Today The Car Spotter will be reviewing a 2015 Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion TDI Mk7. This particular white Golf features a 1.6 litre diesel engine with a manual gearbox. The VW Golf TDI Bluemotion 5 door model costs approximately £22,090 new.
Front of the Mk7 Bluemotion Golf
The VW Golf is one of the most popular automobiles on the face of the earth and it’s easy to see why. It is a well built, well-engineered car that is practical and in the case of the Bluemotion Golf – very economical.
The Bluemotion model comes standard with 15″ “Lyon” alloys, green tinted windows, body coloured bumpers, black rear diffuser, black cloth interior, Bluetooth telephone connectivity and multifunction computer. USB and auxiliary slots are also standard, making it easy to charge and connect multimedia devices and phones. Start/stop technology is also standard on the Golf Bluemotion in addition to the mis-fuel prevention device (for Diesel only).
15″ “Lyon” alloys
This particular model also has the non-metallic “pure-white” paint option at a price of £260 and the “Discover Navigation system” priced at £750 which includes a 6.5″ colour touch-screen control system, CD and digital radio and European navigation data amongst other things. The white VW Golf Bluemotion being tested is a 5 door model, and as mentioned above features a manual 6-speed gearbox. Rear view camera to aid reversing was also added which costs £165 and is underneath the VW badge on the rear boot of the Golf.
Looks
In terms of appearance, the VW Golf is quite bulky for a hatchback presumably to maximise cabin space with large doors and a rear roof spoiler integrated into the tailgate. It has maintained the same overall shape as previous Golf variants but each model is updated slightly for a sleeker, more refined look.
The latest VW Golf looks very similar to the Golf MK6, with only minor changes to note. It is only when you see the new and old variant side by side that the difference become obvious.
The bonnet of the MK7 Golf is slightly elongated to fit the narrower front grille and headlights. A sharper, more defined front bumper has been added and the shoulder line that runs down the side of the car falls below the door handles as opposed to above like on the MK6.
Some of the racier models such as the GTI, GTD and R variants get improved body styling, exhausts and uprated alloy wheels, amongst other features.
The white Golf Bluemotion
Back quarter of the VW Golf Bluemotion
Performance
The main selling point of the Gold Bluemotion is the economy and the range the car delivers. Still, the 1.6 litre diesel provides enough power and torque for everyday motoring. The four cylinder turbodiesel engine produces 109bhp and 184lb-ft of torque. The VW Golf Bluemotion features a six-speed manual gearbox and is front-wheel drive.
The quoted 0-100kmh or 0-62mph is 10.5 seconds and the VW Golf Bluemotion will continue on to a top speed of 124mph.
The Bluemotion Golf has enough grunt in third gear for overtakes and despite not being quick, it has as much power as you would expect from an efficient, modern hatchback.
The previous Bluemotion Golf MK6 actually had a 5-speed manual gearbox which also delivered phenomenal mileage and economy. When I have been driving the latest Mk7 Golf I sometimes forget to pull the gearstick to the back right position and utilise the 6th gear on motorway stretches. This has become less frequent the more I have driven the Golf and reminded myself of the final gear.
Rear of the VW Golf Bluemotion
Ride and Handling
The steering on the VW Golf is quite light, it takes very little effort to carry out full rotations of the wheel for manoeuvres and tight corners.
Like all Golf’s, the Mk7 feels sturdy on the road, with minimal body roll. It has been lowered 15mm and is fit with low rolling resistance tyres. The ride is very comfortable, partly due to the 15″ alloys on the German hatchback.
Front quarter of the Bluemotion Golf
Interior and technology
The interior of the Golf is well built, practical and easy to use. The multi-function steering wheel is not a standard option so all of the controls are on the centre console and the external light controls to the right of the wheel, the same as the majority of cars.
The large 6.5″ colour touch screen provides access to the digital radio, CD player, Sat-Nav, vehicle settings and more. Below the screen are three dials for the climate control of the car. The electronic handbrake is a small flip switch in the centre console, behind the steering wheel. Silver metal-effect trim gives a nice overall finish to the interior of the cabin.
When connecting an iPod or iPhone and perhaps other devices too, all the details including the album artwork in colour are displayed on the multimedia screen which is a nice touch.
The USB slot for connecting external devices is located underneath the climate control buttons, by pushing the metal tray inwards, next to the cigarette lighter. A criticism of the Golf here is that the USB plug socket is too far back in the recessed section making it difficult and fiddly to connect a USB cable, even with my relatively nimble hands.
The two tone black and grey cloth seats are comfortable and there is plenty of headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The Volkswagen Golf is easily capable of comfortably seating five on long journeys.
Driver’s seat and steering wheel
Front seats
Efficiency, MPG and running costs
The main focus of the VW Golf Bluemotion is the impressive efficiency, running costs and CO2 figures it delivers.
Due to special tyres, battery regeneration and a stop/start system, the MK7 Golf Bluemotion has a stated 83.1mpg fuel economy and emits just 89g/km of CO2, which ensures the Bluemotion is exempt from road tax. The figures may be slightly ambiguous though with the recent VW emissions scandal, but the benefits can definitely be seen when driving the car.
With a fuel tank capacity of 50 litres, the estimated tank range is a staggering 970 miles. Of course, it is near impossible to achieve the quoted MPG claims of the manufacturer as they were carried out in lab conditions but if you drive appropriately, close figures can be achieved.
In the previous MK6 Golf Bluemotion that I tested, I shared driving the vehicle to East Germany and due to the consistent Autobahn driving, the range of the car was well over 800 miles, meaning only a little over two fill ups were required for the entirety of the journey from the North of England.
After completing 2624 miles this current Mk7 Golf is averaging 51.7 mpg. This is quite different from the claimed 83.1 mpg but this is due to the fact a large amount of the driving has been done during slow moving rush hour traffic and not long motorway stretches when maximum fuel returns can be achieved.
The VW Golf comes with a three year/60,000 mile warranty.
With the current price of diesel being at 97p, the Golf costs around £48.50 for a complete re-fuel.
Comfort, space and practicality
The Golf is comfortable for both driver and passengers. There is an abundance of headroom in both the front and back of the Volkswagen and plenty of storage throughout the car.
The Bluemotion models benefit from storage drawers under the driver and front passenger’s seats.
Large door pockets in all five doors and the drinks holder in the front doors are very wide, with the ability to house large two-litre bottles.
The boot is large, having the capacity for 380-litres of space which is increased to 1,270 when you fold the rear seats down.
Choosing the Golf Bluemotion is practical for a whole host of reasons. It is cheap to run in terms of fuel bills and economy, no road tax and the residual value of these models is strong. It is perfect for families, professionals and anyone who is looking for a sensible, reliable vehicle.
Rear seats, plenty of legroom and 5 seats in total
Boot open mechanism is the VW badge
Anything else
The main purpose of the VW Golf Bluemotion is to return high mileage and low CO2 figures. It achieves both of these exceptionally well making it a perfect car for those who will be completing long journeys and racking up the miles.
The car isn’t particularly exciting and it won’t get your heart racing, but it is a very good all round, ticks all boxes sort of car.
For practicality and a sensible choice, you can’t go wrong with a Golf Bluemotion.
The Car Spotter likes:
Outstanding MPG
Sturdy and quality feel
Strong resale values
Comfy and practical interior
The Car Spotter dislikes:
Awkwardly placed USB slot
Not particularly exciting overall
Specification
Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion 1.6 TDI Mk7
0-60: 10.5 seconds
Top Speed: 124mph
Bhp: 109
Torque: 249 Nm 184lb-ft
Engine: 1.6L 4 cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed manual FWD
Weight: 1295kg
Price: £22,090
I hope you enjoyed my review of the Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion TDI Mk7?
What do you think about the Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion?
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