Save Without BlueMotion

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Although it has the attributes of a BlueMotion, it is not allowed to call itself that. But the VW Golf 2.0 TDI has everything to be perceived as an alternative to the fuel-saving models from Wolfsburg.

By Frank Mertens

Those who value environmental protection but still don't want to do without driving should ideally look for a small car. But a Smart or Fiat 500, for example, is not enough for everyone's daily needs. For those who need more cars and still want to satisfy their ecological conscience, more and more manufacturers are offering fuel-saving models. At Ford, for example, they have the suffix Econetic, at Skoda GreenLine and at Volkswagen Bluemotion in the model name.

Search in vain

But anyone who currently wants to order a Golf BlueMotion from Europe's largest car manufacturer will be disappointed. It doesn't exist - not yet. It won't hit the market until June. Then it will be equipped with a 1.6 TDI engine with 105 hp, which will also do its work in the new Polo. Well, there are only a few weeks left before the new and extremely fuel-efficient unit comes onto the market. But you should therefore wait if you are interested in a fuel-efficient Golf. Not necessarily.

Because when you take a closer look at the engine range, it is noticeable that VW is already offering the 2.0 TDI with 110 PS, a Golf that is not called BlueMotion, but actually has all the attributes that characterize a fuel-saving model from Wolfsburg: the body is lowered, the gear ratio The manual five-speed transmission is designed to be longer than that of a comparison model and of course it is also on tires with optimized rolling resistance.

Optimized in this way, the Golf 2.0 TDI has CO2 emissions of just 119 grams, or to put it another way: in combination with fuel consumption it should only consume 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers. In comparison, the 1.6 TDI should be content with 3.8 liters (CO2 emissions 89 grams per kilometer).

0.7 liter difference

Okay, that's another remarkable 0.7 liter difference, but the 2.0 TDI is more than just a filler. It is a serious alternative for everyone who wants to save fuel but still doesn't want to compromise on driving fun - and you don't have to do that in the Golf 2.0 TDI, even if you look at equipment details such as the adaptive chassis control DCC or the six -Gear DSG has to do without.

That is to be got over, because this economy Golf has an extremely well-tuned chassis even without these little technical helpers. There is no reason for complaint. In combination with the directly responsive steering, which could work a touch more smoothly, this Golf can be moved almost sportily.

But the most beautiful thing is and remains the modern common rail engine. It does its work with a pleasant, because subtle, background noise. Even on the motorway at 150 km / h, there is a pleasant level of noise in the interior. But above all, there is the consumption, which makes you look at the on-board computer with satisfaction. On the way from Leipzig to Berlin, it consumed just 5.5 liters at this speed - that's fun. Even in the city, people like to look at the consumption display again and again.

Sportsmanship

Because there you can easily get under six liters if you stick to the shift recommendation in the display. On the country road you get the sporty spirit to push the ad below the four liter mark, which is possible. If there is one thing that takes some getting used to on this Golf, it is the manual five-speed gearbox. It can be switched crisply, no question about it.

But starting off requires a little feeling, that is to say, a little more gas than usual, if you don't want to stall the car, which happened a few times on the first test kilometers in city traffic. But that's about it. In this Golf, saving does not mean doing without. This is also shown by a look at the pure performance data: The maximum torque is 250 Newton meters, which is applied at 1750 revolutions. The acceleration from zero to one hundred is done in 10.7 seconds and the top speed is reached at 190 km / h.

With regard to the acceleration values, this Golf even has small advantages over the BlueMotion model that is in the starting blocks. It takes 11.3 seconds to reach 100 km / h. But, as I said, it only consumes 3.8 liters. That being said, the Golf we tested is a great alternative for all those who, in addition to driving fun, also want to consume less and thus do something good for the environment. The price of 20,625 euros is not exactly cheap, but you can save at the gas station.