Volkswagen has announced pricing for its Golf GTD. The oil-burning hot hatch is the slightly more sensible version of the Golf GTI, which is already a pretty sane choice of performance car.

And in this case, diesel undercuts petrol – GTD prices kick off at £21,850 for a six-speed manual three-door, over £500 less than an equivalent GTI. If you want five doors on your GTD, add £585, while VW’s twin-clutch DSG automatic transmission is an extra £1305.

The GTD uses a 168bhp 2-litre common rail TDI engine. It results in 0-62mph in 8.1sec and a 138mph maximum. That puts it around 40bhp, one second and 10mph off the GTI’s pace, but the new car boasts a higher torque figure – 258lb ft beating the petrol car’s 206lb ft – while the GTD’s real strengths are its combined 53.3mpg fuel economy and 139g/km CO2 emissions. VW is even boasting a potential range in excess of 640 miles per tank of fuel, although this figure will likely drop if you drive it like a hot hatch…

Styling is subtler than the GTI, but a similar honeycomb grille, more muscular bumpers and 17in alloys set it apart from lesser Golfs. Inside there’s a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a tartan finish on the seats, similar to the GTI.

The order book’s open now, with deliveries beginning on June 22.

If you fancy your hot hatch in alternative form, however, then the Skodia Octavia vRS - a relative of the MkV Golf GTI - has been facelifted. It too comes in petrol (197bhp 2-litre) and diesel (168bhp 2-litre) form, and boasts hatchback and estate versions. The revamped car also has a lower ride height and has shed weight, up to 20kg depending on which version you go for. All vRS Octavias can be specified with DSG.