s new flagship is its most versatile car yet. Does modernising mean losing the magic?
14 Apr 2025