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Volkswagen

Wednesday, 1st of October 2008

The BlueMotion looks like a normal Golf, and the 1.9 turbo diesel is mated to a five-speed gearbox and it has extra long ratios helping to get a frugal fuel economy. To keep emissions low it has a diesel particulate filter. The engine has a power output of 104bhp while it will do the zero to 62mph sprint in 11.3 seconds and has a top speed of 116mph. The only giveaway from behind the wheel that lets you know that you are driving the eco-orientated Golf is the gearshift indicator on the trip screen. The low powered 1.9TDi Golf still feels a bit sluggish against newer rivals while the engine could do with a bit more refinement.

VW has left the Golf alone when it comes to ride and handling and this is a good thing. The fifth generation does need to be tinkered with. So the BlueMotion has the safe, reassuring handling that the VW Golf is famous for, despite the German maker adding a sports suspension that lowers the ride height. The BlueMotion variant is smooth around town and soaked up the many potholes that were on our route with ease – although it’s not the sharpest when cornering enthusiastically. The lack of cornering ability can be blamed on the low rolling resistance tyres, which are fitted to keep emissions low.

When it comes to build quality there are very few makers that can make cars this well. VW is the benchmark for other marques to reach and then surpass if they want to be a premium badge. Inside the Golf is practically laid-out with all the switches and dials within easy reach of the driver. Shut lines as you would expect are well finished and panel gaps are thin. There’s even better news because if you tap a body panel, the metal sounds thick; slam a door and there's a satisfying thunk – which you’ll only get from a quality made car.

The BlueMotion Golf is loaded with kit as standard– to help in the safety stakes there’s ABS with HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist) ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) including EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) and ASR (Traction Control). If you have to brake in an emergency for example going from 70mph to zero on the motorway, your hazard lights will activate automatically to warn other drivers of the upcoming hazard – we thought this was a brilliant innovation. If you do get caught up in an accident there’s added protection as the BlueMotion Golf comes with driver and passenger airbags, curtain and front seat side airbags to keep you safe. To keep your vehicle secure, there’s an alarm, electronic engine immobiliser and remote central locking.

The cockpit looks exactly the same as the majority of the Golf range. It has lots of cubby-holes with the well damped lids which we like. The boffins have put a lot of thought into practicality as the wide door pockets are a boon as they can hold 1-litre water bottles – especially useful on long journeys. The Golf scores well on comfort there is a large variety of seat and steering adjustments available, which means ample space around the driver while four adults will fit in the car with ease.

The VW maker performs well when it comes to the used sector and the BlueMotion variant should be no different. The Guides believe that this car should retain around 50% of its value after three years/60,000 miles. The Golf BlueMotion will be going into battle with the Toyota Prius, Focus Econetic, BMW 118d, SEAT Leon Ecomotive and Skoda Octavia Greenline. With one of the greenest engines on the market at the moment the 1.9TDi emits a low of 119g/km of CO2, which means this BlueMotion car falls into tax band B – otherwise known as £35 of VED.