Roy Lewis road tests the VW Golf GTD 2.0-litre six-speed manual, five-door.

Price: £25,940 (on the road).

Top speed: 143mph.

0-62mph: 7.5 seconds.

Fuel: 67.3mpg (combined figure).

CO2 emissions (g/km): 109.

Verdict: Fast and frugal, smooth power delivery, superior build quality inside and out, competitively priced, engine noisy at times, good buy.

DIESEL engines have undergone significant refinement in recent years and one wonders where the limit might be.

Take Volkswagen’s new 2.0-litre Golf GTD which now pushes out a whopping 184PS and is capable of a top speed of 143mph and a fuel consumption of a superb 67.3mpg on the combined cycle. And this hottest-ever seventh generation diesel Golf i s squeaky clean, with CO2 emissions (g/km) of just 109 which means there is no road tax to pay for the first year.

Its stablemate, the iconic 2.0-litre petrol version, is also on sale and is quicker than ever with a top speed of 155mph when fitted with an optional performance pack which adds limited – slip differential, bigger brakes and an extra 10PS over the standard 220PS GTi unit.

There was a time when the highrevving petrol version ruled the roost but painful increases in fuel duty have switched more attention to the diesel, especially with fleet drivers, who are expected to buy some 60 per cent of the UK GTDs.

Prices of the new models have remained competitive, despite the advancements, practicality and wealth of extra equipment with the new cars. GTD prices go from £25,285 for the three-door, sixspeed manual to £27,355 for the five-door fitted with a six-speed DSG auto transmission.

The GTi is more expensive with prices going from £25,845 for the 220PS three-door to £28,895 for the five-door car with the performance pack and DSG gearbox.

Both versions have their special merits but the petrol car is the more satisfying to drive.

However, in the real world of everyday motoring the fuel-sipping oil burner is not only very quick but also rewarding behind the wheel with an exceedingly smooth power delivery, even while sprinting from standstill to the benchmark 62mph which takes 7.5 seconds.

And, as one might expect, the diesel pulls strongly with maximum torque, the characteristic that arguably best defines the performance of the GTD, being noticeably better that the outgoing model. In fact, the pulling power has risen from 350Nm (258lb ft) to 380Nm (280lb ft) from just 1,750rpm.

In contrast to the petrol GTi, the diesel is noisy at idle and especially so when you suddenly dap your foot heavily on the accelerator.

But despite the throaty vocals the delivery of lots of torque soon becomes addictive.

The new Golf, fitted with the Volkswagen’s lasts MQB platform, is sharper looking but with familiar styling that has evolved over many years. The new car is slightly larger than the outgoing one and is more efficient, thanks to the use of high strength steel and a range of other weight-saving measures.

The cabin is solidly built and classy with a fresh take on a familiar layout.

The seats are figure-hugging and for the driver it is possible to achieve a virtually perfect driving position. There is a special sports steering wheel and a number of trim enhancements to help give the Golf the sporty touch.

Besides the performance, the excellent handling of the Golf is legendary.

You can safely hurtle the new models through a series of tight bends with accuracy and at an alarming rate.

Generally, the benefit of the new platform helps give the car more composure and this really shows.

The steering is very communicative so that you know exactly what the front wheels are up to, while the powerful