‘Greener motoring’ is the mantra of the modern automotive age. Any manufacturer not looking for greener credentials through improved fuel economy and environmental performance in the cars it makes, is getting pounded in the showroom.
Such is the ’showroom power’ of the environmental argument that even leisurely performers - like the Toyota Prius and Civic Hybrid - have found success in a market that would have eaten them alive ten or fifteen years ago. (Efficient it may be, but the Prius in its current iteration is better described as “intriguing” rather than a “scintillating drive.”)
But perhaps the answer to greener, planet-friendly motoring is closer than we think. Perhaps those looking for fuel economy, lower emissions, and with sufficient dynamics to satisfy the more primal urges, need look no further than turbo-diesel power. Perhaps Rudolf Diesel’s astonishingly efficient and technologically simple ‘oil burner’, patented in 1892, holds answers for motoring in the 21st Century.
That sounded like a challenge to TMR. Something we had to check out.
So, with this in mind, the TMR team of latter-day scientists set out to see just how well-balanced the diesel equation is. We’d need a long trip. And we’d need a car - a proven diesel performer. (Done… and done.) Steane tee’d up one of the most popular diesel options in the market right now, Volkswagen’s Golf 2.0 litre TDI Pacific (thanks to Karl and the crew from Volkswagen Australia), and we assembled the TMR four man research team (all mental giants).
We chose the drive from Sydney to Melbourne, some 1000 kilometres - and a nice neat number for such a test. The combination of hills, long flat sections and regular interludes slowing to 50km/h for small towns - we reasoned - would test the Golf over all manner of driving conditions. During the course of the journey, we’d be driving with an eye for economy, but not ridiculously so, to see just how far we could stretch the Golf’s 55 litre tank. (And that’s not a big tank.)
As Mike is not known for his soft touch and Tony seemed like he could nod-off at a moment’s notice (”Wake up Jeff…”), driving duties would be mine alone. We loaded up the Golf with our luggage and over 320 kilograms of TMR’s finest and set our sights for Melbourne. At this point we realised that the 103kW turbo-diesel engine would be hauling over 1700 kilograms on the trip; definitely a real world test then.
Aside from the smaller rev range, once on the road you could easily forget you were driving something with a diesel engine up front. The Golf was quiet, comfortable and effortless as we navigated our way through Sydney’s many perilous streets to hit the open road. The 320Nms of torque on tap between 1750-2500rpm makes city driving a breeze. Our only gripe in this environment is the Golf’s light clutch. It takes more than a few minutes behind the wheel to get used to it - and we stalled once or twice on take off (leaving one red face at the wheel). Once you’re sorted there, rowing easily through the nicely-weighted six-speed box becomes second nature.
Just as the Golf began to settle into a rhythm, one of the mental giants in the back began agitating for lunch - “I’m starvin’… we gotta eat first.” Ok, great. This meant a detour back into the ‘burbs before we could really get underway. A serious chow-down and another few kilos later, we were once again on our way, though having consumed more precious fuel in the process.
2009 Skoda Superb 
2009 Ford Fiesta Zetec Five-door 
2009 Volkswagen Golf 118 TSI Road 
2009 FPV F6 310 
2009 BMW 320d 
HSV Clubsport R8 
2009 Z34 Nissan 370Z
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Mike, that looks like a hell of a shaving rash you’ve got there…
Hahah, the lighting was not favourable I guess!
A pity diesel is so much more expensive in OZ because these modern diesels are very good and claimed fuel consumption figures are totally achievable in the real world, unlike most petrol claims.
Mike you look like a big bloke i was wondering how comfortable the Golf was on that long trip coz I’m 6 foot 4 and curious to know how it stacks up to my E-gas wagon that also does the trip to Melbourne from Sydney on one tank of LPG (about $55 in Melbourne and $60 in Sydney to fill up) and is very comfortable????
I’m a big guy indeed mate, but not height-wise. I’m only 5′10″ or so, so I can’t compare with you on that front! As far as comfort for bulky fellas goes though, I can definitely say it’s perfectly fine. Didn’t experience any discomfort at all in the whole trip.
Mike’s looking g-g-great there
Last nights top gear if anyone saw it was the BMW M3 versus the Prius for 10 laps of the track with the Prius driven at its fastest speed and the M3 just keeping on its tail.
The M3 returned a higher MPG (Miles per gallon)!
Aaah great another diesel convert. Now try a big diesel
donk say a 535 BMW and try the performance in that. Should make you smile. I know I do. I would honestly say that i’d never buy a petrol donk again unless it was a turbo.
The comments and findings are no surprise to me, being an owner of a 1.9.
I’d like to add one item each to the joy and hate ledger; The sun visors are the best I’ve ever used, because if the sun is coming through from your right side next to the B-Pillar, a place most visors don’t get to, you simply telescope the visor out to cover the gap. Magic.
On the debit side, empty your trouser pockets of coins, if your pockets are on the shallow side. Because, they’ll be lost forever in Coin Hell, a little known place nect to the console and seat runners from which there is no return!
You might be interested to know that I recently completed a 3 week trip in my 2.0 TDI pacific, covering 3400 km visiting all the mountain bike trails between Sydney and Noosa. At 188 cm (6′2″ in old munny) and 95 kgs, this car is the dogs bits for long and short trips alike. Over this trip, two blokes, gear, tools and most importantly two unaerodynamic bikes on the tow-bar rack returned 18.6 km/ltr (the only proper way to show fuel-economy, and handily a display setting in the Golfie), or about 5.4 ltrs/100 km.
I’ve had a previous incarnation of this car in the Netherlands, (Seat Leon 1.9 TDI), and they just get better. Only gripe is the torque hole just off idle, which catches me out on occasion (so used to the ‘big-hand-of-god-in-your-back feeling normally, but there is very little before 1300 rpm, this is what causes the stalls, Mr RedHead). I wonder, does the 2008 low-blow 1.9 TDI have that too (the Leon didn’t…)
Basically, buy this car and be happy.
After taking a ride in one of my mate’s diesel Golf last year I can now appreciate how good diesel power is. However, I think I’ll try to work some more overtime next year to save up for the new Golf 6 GTI, so I can have a blast while not making too much pollution. Just wondering if there will be a diesel version of the next GTI?
very nice !
Back inya box!
http://media.drive.com.au/?rid=17313&sy=drive&source=drive.com.au%2FDriveTV%2F&t=5BUVEN&ie=1&player=wm7&rate=33&flash=1
Prius has/would DESTROY it
Had mine for over 2yrs now and won’t look at another petrol car.
Joel - You look a little young to be driving…?
Nice review and I agree, the Golf 2.0 oil burner is a good bit of kit. A friend has the DSG version and they go together like ‘peas and carrots’. However there was one flawed technique in your quest for economy. On top of being a potentially dangerous practice, placing the car in neutral when going down hill with modern cars actually burns more fuel than leaving it in gear. Pretty much all cars now will fully cut the fuel on over-run hence burning no fuel at all.
How much did you pay (2.0 TDI Pacific)? thanks
i agree that the gold is a good car, BUT for me a much better car lies in the Skoda Octavia 2.0TDI. Basically everything is the same except it has a much bigger (and more usable) boot and yet its around the same price. so much bullcrap is said about this car
(or any Skoda in Aus) because of the resale is abit low or the reliability is unknown but the skodas are rated better in many countries and the skodas are much better value!
so, if you’re reading this and thinking of buying a Golf, then dont. Buy a better Skoda Octavia instead. I did! Well it was the RS version but that was against the Golf GTI…
No, the 1.9 has a heap of grunt off idle. It would be a challenge to try to stall it.
it is looking like a hole in one for mc donalds too….turbo chops
I am now the proud owner of the Golf that you guys took on this economy run (number plate gave it away!) and am very happy with the car. I am getting around 6.0 - 6.5 litres per 100km around town in the car - can’t wait to take it on a trip. My other car is a 1.8L TSI Skoda Octavia wagon, another great piece of VW engineering which gets me around 7-8 litres around town. It is amazing the number of parts that are interchangable between the cars!
Congrats on the purchase Michael.
We hope she treats you just as well as she did us.
I good car and very easy to fuel used diesel now is cheaper. Then the patrol