Ok looked at the weight splits & worked out below, estate better!!
Working out approximate weight distribution of GTD estate.
From VW UK brochure unladen weights include fuel, 7kg luggage & 68kg driver so:-
3dr Hatch GT 2lt 150PS diesel = 1354kg (manual), 1374kg (DSG)
5dr Hatch GT 2lt 150PS diesel = 1384kg (manual), 1404kg (DSG)
3dr Hatch GTI 2lt = 1351kg (manual), 1370kg (DSG)
5dr Hatch GTI 2lt = 1381kg (manual), 1400kg (DSG)
3dr Hatch GTD 2lt 184PS diesel = 1377kg (manual), 1395kg (DSG)
5dr Hatch GTD 2lt 184PS diesel = 1407kg (manual), 1425kg (DSG)
5dr Estate GT 2lt 150PS diesel = 1436kg (manual), 1454kg (DSG)
So the 3dr GTD adds 23kg (manual) or 21kg (DSG) to the weight of a 3dr GT 2lt 150PS. This weight is going to be mainly over the front axle as rear spec is the similar apart from the weight of the wheels (17” or 18”).
Now a 5dr hatch GT 2lt 150PS adds 20kg to the weight of the 3dr version. This weight will be shared between the axles as the doors are between the wheelbase. However for this argument we will say the weight is nearer the rear axle, so add to the back axle weight.
Therefore we will take the weight difference between the 3dr GT & estate GT at 82kg (manual) or 80kg (DSG) and say that is all on the back axle.
Now forum member Pacific German have put up corner weights for their NAR 3dr GTI DSG. Now they are saying for ½ tank, no luggage & driver = 459.9kg front left, 432.7kg front right, 288.8kg rear left, 256.7kg rear right, total weight of 1438.1kg. That’s 892.6kg front/ 545.5kg rear split or 62%/38% weight distribution.
So if we say that a DSG estate adds 80kg over the back axle compared to a 3dr Hatch DSG, & a GTD 3dr adds 26kg over the front axle compared to 3dr Hatch GTI DSG. If we add these to the Pacific German figures we have a GTD DSG estate with 918.6kg front, 625.5kg rear, total of 1,544.10kg or a split of 59.49% front/ 40.51% rear!!!
Now when you do this for the lighter petrol engines then the weight balance/split is even nearer the 50/50 as you are taking off the extra weight from the diesel engine! Like I say having driven loads of golf’s inc various MK7s the estate handles better through corners than the hatch............ok in a track situation the lighter hatch has the slight edge, but for every day driving the estate is better IMO!