Sub-$30K diesel Golf

One variant missed when Volkswagen introduced the latest generation of Golf earlier this year was a diesel below $30,000.

The importer has now come up with the goods, offering a 1.6-litre diesel Golf that develops 77kW of power. Marketed as the Golf 77TDI, to fall into line with the other variants in the range, the smaller-capacity diesel shares some of its technology with the 2.0-litre diesel that powers the 103TDI Golf.

As for the larger engine, the 1.6 is a DOHC unit with turbocharger and common-rail injection. Peak power occurs at 4400rpm and maximum torque of 250Nm is available between 1500 and 2500rpm. To comply with current emissions standards, the new engine comes with a diesel particulate filter.

At $28,690* with a five-speed manual transmission, the Golf 77TDI is an alternative to lower-priced diesel small cars, such as Ford's Focus TDCI, and the Golf also undercuts competitors like the Peugeot 308. Volkswagen is also offering a seven-speed DSG variant, priced at $31,190*. As for other Golf variants equipped with this transmission, the seven-speed unit features dry-plate clutches for better efficiency.

The importer makes the claim that the Golf 77TDI will use as little as 4.3L/100km of fuel on the open road, or 4.9L/100km in combined-cycle testing. Those figures translate to a potential range of 1100km. Carbon dioxide emissions are 129g/km and 133g/km for the five-speed manual and seven-speed DSG respectively.

Volkswagen has not announced sales projections for the new variant, but the importer will be hoping to pull back some of the almost 700 units lost in year-to-date Golf sales for 2009. With 60 per cent of Golf sales contributed by diesels and 7256 units sold to the end of July, the new variant is a strong prospect to lift the small VW's 2009 sales performance by the end of the year.

* Manufacturer list prices, excluding on-road costs and dealer delivery charges.

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