What Car? Q&A - Why is 2.0 diesel Golf least favourite?

Q: I’m thinking of buying a new VW Golf but cannot decide between a petrol or diesel model. In the What Car? New Car Guide, the least favourite is the 2.0 GT TDI, why is this?
Bob Peel

A: When we review and rate a car, we not only look at how a car drives and its performance, but also the value for money it offers buyers. While we might rate the Golf 2.0 GT TDI lower than other Golfs, we are very impressed with the engine itself. Compared with the 1.9 TDI unit available, the 2.0 is quieter, smoother and more refined. There is an obvious performance advantage, and that outweighs the small drop in fuel-efficiency.

Our problem with the 2.0 is not the way it drives, but the cost. With a list price of £17,820, we think that the 2.0 GT TDI 5dr is too expensive, and it doesn’t really justify the £1795 premium over the similarly specified 1.9 TDI SE 5dr.

The good news is that you don’t need to pay the list price for the Golf. The What Car? Target Price is £16,790, but shop around and you could pay even less. Several internet brokers have good prices, but one of the lowest we’ve seen is £15,917 from Motorlogix.com. That works out to a total saving £1903.