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Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion

The Bluemotion offers lower emissions and better economy without losing the Golf’s key attributes.

Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion
  • Rating:
  • Latest deal price: from £14,230 to £22,300
  • On the road price: £14,195 - £32,975
  • For : Painless ownership, roomy and high-quality cabin, comfortable ride
  • Against : Coarse 1.9-litre TDI, chassis lacks sharp response
Driving
From behind the wheel, the only giveaway that you are driving the eco-orientated Golf is a tiny gearshift indicator at the bottom of the trip computer screen. The rest of the tweaks have been hidden away. The 1.9-litre TDI carries longer gear ratios, a revised turbo and remapped electronics – though changes haven’t affected the Golf’s performance. That isn't such a good thing as the VW is sluggish alongside newer rivals and the ageing powerplant is breathless, strained, and unrefined. Luckily, the Golf’s safe, reassuring handling hasn’t been compromised, despite sports suspension that lowers the ride height. It’s smooth around town and soaks up bumps well, though it isn’t the sharpest through the corners.

Marketplace
The Bluemotion is Volkswagen’s answer to the Toyota Prius, with a headline-grabbing low CO2 figure of 119g/km and the promise of 62.8mpg. But, unlike the Toyota, it doesn’t resort to hybrid drive. Instead, it refines the already-accomplished Golf TDI hatch. Only the eagle-eyed will spot subtle badges front and rear and the lower ride height. A reprofiled grille and underbody cladding help reduce the drag factor, but it’s the 1.9-litre TDI engine that has been changed the most. Other than the Prius, rivals include the Ford Focus Econetic, BMW 118d, SEAT Leon Ecomotive and Skoda Octavia Greenline.

Owning
Improvements to economy and emissions don’t come at the expense of comfort and safety, as the cabin is unaltered. There are no flimsy plastics here, while the air con remains in place. Material quality is first-rate, and the dash design is straightforward and easy to live with. Thanks to a wide range of steering wheel and seat adjustment, the driving position is perfect, too. The Golf is also roomy in the rear, with a very accommodating boot. It’s a great, compromise-free family motor. Retained values are extremely impressive – better, in fact, than a BMW 1-Series – and promised economy is strong; after all, it’s what the car is all about! However, we were a little disappointed to return only 42mpg during our tests, which is some way off the official figure. The Golf looks competitively priced alongside models such as the Prius, particularly when specified in high-value Match trim.

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5 Comments

Diesel Particle Filter

You may not have been told this in any review...
We leased a Bluemotion Golf and have had problems with the Diesel Particle Filter becoming blocked/clogged, three times in 6 months, the first time in the second week of ownership. Volkswagen Customer Service do not want to know they just bat you back to the lease company. This is not a fault and not under warranty! It is due to the car being driven around town by all accounts it is not suitable for this type of driving if it is you must find a straight uninterupted piece of road and drive at between 2 and 3000 rpm, 40-45 mph for between 10 and 30 minutes (possibly 22.5miles can anyone let me know where this road exists in the UK) to clear it out, do not try this on the motorway as the car is likely to drop into safe mode and lose the majority of power! Nice car other than this major frustration.

By illinformed on 20 May, 2010, 5:08pm

Diesel Particle Filter & LEZ

Thanks illinformed you summed it up so well.My Sons girlfriend bought a low mileage 2nd hand Bluemotion 1.4 TDI Polo as an urban runabout and the filter blocked in the first 2 weeks.It is totally unsuitable for short urban journeys and she has been presented with huge bills by VW for sorting this out.They now want to her to fit a new filter at a cost of over a £1000.She is now trying to return the car to the dealer sold as unsuitable for purpose and of course the dealer does not want to know,this is a VW problem and they refuse to acknowledge there is a problem.Last night Watchdog featured this problem so maybe there will be a greater awareness of what is going on.This does not bode well for people like me who are being forced to spend £2000+ to fit a particulate filter to comply with the new Low Emission Zone legislation coming into force this January and affecting privately owned camper vans & Land rovers.

By Trilleen on 21 October, 2011, 12:12pm

Diesel Particle Filter & LEZ

Watchdog but does not mention VW

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2011/10/diesel_particulate_filters.html

By Trilleen on 21 October, 2011, 4:32pm

Diesel Particle Filter

Somehow I can't image a salesman suggesting that your type of driving and journeys are not suited to the car he's trying to sell. Even if the new car salesmen are forced to explain the issue by the manufacturer, can you honestly see the message being passed on by secondhand dealers or private sellers. Does anyone out there have experience of with the Golf Bluemotion DPF, I've been really tempted to the Golf in the belief it would be ideally suited to my needs. I commute 42 miles (each way) 5 days per week and currently do this in a Peugeot 308 Hdi (with DPF) which is now showing 78k miles, I've only suffered once with the DPF which sent the car into temporary limp mode, however the next day the car drove fine but showing the warning light. After this event and speaking to an independent garage I was recommended to use 'Low Ash' engine oil, apparently this is supposed to reduce the build-up of the deposits which cause the filter to clog. I was more than a little miffed-off with my Peugeot dealer when I asked them to use this in my service only to find out they wanted to charge the full cost in addition to the standard service cost and not off setting the cost of the standard semi-synthetic oil. I now have the car serviced at my independent garage and supply my own low ash oil. Since running on the low ash oil for the last 48k miles I've not had a repeat of the problem with the DPF.

Question:
What Does Low Ash Mean in Motor Oils?
What is low ash?


Answer:
There are certain additives used in engine oils that, when they leak past the piston rings and get into the combustion side of the engine, can produce ash when burned. This ash can cause filter plugging in certain types of engines that contain particulate filters. This is not an issue for most engines unless you have a diesel particulate filter.

By trevor1960 on 16 January, 2012, 8:41am

DPF

I have a golf match and have had this problem several times! The car is now just over a year old & our VW garage want to charge £65 just to clear it if you can't do it yourelf. It's all good and well if you are near a good open road but if your in the middle of town not so easy. We followed the manual the first time as we had no idea what was wrong and couldn't clear it - the garage waived the fee and the last 3 times we have been lucky enough to clear it. however, it came on again last night and we can't get it off & I need the car to get to work the rest of the week which is an 80mile round trip - I can see it starting to loose power!
Trevor - my parents have a diesel blue motion and have not had this problem although they are giving their car a run more frequently then me (I liftshare) but if you are considering it I would ask the dealer about it first!

By MissScott on 30 January, 2012, 9:13am

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