Volkswagen Golf 77TDI released in Australia
August 31, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Volkswagen have today released its most fuel efficient Golf model in Australia: the 77TDI.
As the name suggests this newest member of the Golf line-up is powered by a frugal 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine which, when mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, can achieve a combined fuel economy figure as low as 4.9L/100km.
The new 77TDI shares the same technology as its 2.0-litre diesel (103TDI) sibling with 16-valves and common rail fuel injection. Peak power (77kW) is produced at 4400rpm, while maximum torque of 250Nm is delivered between 1500-2500rpm.
Fitted with a standard DPF (diesel particulate filter) to reduce particulate emissions, this new engine is not only one of the most efficient but also one of the cleanest diesels available.
Two transmissions are on offer, a five-speed manual and a seven-speed DSG (automatic).
As the entry-level diesel the Golf 77TDI starts at $28,690* for the five-speed manual, while the 7-speed DSG variant is priced from $31,190*.
* Prices are manufacturer list prices only, for the drive away price please contact your local authorised Volkswagen dealer.
Print it: 
these arrived/were complied at the same time as the MK VI GTI, which means the announcement of the GTI shouldn’t be too far off now.
prices seems a bit high compared to alot of other brands models with 1.8 or 2ltr ctds…
Rather an i30 thanks.
A bit pricey.Economical,but it would runout of puff quite soon.It should be good for city driving.
Very good car. Much cheaper than the 2.0TDI. 250 Nm from 1500rpm 7 speed DSG and city fuel economy is 5.6L/100km. Top speed 189km/h and 11.2 sec to 100km. Yes it is cost more than other cars but look what you get. All the airbags safety, ABS…etc if you add all that to the other cars could be the Golf even cheaper.
No thanks…too pricey…I would rather buy i30 CRDi…4.7L/ 100 KM…22,000, Drive Away with 5 Year warranty. Wake up VW !! ..That is not good enough!!
Yes my father has a 2008 golf diesel and while it is a very nice car it was too pricey, ride is way too firm and no leg room in the back seats so i bought an i30 wagon instead and it has more power and torque than this 1.6 diesel……it’s not much more but i’d rather have more than less!!!
So far we are very happy with the build quality, power and fuel economy the car isn’t perfect but very nice to drive and great value for money….This VW is better value than before but still too pricey in my opinion and if you are tall and have tall kids the Golf just doesn’t cut it for leg room!!!
Well of course a Volkswagen is going to be more expensive than a Hyundai…
There are plenty of other European offerings that are more expensive and no where near as good as the Golf.
Yes, let’s compare the Golf hatch to a station wagon and then bag the hatch for lack of space (similar to the recent Open Road article)! In that vain, I drove a Kombi once and it had plenty of room compared to an i30 – why buy the Hyundai?
On task – I would have to see what this car included as standard before I commented on the price. However, the 1.4 petrol engine is very economical so why would you bother with the diesel – I can understand a diesel in a larger car but the fuel economy difference in the Golf probably isn’t worth it.
@Nothanks VW > slanted H. It’s a better product which really shouldn’t be a direct comparison even though they are both small/mid sized diesels. It’s like buying a comparing a Samsung LCD TV with one from Aldi….I know which one I would rather.
Why diesel over petrol? Because diesel has big torque. It makes a huge difference in small capacity engines because you never need to ring it’s neck to make it move.
Agreed it’s too pricy when compared with the I30. But it’s no different to a seiko and rolex. They may tell the time just as well, but one has a more prestigious brand name (and subsequent resale value).
Don’t expect VW to compromise on price for the sake of a couple more sales. Their existing profit margin is obviously working well for them.
Sorry NoThanks i30 CRDi’s fuel economy is 7.9L/100km city driving Golf does in city 5.6L/100km. Second do not look just how much is it cost but what will be the resale value. As they saying you are happy twice when you buy a car. When you buying it (cheap) and when you sell it (if holds value well)
Diesel Says:
“Sorry NoThanks i30 CRDi’s fuel economy is 7.9L/100km city.”
Diesel, the I30 Diesel does 4.7L/100km in manual guise.
It is more efficient than the Golf.
What an uninformed people..!!!! Recently, Hyundai has been much more reliable than VW…!!! Comparing Hyundai with VW is like comparing a Samsung LCD TV with one from Aldi….
Yes a Golf is more expensive than an i30, just as a house is more expensive than a tent.
Come on guys…Please look at the JD power survey….VW has been awfully unreliable….Reliability should be considered as the most critical factor in terms of car buying decision….Unreliable car could cost you fortune,,I cannot not understand why people keep buying such a Lemon Brand..That’s simply insane….
Sorry Simon you are wrong. Hyundai 2009 i30 SLX CRDi
1.6L 4cyl (T), Man 5 speed Hatch, 5 seats, 2WD city 5.7L/100km. This is from http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au
Golf is 7 spedd DSG and does 5.6L/100km. So which is better??
Considering both i30 and Golf provide 5 star safety rating and similar handling and performance.. How unreliable Golf could be better than reliable i30? I would rather buy i30 over Golf , even if Golf is cheaper..!!
Korean made Samsung TV is better than German made TV…agree with that? Korean made I30 is better than German made Golf….Agree with that? Do you guys still think that German made car is superior to Korean made counterparts? No.. certainly not anymore…
Sorry “Simon” Hyundai 2009 i30 SLX CRDi 1.6L 4cyl, Man 5 speed Hatch, city fuel economy is 5.7L/100km it is from http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au website. The 7.9L/100km was for auto. Golf does 5.6L/100km with 7 speed auto. So which is better.
Nothanks, there is a world of difference between how a Golf drives and how an i30 drives. Is i30 World Car of the Year? No. WASP winner? No. WOILS small car comparison winner? No. Is it being written about in revered terms by the likes of England’s CAR magazine? No, but I’d be sure to request a test drive if these spoils started going its way.
As for Golf reliability, I’m an owner. Ask me. I have bad news for you.
@Nothanks – Bit of Korean patriotism there I see :) No harm intended, but I don’t agree with your statement of Korean cars are better than German cars. Why? The German car industry has been running for a very long time, they’ve got a great formula. A long running history of quality R&D; they are streets ahead. Are Korean TVs better than German TVs? Yes, that’s one thing the Asian nations have mastered, but a good Korean TV does not equate to a good Korean car.
Oh and for the record, I am Asian and am quite fond of Korean brands/products myself, but just not their cars yet. Ask me in 10 years time and my preference may change.
Yea, sure German car companies are better, better at marketing and clinging there badge snob customers.
The fact is, there are a large population of car buyers out there who blindly think some brands are superior to others simply based on there badge.
These manufacturers rely on this and people are stupid enough to fall for the hype.
Sure this golf may be a good car but VW is just another car maker making overpriced boring hatch backs.
Diesel, what you say is true with respect to the I30 Diesel Automatic. Not the manual which is 4.7L/100km. This is better than the Golf.
Probably all the power you will need in the city. The Golf GTD, which is a diesel GTI, has 125KW, which is pretty meagre for a performance car, especially when the GTI has 155KW. It’s also had no change in power over the last model.
I would say this lighter 1.6 engine will be a perfect match to the new Polo.
As for which is better Golf vs. I30, that would come down to the individual. I personally would go Golf over the I30 or even the BMW 1 Series hatch with respect to performance, looks and safety features.
Let’s hope the current strength of the Aussie dollar offsets some of these high prices soon…
Baddass, 125KW for a 2.0L turbo is “meagre” until you throw in the word “Diesel” although you are right, it’s not a performance car.
What does make the GTD Golf impressive is the 350NM of torque. This provides for rolling acceleration on par with modern V6s once the turbo is on song.
Frank, agreed. The 1.6 TDI should be a natural fit for the Polo.
Are Korean TVs better than German TVs?
–>Ja~~~~. But main (important) components are from Japan, even Samsung.
Korean cars are better than German cars?
–>Nein, nein, nein !!!
I agree Tack. JD Power customer satisfaction poll ‘08 Hyundai is only 17th. All German cars better than average. cars.http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/jd-power-customer-satisfaction-poll-08/232612.
The JD Power survey is not an accurate guide. For one it only measures 16000 owners over 28 manufacturers and 100 models of car. Secondly, the model ranking is in no way indicative of the overall Manufacturers placing. It is purely a customer satisfaction guide so If VW is build great cars but their customer satisfaction sucks, then they will rate poorly. I for one spent four years with one of the worlds largest rental car companies and I can tell you VW were far more reliable than Hyundai’s ( although the i30 is a huge improvement over it’s predecessor).
Now some of you are missing the point on this new VW diesel engine. It’s not so much about the economy of the engine, but the CO2 output which it 27 percent lower than the i30. In this day and age brownie points are award by governements for car that are less polluting. Just wait for the current run on hydrogen concept cars to grab the headlines with the greenies.
Incidentally I bought a VW based on four years of renting them out and the very low number of warranty claims I had to make on them compared to other comparable cars in it’s class. Well done VW.
i30 is 2 years old now, and you guys are comparing it with a brand new VW, with a brand new engine…..hmmmmm….it’s like comparing apple to orange.
put it this way, each car has it own merits and certainly make headlines when first released. i30’s claut might be slightly bigger, given that it was the first model from hyundai to achieve 4.7litre/100km, at a fraction of the cost of VM similar. so i guess credit needs to be given to hyundai.
as for second hand car sales website you can work out what’s the resale value. if you would narrow down to private sales and you can hardly find any i30 selling by private sellers, probably less than 3 in NSW.
funny enough, i30 was also designed in germany. so I guess, the german are laughing because their cars are selling. it’s just like in the supermarket, you want to take cash out of the wealthy, middle class and poor and you offer packed oranges, loose orange to be cherry pick and perhaps the classier orange which is more expensive. they are all oranges in the end, just different in packages… so whose laughing in the end….???
For someone comparing apples and oranges, you sure do a good job!
Thanks Camski for your kind comments, compliments…
I was pointing out the facts and wanted to point out the arguments against a 2-year old i30 vs a brand new VW, not the ‘guys’ comparing oranges/apples…sincerely sorry if it was misunderstood…
Hyundai has turned around and is competing with the Japanese, never mind the Europeans who have a shocking reliability record considering their prices. You people betting on Euro cars solely for their marque are typical suckers they rely on to survive. Having said that, the Euros have been brilliant in innovation, and their inclusion of safety features is second to none. However the i30 is a fantastic car – designed in Germany by the way – great value for money, fuel efficient, and with lots of features normally only found in more expensive cars. Two of my friends have them – both the petrol and the diesel versions and they are very happy.
If there is one thing about the i30 that I would quibble with, it is the lack of a particulate filter on the diesel. These filters make a huge difference to the environment, but are not required by the sloppy emission standards in Australia compared to Europe. But can’t blame Hyundai for that.