VW Golf Plus Bluemotion

Meet the latest family car to clean up its act. The Golf Plus is the sixth model to join the Volkswagen Bluemotion range, and the third in the Golf line-up, following in the wheeltracks of cleaner, greener versions of the hatchback and estate.

The ‘bigger Golf’ has always been a tricky car to place, and the public seems to agree. Only one in 20 Golfs registered so far in 2008 has been a Plus, and it is outsold nearly two to one by the seven-seat Touran MPV.

Modifications to the Golf Plus are more subtle than on the Bluemotion version of the Polo, with the design team keeping aerodynamic tweaks to a minimum. The car uses the company’s proven 1.9-litre TDI diesel engine – which provides 104bhp and 250Nm of torque – and it’s mated to a five-speed manual box with longer gearing.

Claimed combined economy is 58.9mpg and CO2 emissions 127g/km. That’s impressive, but not as good as the current Golf Bluemotion, which returns 62.8mpg and emits 119g/km. As a result, road tax for the five-door costs only £35 a year; it will be £120 for the Plus.

Generous
Still, equipment is generous – there are plenty of airbags, all-round electric windows, air-con and auto lights and wipers. The Bluemotion also gets sports suspension, plus 15-inch alloys with low-rolling-resistance tyres.

On a mixed day’s driving, we managed 52.3mpg – closer than many rivals get to their ambitious claimed economy. The shift indicator helps, as it highlights when it thinks a gearchange will aid economy.

As for practicality, the rear seats fold almost fully flat, while there is a number of options in the back, with the middle rear seat flipping down to form an armrest or a useful cubby. The boot has underfloor storage, too.

Overall, though, the Plus still doesn’t offer enough advantages over a regular Golf – and as a MkVI Bluemotion hatch is on its way, we’d advise buyers to wait.

Rival: Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi
With a diesel particulate filter, the Ford offers near-identical economy and performance to the Golf Plus. It’s very similar in concept to the VW, too, but as it’s based on the sharper Focus it’s better to drive and look at. All for only £45 more.