Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion 2011 Review

Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion

About our ratings

Based on the previous VW Golf 77TSI Trendline variant, the BlueMotion uses the same 1.6-litre turbodiesel but a number of practical tweaks have reduced average fuel consumption from 4.9L/100km to a Prius-beating 3.8L/100km.

It rides on low rolling resistance tyres and makes use of an engine stop-start system to reduce fuel consumption, while the five-speed manual transmission features taller gear ratios and the car sits lower to the ground (and looks quite sporty as a result) to improve aerodynamics. It even has regenerative brakes.

Based on that 3.8L/100km figure, Volkswagen reckons the car can travel 1447 kilometres on just one tank of diesel. Factor in a cost of a $1.50 per litre of diesel, and that works out to about $82.50 for a return trip from Melbourne to Canberra (and taking the scenic route).

Volkswagen Australia will be promoting the new vehicle as a no-compromise green car proposition, a vehicle that is just as safe, easy to drive and practical as a standard Golf, arguing that drivers can have it all. However the official catch phrase to promote the car may raise a few eyebrows: "Why be enviro-mental when you can be environ-normal."

Cruise control is also standard, as is a multi-function display system located between the analogue instruments which includes a very handy tyre pressure monitor. Fitted with low rolling resistance tyres from the factory floor (we noted two brands on the launch, Michelin Green X NRG saver and Good Year Excellence), the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion also comes with a gear-shift recommendation guide and Hill Start Assist.

Curiously, there are no options for the Golf BlueMotion.

Competitors for the Golf BlueMotion such as the Toyota Prius, Volvo C30 DRIVe, Ford Fiesta Econetic and MINI Cooper D are all part of the sub 4.0L/100km club.

Powered by a 1.6-litre common rail direct injection turbodiesel engine that outputs 77kW at 4400rpm and 250Nm of torque at 1500rpm, the engine has more than enough mumbo to get ahead of traffic, and feels quick enough to outpace its Fiesta and Prius rivals with ease. The MINI Cooper D is another kettle of fish though.

Engine power is easily accessible for the most part and the car motivates very smoothly (and surprisingly quietly) and being a diesel engine there's plenty of urge low in the rev range. However the tall gearing means that every now and then the engine runs out of puff, particularly up steep hills, and requires a downshift.

The stop-start system is quick to respond and works very nicely in slow commuter traffic, but can be switched off should the driver so decide. The brakes also have a regenerative effect, which Volkswagen says collects energy to recharge the battery.

With claimed fuel economy of 3.8L/100km and very low CO2 emissions of 99 grams per kilometre, our first fuel reading was 5.4L/100km after about 80 kilometres of driving through the Adelaide hills. This involved sporadic foot-to-the-floor driving through winding sections, combined with cruise control through the various towns and straighter country roads encountered.

Humming along at 100km/h, the VW Golf BlueMotion ticks over at a very low 1600rpm, evidence of the tall gearing,  and gear shift indicator works well suggesting the driver drop from fifth back to fourth gear at 60km/h via a small graphic display on the instrument cluster.

After our first 5.4L/100km run we attacked the second drive loop with gusto, which saw that figure rise to 7.3L/100km. This middle stint was a 90 kilometre blitz through some flowing, winding corners, and was very enjoyable to say the least.

If anything it showed how good the Golf's chassis is, and drivers who are looking for an ultra-low emission car that doesn't skimp on fun factor will find a lot to like here. The Golf BlueMotion is underpinned by sports suspension, which lowers the front and rear axles by 10mm, a decision that was made primarily to improve aerodynamics but a couple of handy side effects being an unexpectedly sporty appearance and subtly improved handling dynamics.

Ride quality is maintained due to the car's recalibrated shock absorber damping levels, which are softer to help soak up larger bumps in the road surface.

The only downside to the handling equation are the low-rolling resistance tyres. Granted they deliver improved fuel economy, but they don't have particularly stiff sidewalls and the harder they are pushed, the lower the grip on offer.

The electro-mechanical steering is precise if a little over assisted, though the latter aspect works in its favour in densely packed urban driving, and for the price the Golf BlueMotion delivers a rewarding experience, so you can have your cake and eat it too.

For the third and final driving stint we reset the trip computer and with relatively sedate throttle inputs (only a couple of traffic light duels and some short overtaking squirts) we recorded 3.9L/100km with normal driving.

Cruising around town, the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion is remarkably quiet, the diesel engine's coarseness well insulated within the cabin, which adds a sense of quality to the car. The interior fitout is basic VW stuff, but it compares well to vehicles from other brands, what with soft-touch dash plastics, chrome-rimmed vents, a nicely designed HVAC panel and intuitive ancillary controls.

Everything works well and easily falls to hand, and the cloth seats are comfortable -- finished with unique blue inserts -- and like all Golfs it has a roomy interior with practical rear seats and a good sized boot 350 litre boot (expandable to 1305 litres with the split fold rear seats folded away).

With a mass of just 1234kg, the Golf BlueMotion is almost a full 100kg lighter than the DSG-equipped 77TDI Trendline, and for the asking price of around $29k, it undercuts the Volvo C30 DRIVe - its closest competitor - by around $7000.

Volkswagen does build a Polo BlueMotion car which is even more efficient again, but as PR chief Karl Gehling explained, "The specification level of that car is not at the level we're happy with".

The Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion is a very nice piece of kit, a German-made small car that is affordable, practical, effortless to drive and of course very fuel efficient. Everything about the car works well and on paper it looks like a winner.

The reality is that diesel cars still only make up small percentage of the Australian new car market (though it is growing) and with no automatic gearbox available in Australia, Volkswagen's new 'blue' crusader is only ever going to be a niche model. But for those motorists who do decide to take the plunge on this super efficient hatchback, they won't be disappointed.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...