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Fleet World Fleet: Volkswagen Golf R-Line 1.5-litre eTSI 150hp 7-speed DSG

The fuel economy on the Golf continues to deliver impressive results, reports Julian Kirk.

Our long-term Golf is getting combined mpg fuel economy in the high-40s

P11d (BiK): £28,485 (29%) MPG/CO2: 47.8mpg/133g/km Test MPG: 47.2mpg

Report 3

I continue to be impressed with the way our Golf returns solid fuel economy figures despite getting some hard use – without trying to be frugal I’m regularly getting high-40s mpg, which is impressive for a petrol car.

It’s yet another reason why I recommend the car to anyone who asks about it (usually because of the bright lime yellow metallic paint – a £635 extra that I would leave on the options list). However, the 18-inch Bergamo alloy wheels (£450), which lend an air of sportiness to the Golf, would definitely make my spec list.

Other options that I’d recommend include the rear-view camera at £300 and the winter pack (heated front seats, washer jets and steering wheel) at £270. I could live without the IQ. Light LED headlights (£1,750), the £625 head-up display and the £785 Dynamic Chassis Control.

So a sensibly specced Golf eTFSI at the £28,000 mark not only means a great all-round car, but also one which isn’t going to cost a fortune to operate. With strong residuals and a desirable brand image, the Golf continues to not put a foot wrong even in its eighth incarnation.

Julian Kirk

Report 2

The level of technology in our relatively humble Golf is pretty extraordinary – there’s stuff in here that was ground-breaking in an S-Class Mercedes-Benz not that many years ago.

And most of it works well, being intuitive and unobtrusive… except the lane keep assist. I know they are soon to be mandatory and help towards an improved Euro NCAP score, but they are just so intrusive that they make driving really frustrating.

No matter what road you are on, the system sticks religiously to keeping you between the lines, chastising you when you dare to veer out of your lane.

As a result, the first thing I do when setting off in the Golf is turn it off – I much prefer to rely on my own judgement and concentration.

Julian Kirk

Report 1

I have been wanting to run a mild hybrid-equipped car for some time, so you can imagine my delight when I was told that the Golf was heading my way.

If I was buying, the spec of our Golf is what I would have chosen for myself – seven-speed DSG ’box, 150hp engine, IQ.Light LED-matrix headlights, head-up display, automatic lights and wipers, navigation with 10-inch colour touchscreen, rear-view camera and heated steering wheel.

About the only thing missing is an adjustable speed limiter. It’s listed in the spec, but definitely not on the car.

I wanted to run a mild hybrid to see how effective the system is. It uses a belt-driven starter/alternator to provide smooth starting and regeneration on the overrun to capture energy when slowing and braking, which is stored in a lithium-ion battery. It works very well.

The engine already has VW’s cylinder deactivation system, but adding the mild hybrid easily drops fuel consumption into the low-50s mpg on a long run and it’s averaging 47.8mpg on the trip computer as I write. That puts it into diesel territory, with lively 150hp performance and fuel at petrol prices.

The “Have your cake and eat it” Golf?

John Kendall

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Julian Kirk

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