Volkswagen Golf Review (2008)

The Golf is one of those solid, dependable cars. With conservative but stylish looks, it suits almost every situation and is unlikely to ‘frighten the horses’. Moreover, there is a version to suit most tastes, from the 3-door S to the sporty R32, as well as Golf Plus and Estate varieties.

In amongst the list is the Golf BlueMotion, which at its launch in 2007, was the fourth car in the Volkswagen stable to bear the badge. The first was the Polo, then came the Passat and the Passat Estate and the list continues to grow.

What does BlueMotion mean? Well, it sums up Volkswagen’s efforts to get a quart into or out of a pint pot, although, perhaps I should be talking in litres. It is the continuing search for lower emissions and better fuel economy without the loss performance and driving enjoyment.

A casual observer would be hard-pushed to spot the differences between a Golf Match and the BlueMotion version of the same car; such is the subtlety of the improved aerodynamics. A closer look reveals that the cleaner car sits a little lower (15mm) than all but the R32. The front grille is almost enclosed but clearly gains more than having to add a dual fan in order to compensate for the lack of air and the underbody has been optimised, which means trimming and smoothing.

Some of the other ‘leaning’ methods employed are the use of low rolling resistance tyres using a higher pressure and the inclusion of sports suspension, which is always a bonus. The BlueMotion engine is based on the Standard 1.9TDI, however, the software that controls the engine management system has been tweaked in order to lower the idling speed and third to fifth gears have been lengthened to lower engine speeds, on the move.

Apart from these measures and the addition of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), the 1.9-litre engine is the same in providing 105PS at 4,000rpm and 250Nm of torque at 1,900rpm. Both have a top speed of 116mph and a 0-62mph time of 11.3 seconds, so there is nothing to be lost in going greener.

Prices for the 3-door BlueMotion S start the ball rolling at £15,565 and the BlueMotion in Match trim is £16,745, which is £520 more than the standard Match but the extra money is soon recouped at the pumps. Besides, the optional DPF adds £425 to the unmodified car, so there isn’t that much difference in price, after all.