Drag race: Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Golf GTD vs GTI Clubsport

If you want a hot Volkswagen Golf, you’re a bit spoilt for choice.

As well as the full-blown R, you’ve the pick of the iconic GTI, the more hardcore GTI Clubsport and the more economical diesel GTD.

Of that lot, there’s no doubting the R would wipe the floor with them in a drag race. After all, it’ll easily hold its own against some of the quickest hot hatches on sale — some of which you can see in action here and here.

But which of the GT-badged models has the edge over the others? Well, that’s what today’s drag finds out.

There are a few things in common between the three. All have 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, seven-speed dual-clutch gearboxes with launch control and they’re all front-wheel-drive.

The main differences lie in each car’s power. The standard GTI produces 245hp and 400Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the GTD uses a diesel engine, hence the name change, with 200hp and 400Nm of torque.

The GTI Clubsport tops the lot with 300hp and, you guessed it, 400Nm of torque.

Though the Clubsport is the most powerful of the three, it sits smack in the middle of things for weight at 1,461kg. That’s a bit lighter than the 1,465kg Golf GTD, but a reasonable chunk over the standard GTI’s 1,448kg weight.

With all that in mind, what do you think is going to be king of the Volkswagen GTs? Click on the video, drop a comment with your prediction and watch it unfold…

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