Volkswagen Golf VII 2.0 TDI 150 CV DSG, road test (Engine, performance, handling and consumption)

The Volkswagen Golf is one of the great benchmarks in the compact car segment. It has been for years, thanks to its image, quality and handling. The seventh generation, which reached the market only a few months ago, continues along this same path. Anyone who drives it comes away satisfied. Perhaps its only drawback is its price, higher than that of most of its rivals.

At first glance, the Golf VII might seem to be just an update of the Golf VI, which was on sale between 2009 and 2013. But it is not so: it is a completely new model. In renewing its bet in the compact segment, Volkswagen has gone against the trend of other manufacturers. The reason? It discontinued the Golf VI without giving it any cosmetic update, after barely four years on the market. Brands usually keep models on sale for between six and eight years, with a more or less thorough refresh halfway through their commercial life. The German firm decided its Golf deserved more and, although it may not look like it, launched a practically new car.

The seventh generation of the Golf debuted the ‘MQB’ platform of the Volkswagen Group, which other models in the German conglomerate have since adopted, such as the Audi A3 or the SEAT León. In addition, compared with the sixth generation, it featured improvements to the chassis, engines and equipment, as well as more efficient engines and a lower weight.

The Golf is a very satisfying car thanks to the sensations it conveys to whoever sits behind its wheel, the operation of its numerous driver-assistance systems and, in the case of the test unit we had at Higmotor, its 2.0 TDI 150 CV diesel engine and its six-speed ‘DSG’ dual-clutch gearbox. All of this shapes a well-rounded package that meets every expectation.

Engine and performance

The Golf’s 150 CV TDI engine, which is also available in other models of the Volkswagen Group such as the latest Audi A3, is smooth and quiet. The only exception is when it is cold at startup, in first gear, when it vibrates slightly. It is never bothersome for the driver or passengers.

This powertrain responds very well to the accelerator: as soon as you press the pedal you feel it has enough power to move the Golf’s weight without trouble, both in low and high gears. In the latter, the in-gear recovery is quick, making manoeuvres that require a certain agility easier, such as overtaking on two-way roads.

The 2.0 TDI 150 CV engine, an evolution of the 140 CV 2.0 TDI that powered the previous Golf, produces a pleasant sound from its exhaust. Not quite like a good petrol engine, true, but a long way from those diesel units of yesteryear that sounded more like industrial vehicle engines.

This 150 CV diesel forms an outstanding tandem with the six-speed ‘DSG’ dual-clutch gearbox, thanks to its quick response in every situation. This automatic transmission, which can also be operated manually using the paddles behind the steering wheel or by tapping up and down on the gear lever itself, is smooth, fast and very pleasant to use.

In automatic mode, you only need to press the accelerator firmly for it to downshift one or several gears on its own, allowing the engine to deliver the maximum power the driver requires. Both the downshifts and the upshifts as speed builds are very smooth transitions, during which occupants hardly notice a gear change.

All versions of the current Golf range have a ‘Stop&Start’ system that automatically switches the engine off and on when stopped, for example at a traffic light or stop sign. This device, very useful in traffic jams for lower fuel use and emissions, works quickly and smoothly in the 150 CV 2.0 TDI variant, though not quite as well as the one fitted, for example, to Peugeot’s models.

Handling

The Golf has always stood out as one of the cars in its class with the best balance of agility, stability and comfort. The seventh generation keeps this quality.

It is agile because it changes direction quickly when driven at a brisk pace on mountain roads with many bends, stable because it faithfully follows the path the driver sets with the steering wheel, and comfortable because its suspension isolates the occupants well from the condition of the road surface, at least in the ‘Comfort’ mode of the optional adaptive ‘DCC’ suspension fitted to our test unit.

The ‘DCC’ system is part of a set of features grouped under the name ‘Driving Profile Selection’, which lets you choose between five different driving programmes: ‘Comfort’, ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Individual’. In each of them, the suspension, accelerator and gear-change response, steering weight and the operation of systems such as the climate control are different.

The ‘Comfort’ programme prioritises comfort, ‘Normal’ is the most neutral of them all, ‘Sport’ is suited to faster driving because it firms up the suspension and holds the bodywork better, ‘Eco’ focuses on the lowest possible fuel consumption, and ‘Individual’ lets you configure the operation of all the systems to your liking.

The main difference between these five driving modes lies in the suspension, which is clearly firmer in ‘Sport’ mode. Under normal circumstances, the programmes best suited to everyday driving and long trips are ‘Comfort’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Eco’.

The Golf has a very good steering and powerful brakes that make stopping in a short distance easy. On longer journeys, it is appreciated that the Volkswagen compact has a cabin well insulated from external noise. Some does get through, such as the wind noise at speed, but it is far from bothersome for the driver and passengers.

Consumption

The 2.0 TDI 150 CV Golf with ‘DSG’ gearbox consumes what one would expect of a car of its size with a turbocharged engine of that power. This version has an homologated average consumption of 4.2 l/100 km — slightly less than the manual-gearbox variant. In real-world use, it is not difficult to make long motorway trips at the legal speed limit in Spain and achieve consumption of around 5.5 l/100 km.

In town, fuel consumption is higher, logically, but you have to be very heavy-footed on the accelerator to see consumption above 8.0 l/100 km on the instrument cluster. The best habitat for achieving the lowest possible fuel consumption is two-way roads and the ring roads of large cities, as long as there are no traffic jams, since at 90–100 km/h a consumption close to the homologated figure can be achieved.

In the second part of the test we will look at the exterior design and analyse the cabin, detailing the available space and the quality of the materials Volkswagen has used to shape one of its most iconic models.

Photos | Jaime Arruz and test team

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackVolkswagen Golf28 versions · from 24,450 €