2011 Volkswagen Golf TDI (Review)

The original Volkswagen Golf, which was first presented to the world in 1974, became one of the most popular and iconic small hatchback vehicles ever. In fact, more than 25 million have been sold worldwide, making it an international success. Now, the Golf has returned with a new design and an approved eco-friendly TDI clean diesel engine.

I tested the new and redesigned Volkswagen Golf TDI in some of the most crowded and busiest streets of Los Angeles County and was very impressed with its performance and fuel economy.

Volkswagen makes a variety of reliable vehicles and the Golf TDI is no exception. The interior is pretty basic. There are no frills or fancy gadgets to turn or flip on, but it is surprisingly very roomy and can easily seat four passengers comfortably. There is also plenty of room to haul large amounts of cargo and gear, which is great for long distance travel. The Golf has a simple, but yet stylish European appearance, with impressive lines and an ergonomic design. Unlike previous generations, the new Golf TDI has a wider stance, which gives it more on the road presence, with black trim and stylish taillights, which give the vehicle a refined, sportier, streamlined look. The switch to turn on the headlights is located on the dash and the lights can be turned on/off with a simple turn of the knob. The stereo system has a clear, crisp sound, the air conditioning/heating system function perfectly producing the right amount of cold/hot air to fill the front and rear cabin areas, and the interior lights are strategically placed for proper illumination.

Although the Golf has invariably been a sporty handler, that special attribute has been bettered upon, because of the redesigned suspension, which gives the Golf the ability to handle windy roads and tight corners with assurance and ease.

The Golf is fun to drive and because of its powerful diesel driven torque, it accelerates quickly and goes very fast, giving the ability to pass slow vehicles and outperform most of its gas powered competitors. The power train uses an electronically operated turbocharger and injection system to attain better fuel economy and performance than the standard gas-powered models. The 2.0-liter diesel engine has 140 horsepower and a hardy 236 pound-feet of torque yielding an astounding 30 city/41 highway with a 6 speed manual and 30 city/42 highway with a 6 speed automatic transmission. This incredible fuel economy makes it possible to drive more than 500 miles on a tank of diesel.

The Volkswagen Golf TDI that I tested was a 6 speed manual, turbo charged transmission and after an entire week of driving, I hardly used any diesel fuel, driving on busy highways and long curvy roads. In fact the fuel gauge did not move and at the end of the week, it was still at the full level after many days of driving. Unbelievable, but yet true. This is why I am so impressed with this vehicle, because it performs and produces results like a hybrid, but yet is a turbocharged diesel.

As far as drivability is concerned, the Golf TDI is very smooth, comfortable, balanced, with a firm feel on the road. While driving, the car feels steady, even at high speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour with hardly any faltering or rolling. Unlike so many other compact vehicles that usually get drifted around by larger vehicles or heavy gusts of wind, the Golf TDI keeps its place on the road while bigger cars go by at higher speeds. It feels agile and because of the new design and suspension, there is practically no "body roll".

Unlike conventional urea- based diesel engines, such as Mercedes and BMW, the TDI releases 95% less sooty emissions, because of an advanced, specially designed trap and burn system. Even though the Golf TDI is not as clean on emissions as some hybrid vehicles, it costs thousands of dollars less and delivers similar fuel saving results. The Golf TDI has a MSRP of $23,995 and $24,695 for the four-door model and has better equipment than the gas powered Golf.

I love the way the Golf TDI handles the road and takes off with gusto. If you want a car that is like a hybrid- giving an estimated 40+ miles per gallon, is powerful, efficient, affordable, practical, sporty, drives fast, and is well made with a clean, simple style that is like no other, then the Volkswagen Golf TDI is the car for you.