2011 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion on sale in Australia

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By Tim Beissmann | May 20th, 2011

The 2011 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion has been launched in Australia, becoming the second most fuel efficient vehicle on the market.

The Golf BlueMotion model uses just 3.8 litres/100km on the combined cycle and emits just 99g/km CO₂. It is slightly more frugal than the Toyota Prius (3.9 litres/100km) and just shy of the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which maintains its title as the most fuel efficient car in the country (3.7 litres/100km).

The BlueMotion is based on the already existing Golf 77TDI Trendline. It features the same basic 77kW/250Nm 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine, although unlike the Trendline, it is available only with a five-speed manual transmission (no seven-speed DSG option).

The BlueMotion comes with a $1500 price premium over the 77TDI Trendline ($28,990 vs $27,490) but it is more than 25 percent more fuel efficient (the Trendline uses 5.1 litres/100km and emits 133g/km CO₂).

The BlueMotion’s engine features modified management software and operates at a reduced idling speed. Brake energy regeneration and Start/Stop work in tandem with lengthened gears (third, fourth and fifth), a gearshift indicator and a range of aerodynamic enhancements to dramatically improved the vehicle’s efficiency.

Theoretically, the Golf BlueMotion can cover an incredible 1447km on a single 55-litre tank before needing a refill when driven in official ‘combined’ urban and extra-urban conditions.

On top of the Trendline, the BlueMotion scores body coloured front and rear spoilers, chrome radiator grille, darkened rear taillight cluster, lowered sports suspension, low rolling resistance tyres and a low tyre pressure indicator.

The BlueMotion is forced to make do with a puncture repair kit with sealant rather than a space-saver spare wheel, which is a dealer-fit option. Unlike the Trendline, Park Assist, Media Device Interface (iPod/USB connectivity) and an anti-theft alarm are not available as options on the BlueMotion.

The 2011 Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion is available now from a manufacturer’s list price of $28,990.

CarAdvice’s Alborz Fallah is at the launch of the Golf BlueMotion in Adelaide today and will post a drive review shortly. Stay tuned.

AR

The best car from the Golf range arrives at last.

dailydriver

And what a ripoff it is!
You pay extra for the “priviledge” of a manual?

Phil

Dailydriver, its $6000 cheaper than the bottom of the range prius.

Also VW is a European brand, they design cars for people who know how to drive – ie people who know how to drive manuals.

Besides, your wrong again on it costing extra for manual – the Trendline 77TDI 7 speed DSG is $29,990, so its $1000 more for the auto than this blue-line manual.

bert

Does VW know how to build a nice looking car? Everything in there range is butt ugly and this rates amoungst the worst.

Neb

I totally feel for you Bert and others , sooth your pain with some VB or XXXX, crank up some AC/DC and try to forgive them, stupid designers, like they couldn’t fit 5.7 litres v8 twin turbo, make it rear wheel drive, LSD, big spoiler, extractors, that would be so ‘SS’ dude. Can’t even do donut unless in reverse,sucks, Can you hear MY STRUGLE

gazza

How ugly is this? I agree VW wouldn’t know how to build a good looking car and they have a go at toyota!!!!!

delux

More money and less features. Gotta be a sucker to buy this, even if it does use 25% less fuel.

Jimmy

Everyone has their own criteria when it comes to buying a car, you gotta be a sucker not to know that…
Golfschwein

No, no, no…MORE features. I think you didn’t read very thoroughly.
nickdl

Less options, not features. It’s actually a pretty decent proposition, definitely the best looking non-sports Golf.
KD

Whats it matter? The 77TDI Golf Manual has been discontinued

max

Pay more , get less. Doesnt add up to good value. Surprised that the ipod/usb feature is not available, surely that cannot affect fuel economy! With higher gear ratios, it would be painfully sloooow

KD

I’ve driven it and I can tell you it’s not slow.

I’m fairly sure they are offering it just as is (no optional extras) to reduce stock holding complexity and this is a new model for OZ so they want to test the water.

t39

Why the manual is not 6sp?

K

More gear means heavier in weight, therefore increase fuel consumption~

Craig

Hmm, so you can be environmentally friendly, but cant even option an Ipod interface (which a lot of cars now have as standard) or even fog lamps. We get it Volkswagen, why not just put back in a cassette deck.

Phil

Thats good. It means slightly fewer noobs driving around in perfect conditions with their fog lights on all the time.

QAZ

77kW is extremely low for a car this size. You get good fuel efficiency but your performance really suffers!

Golfschwein

Same torque and power as my older 1.9 tdi. Forget the kilowatts. 250 Nm just off idle is the key and it’s still a bag of laughs.

bangel

My youger bro who resides in the back of beyond has a POLO 1.9 tdi , what a beast , especially in the 80k to 110k power band , rocket ship , and very economical .

Phil

QAZ, the golf is offered in something like 6 different engines (even more overseas) with this of course being the least powerful.

Why would you pick the least powerful one and say it has a low ouput?

Pauly

Its an ‘Eco’ car, it is not a performance car in any shape or form. If you want abit more power go and get the 2.0 Diesel, 1.4L Twin Charger Petrol, GTD and GTI Golfs.

Volkswagen cater extremely well in the Golf line up for absolutely everyone.

Unless you want your car to perform well at 2 polar opposites? In which case you are a fussy, annoying customer.

QAZ

yea why would i care? I will not even consider buying one. sorry you are right.
Octavian

Exactly, the opposite is like expecting really good fuel consumption on a Golf R when driven hard, it’s not going to happen.

Octavian

Almost a perfect disguised Eco car, except for one thing, no Bluetooth (for iPod) connectivity. Is satellite navigation even an option?

ShockJock

It is not about extras or performance but economy and co2 emissions.

When this backward market catches up with the rest of the civilised world rego will be charged not on how many cylinders you posess but rather on how much your Holden commodore emits. You will pay a lot of rego as your commodore is an environmental disaster. The golf blue motion owner will not pay any rego as the car’s emissions fall beneath the magical 100g/kg co2.

Edit given the money the federal govt have ploughed in to the ailing local manufacturers and the existence of the ludicrously skewed greenstar rating system (commodore gets 4 stars despite disgraceful co2 emissions which render it unsaleable in Europe) I doubt this country will catch up in the forseeable future.

Captain Nemo

ShockJock
So does your idea of charging rego based on co2 emissions apply to all cars or just Commodores? Take a
VeeDud Passat for example in V6 form it emits even more co2 than a Commodore SV6. I’m guessing that makes the VeeDud an enviromental disaster too. Oh BTW some people have children and squeezing 3 kids in the back of a crappy golf isn’t an option.

bangel

Yer but a crummer V6 comes no where near the VW MAGIC V6 , where talking rough raspy torkless GM .

Corporal zero have you driven VW V6 if you had you would realise its way ahead of the GM junk dog .

Captain Nemo

Looks like you failed maths as well as spelling hey Bungel the GM V6 makes the same torque (350Nm) as the VeeDud. And guess what Champ it doesn’t need expensive 98RON petrol to do it.
bangel

Zero why dont you go and drive a R36 or a superb V6 ,both will out perform the crummer , much qieter and smoother , better economy , no rough gasping for breath at 3500rpm plus .

Car Fanatic

Australia has become over priced in all markets and backwards in technology. Houses, cars, food, clothing, all significantly more expensive since I left in 01 and returned in 08.

When I first arrived in the UK I thought I’d made a big mistake, everything was expensive, except European cars. Yes TGE country had price rises but none so dramatic as Australia. The up side is the Aussie Dollar being so strong, the government still taxes the he’ll out of us on everything.

Economical cars like this, the Econetic and Skoda’s greenlines should be the ones withgovernment backed incentives. Holden needs to pick up their game, sure the Cruze is a big improvement, but Euros and Japs have advanced even more. If Holden are to keep up, they need to stay with the pack and stop trying to play catch up.

Excellent effort VW, for bringing this car down under, I Just got 940 k’s around town from 52.56 liters of Diesel in my 103 TDi, best I’ve ever done, now I have my eye on one of these cause it would easily crack 1,100, I don’t mind sacrificing 70nm for an extra 150 to 200 kilometers out of a tank
Car Fanatic

So what do you drive Bert?
Car Fanatic

So Nemo, they’ll just buy the Passat TDi and save on fuel and rego, problem solved.
Car Fanatic

Actually Nemo the V6 Passat Co2 rating is 222g/km whilst the SV6 is rated at 231g/km.

Now last time I checked 222 was lower than 231, not by alot, but still lower.

Captain Nemo

Yes my bad CF i was looking @ 2010 models not 2011.

But i still stand by my comment if ShockJock thinks a Commodore is an enviromental disaster so is a V6 Passat not everyone likes Diesel especially that lovely oil patch you have to endure right next to the pump at the servo. That alone is a big turnoff for some people.

Phil

VW only makes the V6 Passat for Americans and Australians which is also why there is no manual tranmission for the V6.

If you went to Europe, you would find all were 1.6\2.0s – mostly diesel and all would be manual tranmission.

Car Fanatic

LMAO @ Neb, gold, pure gold Neb.
Octavian

When is it possible for people here not to digress from topic, I mean how hard can it be. OK some off-track comments, but when some people start making rude comments, that’s when it becomes un-Australian. Come on people, at the end of the day it’s just a simple car blog, not a portal for complaining about other people’s rights to choice.
Car Fanatic

Un-Australian? You seriously don’t believe that?

No matter the country of origin, it’s human nature in this current society to be rude, you know it, I know it and they all know it. Un- Australian is a thing of the past, be realistic.
Car Fanatic

Can’t agree with you more Nemo, I love my VW Diesel to bits, but hate it when I have to fill it up. I have to stand at an angle so I don’t get Diesel spill on the souls of my shoes.
Octavian

Rudeness comes from jealousness, greediness and disrespectfulness, if we all respect others’ opinions before complaining our society would be much better off.
http://Frosty Hicks

I have been waiting for this from Europe. But VW have lost a sale with me in this:

“The BlueMotion is forced to make do with a puncture repair kit”
Car Fanatic

And your point Hicks?

I’ve not had a flat tyre in more than 20 years, maybe I’m lucky but it wouldn’t deter me from buying one
john

I’m in the market for a new car and this thing is $4000 dearer than the ford fiesta econetic diesel. Its overpriced too and gets 3.7L per 100ks. Seems a bit silly to rush in to get a vw now.
Mark

Is it me or is it reality?,

every open forum I look at, regardless of topic, ALWAYS degenerates into some kind of playground mentality.
No wonder the world’s going to hell in a hand basket