In normal circumstances, seeing a hot hatchback of any sorts line up against a double-cab pickup would probably have you laughing at the thought of the truck actually pulling off an upset.
That goes double if said pickup is a diesel-powered VW Amarok V6 TDI, with 165 kW (221 HP) and 550 Nm (405 lb-ft) of torque. It also weighs about 723 kg (1,594 lbs) more than its similarly-badged opponent, something the folks from CAR Magazine wanted to point out.
Then again, the Golf GTD packs a 2.0-liter TDI diesel, which for South African customers means just 130 kW (174 HP) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque. Not exactly a powerhouse.
Plus, the Golf GTD only has front wheel drive, so getting off the line perfectly could be more difficult.
On paper, the Golf should make it to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.4 seconds with the help of its seven-speed DSG automatic, whereas the Amarok V6 TDI requires about 7.9 seconds. All of a sudden, a good start from the pickup could make this race competitive.
In the end, the winner of the race made its way to the 1/4 mile marker about 0.7 seconds quicker than its opponent, who had already reached a higher top speed. Perhaps a “Best 2 out of 3” would have been a more appropriate scenario.