What happens when you put the Golf R, the Golf GTI and the Golf GTD next to each other on a straight line?
Top Gear magazine pits the fast Golfs together for a classic drag race to find out which one will be the …second fastest of the three.
Let’s not kid ourselves: with the Golf R present here, the other two never really stand a chance in winning this race. The range-topping Golf has 300PS (296hp) and AWD whereas the GTI and GTD are sending their much smaller power into the front wheels only.
The real interesting part of this drag race is to see how the oil-burning GTD model compares to the GTI. The former is powered by a 184PS (181hp) 2.0-litre TDI engine, matching the R’s torque figure with 380Nm (280lb ft) while the GTI Performance Pack offers 230PS (227hp) but less torque, rated at 360Nm (258lb ft).
Can a manual diesel Golf beat the mighty GTI Performance with a DSG transmission? And just how much faster is the Golf R from its lesser brothers? Find the answers on the video linked below.