An economic environmental crusader that doesn’t sacrifice drivability.
Model Tested:
- 2010 Volkswagen Golf 77TDI; 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel; five-speed manual; five-door hatch – $28,690*
Options (As Fitted):
- Media Device Interface $270; Comfort Package $2,200
Fuel economy; capable diesel engine; spacious cabin; solid build quality
Some option pricing; aftermarket look of 3.5mm auxiliary audio socket
CarAdvice Rating: 
Words by Matt Brogan Photos by Brendan Nish
Take everything you’ve come to expect from Germany’s favourite hatch – safety, quality, reliability and drivability – add Prius-like fuel economy, and what you’ve got is Volkswagen’s most economic Golf to yet land on Australian shores.
The Volkswagen Golf 77TDI sits second from the bottom in the new Mark VI Golf range coming in just above the base model 90TSI petrol-powered variant in terms of price ($28,690 for the 77TDI and $25,990 for the 90TSI – manual variants). Best still this new, low capacity diesel offering delivers considerably better fuel economy returns than that of its petrol sibling without sacrificing any of the much needed torque often found lacking in frugal lower-end offerings.
At the heart of the equation is Volkswagen’s frugal, yet capable, 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine – or TDI in Volkswagen speak. Utilising common rail, direct injection fuel technology – and of course a turbocharger – the Golf 77TDI delivers, as the name might suggest, 77kW of power at 4,400rpm as well as a sprightly 250Nm of torque.
What’s great about this little unit, and an issue that fails many turbo-diesel offerings, is that the entire helping of torque is available just off idle, from 1,500rpm. What this translates to is negligible turbo lag and good strong pulling power that will see you on your way to the 100km/h mark in just under 12 seconds (11.6 seconds).
Mated in this instance to a slick-shifting manual gearbox, the Golf 77TDI is also available with a self-shifting DSG (automatic) transmission for those not fond of the three-pedal shuffle. But if you happen to be a fan of the stick-shift gearbox, Volkswagen’s five-speed unit is lithe, well composed and offers a tactile yet light clutch that offers an engaging yet relaxed response.
As touched on a moment ago, and as you’d rightly expect from a low capacity, low output diesel, fuel economy is also a strong point for the Golf 77TDI. A week of combined 50:50 city and highway driving returning 5.1L/100km – and that’s with the climate control on the entire time! The Golf 77TDI also has a CO2 emissions rating of 129 grams per kilometre.
Inside the cabin you could easily forget you’re in a diesel-powered car with almost none of that maligned oiler rattle evident – even when idling. The ride is well composed and suitably quiet allowing time to enjoy the ample interior space and comfortable seating.
The Golf 77TDI offers seating for five, though realistically four adults are a comfortable fit. Up front Golf’s manually adjusted cloth seats are well contoured to strike just the right balance of comfort and support, especially on longer highway trips, and are adjustable in all the usual directions. The steering column also offers tilt and reach adjustment.
An uncluttered and user-friendly array of well assembled switch gear and neatly presented instrumentation provide all the relevant information at a glance while also being simple to operate and comprehend. The white back-lighting of the dual-dial instrument panel is an especially classy touch at night.
Sitting at the bottom of the model range, the Golf 77TDI still boasts a decent level of standard equipment including air-conditioning, height-adjustable headlamps and a punchy single CD tuner.
An option pack, known as the ‘Comfort Package’, is also available (at an extra charge) that includes, among other items, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and dual-zone climate control (our test vehicle had this box ticked as did it a USB audio interface). Should you not wish to lash out the coin, a rather after-market looking 3.5mm audio socket is included as standard.
Up back, the large cargo compartment offers 350-litres of capacity with the seats and parcel shelf in place. Flip down the 60:40 rear seats, and un-clip the shelf, Golf 77TDI allows an impressive 1,305-litres of space. A space saver spare wheel can be located beneath the cargo compartment floor.
In terms of safety the Golf 77TDI earns a five-star ANCAP (and EuroNCAP) rating thanks to front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, ABS braking with electronic brake-force distribution and ESC with Traction Control. Hill Start Assist is also included as standard on manual models.
The Golf 77TDI is a really pleasant little car to drive and one that’s very easy to live with – both on the eye and on the wallet. The performance is more than adequate given our draconian speed limits, and with such a high level of quality, safety and reliability built in, you could certainly do a lot worse than to test drive this one. Four-out-of-five.
Ratings:
CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go: 
Road Test the Rivals:
Specifications:
- Engine: 1,598cc DOHC four-cylinder (16 valve)
- Power: 77kW @ 4,400rpm
- Torque: 250Nm @ 1,500rpm
- Induction: Direct Injection, Common Rail, Turbocharged
- Transmission: Five-speed Manual
- Driven Wheels: Front (with Electronic Differential Lock)
- Brakes: Discs with ABS & EBD
- Top Speed: Not Tested
- 0-100km/h: 11.3 seconds
- CO2 Emissions: 129g/km
- Fuel Consumption: 4.9L/100km (ADR)
- Fuel Consumption: 5.1L/100km (As Tested)
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 55L
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- ANCAP Rating: Five-Star
- Airbags: Front, Side, Curtain & Driver’s Knee
- Safety: ESC with Traction Control & Hill Start Assist
- Spare Wheel: Space Saver
- Suspension: Strut (F) / Multi-link (R)
- Cargo Capacity: 350/1,305L
- Tow Capacity: 1,300kg (Braked)
- Turning Circle: 11.0m
- Warranty: Three-Year / 100,000 kilometre
- Weight: 1,310kg (Tare)
- Wheels: Steel 15 x 6.0-inch (Alloy 15 x 6.5-inch – As Tested)
The comfort package also includes the cruise control, auto wipers, auto headlamps and multi function steering wheel, does it not? My understanding is that these things are not standard.
Comfort package
Alloy wheels (Wellington) 15 x 6½” (4) with anti-theft wheel bolts
Automatic dimming interior rear-view mirror
Cruise control
Dual zone automatic (2 modes) climate control with indirect ventilation mode, air quality sensor
and automatic air recirculation
Foot well illumination, driver and front passenger
Gearshift knob in leather
Leather rimmed steering wheel with audio and Multi-Function Display controls
Multi-Function Display (MFD Plus)
Low light sensor with automatic headlight function
Coming / leaving home function
Rain sensing windscreen wipers
probably worth going up the 103TDI manual for that bit of extra go
getting real exxy if you want the DSG though
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Go and drive them back to back and you will see why the Golf is more expensive. We just handed back a Corolla hire car yesterday afternoon and were glad to get our Kia Rio back. Terrible seats, thrashy auto/ engine combo and bare bones. Poor plastic finish in the interior, choppy ride and even the smallest stones on the road were felt. That our RIO is more comfortable surprised even us. That it is 8k cheaper is inexcusable.
We has a Jetta diesel hire car back in September and I can tell after now driving the Corolla and the Jetta, there is no contest. I hadn’t driven a corolla for well over 10 years and was surprised that they hadn’t improved it. The public have been brainwashed on toyota product.
Having said that, I’d go for the larger capacity diesel. That’s not a dig at VW either, because I believe they are clever to offer a bare bones diesel for those who simply want an a to b trnasport with superb economy but don’t want Japanese or Korean. The comfort pack means nothing to some people and so it being an option is a smart move to bring the entry point down.
I’m a big fan of the Golf range and think it is one of the best styled cars in its class for a long time.
agree 100%
comparing a corolla to a golf is futile
the corolla is a boring device with barely acceptable build and interior designed by accountants
the golf has driving character and feels like it’s designed by engineers who LIKE driving
i would not consider a corolla under any circumstance and that’s especially pertinent now with Toyota being the ‘recall-o-matic’ company
i would either buy a 103TDI manual and not bother with too many options or get one of the petrols (you’ll see they are only a little worse off on fuel consumption)
yes i know, VW has some questionable practices… not a fan of the “Comfort Package”… $2,200 and the only stuff of real value is the cruise and the wheel buttons… but i supposed if you’re in this deep, $2.2k isn’t such a big deal
besides, getting raped on options on a german car is a part of the fun is it not? (no not really)
Well, with Corolla now having steering problems, I would think this would be a real alternative. End of the day, it is a toss up between reliability vs safety, and I think safety would win out in this case.
Although saying that, the Mazda3 would have reliability and safety (providing Mazda are NOT the next ones to recall!!!!!!) and does (as Tony has stated) feel like something worth drive (in particular the SP/MPS models).
Just wish the Germans knew how to compete on price – if they did, Corolla would be dead! VW IMO is not really a premium brand like BMW, Audi etc, hence don’t need to charge a premium.
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prepare to pay for reliability issues… lol…
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Sure! Falcons are good cars and I don’t have issue with experts falling in behind it. So why do you?
It’s the experts who give direction to the public who don’t get to sample a large variety of cars. I’ve never driven a VE Commodore, for example, nor one of the new Fords.
Worldwide critical acclaim has fallen in behind the Golf. Not the 3, not the 308, not the Corolla…just the Golf.
If it’s so hard to accept, perhaps you should drive one to see what the hullabaloo is about. Good things can come in plain packages, if the plain package is your beef. Very plain things can come in good packages and that’s far easier to do.
To Golfswein: The Camira and VE were award winners too according to the experts and look how great they are once time caught up with them!
The Golf is all marketing and made to tick the criteria list of journo’s, not necessarily the 99.9% of potential buyers out there given its price! Its for the cafe sipping show pony’s who think the VW badge suddenly elevates their social status! Perhaps you concur?
No, I don’t concur. I’ll say it again. Golf’s the best car in the class. If it was something else, we’d know what it is, because the world’s motoring press would have told us. It’s not the 3, even though general consensus is that it is very good and enjoyable in its own right.
Just because a car is voted best in class by motoring groups, doesn’t mean they always get it right. I’m not allowed to link other sites to here but there are some sad stories emerging about a vibration that is plaguing the new Falcon around 1,500rpm and Ford don’t seem to care too much for their clients. I realise too that this will see me marked negative but I don’t give a rats. So many people in here are convinced that ford are suddenly some knight in shining armor but apparently they are still having quality issues too.
The new G6 may look nice but there are problems under that skin. Similarly the Golf is rumoured to have some reliability issues. I’d still take the risk and have it over a Corolla any day.
Hung Low, I drove the Jetta which is basically the lasy model golf with a boot in September and can tell you they really are that good. The comments here about it not being a premium brand only show the ignorance of the people posting that tripe.
I challenge any of you to go take the golf and the corolla (any variant you like) for a back to back test drive. It will change your perception I am certain. Until you have driven both as I have you are not qualified to make any comments against the Golf or its price. It feels like an expensive car to drive and it is that very basis that has won it so much acclaim.
yes but if the car is in the garage getting repaired or costing a bomb to get repaired (a la VW), I know where I’d be putting my money for a long term relationaship.
VW [and GERMan cars in general] are good to own during the warranty period [although service is exxy] as they are picking up the pieces when it WILL go pear shape.
Once the warranty is finsihed they will rape your wallet.
Pop your head into a dealer some day….LOTS of issues, not [as per Japanese] simple service and maintance…..”good little earner”
LOL
Snatch: Google “Lemon Laws Jetta” to get an ownership perspective! Infact there are Lemon laws against most VW products, to an extent some models such as JEtta’s and Touareg’s have been replaced with a brand new car from legislation in the US against LEMON cars!
It probably was a nice drive when new, but with a few k’s under its belt it is typical euro trash!
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Probably the norm, not a disaster for a VW! why?
So the best small car in its class is also the dearest, infact ridiculous once options are added! Lucky the Japanese and Koreans do not see their customers that way! Imagine a $35k Mazda 2, I bet that would be best in class as well!
Ingenious formula used by VW that has pulled the wool over their customers eyes!
No, no, no, my Golf didn’t do that. A Camry that I had from brand new did. Sorry I forgot to clarify.
OMG! you owned a Camry and must have drooled over them for a while to buy one new!
Can I hold that against you from now?
Not surprising at all, they are pretty crap cars and Toyota is over rated too! Was it the wide body series?
No, it was a company car and the model before that. Those were common failings. It was replaced by a wide body Camry that didn’t do anything wrong, but not a whole lot right either!
wide bodied? That’s a low, low blow.
Hey peter! One of us is gonna have to change our name. Your comments are far too sensible, I must be dragging your rep down. I’ll become “Pete” and pretend I have friends who call me that…
hung low you are obviously a wise man so go and buy a corolla. The Golf also recently rated in the top five Euro NCAP safety rankings, and it was Wheels Car of the Year against some much more expensive opposition. Try that in your Corolla. I agree on the price almost worth going to the 103TDI when you have to option the comfort pack not much more in price.
just out of sheer morbid interest i checked out the “new 2010 Corolla” (just been launched, not that anyone cares)
it still uses a 4 spd conventional automatic (!!!)
Golf has the choice of a 2nd generation 6 spd DSG – this gearbox is easily the same standard as Audi (of course) BMW, Mercedes… I think they have a 7 spd ‘manumatic’ in the petrol ones too.
The Corolla is not in the same century as the Golf.
And yet the Corolla has a six speed manual compared to the five speed manual in this…
Had to throw that in there.
Hey SteveH, There are 6speed manual options for higher end golfs but there are no 5 or 6 speed auto for Corolla. Damn little pre-historic cars that the Corollas are
That’s because this model is a diesel.
Golfs have LOTS of issues, God help you its no longer under warranty when it goes AWOL
Of course C/A would never know that in jusr 1 week of driving around Port mELB.
Ask workshops, read blogs, google golf have BIG and VERY expensive *issues*
Yes, and having been in production since 1974, they must be complete dogs, especially with VW being number two in the world and all.
What’s a man to do? Buy a Toyota? (In joke, okay?)
hahaha and who is number one!
i think you’d be pretty brave to keep a DSG twincharged Golf for much longer after warranty… the DSG is a sealed unit
i admit this wouldn’t be my choice for a car you’d keep for 5-7-10 yrs
but who does that these days anyway?
it’d be nice while it’s under warranty though
For roughly the same price as this car you can buy a Mazda 3 Diesel with class leading torque and sat nav as standard. I know what I would personally choose.
And with a bit more room, great dynamics and well known reliability.
The Mazda3 diesel would be my choice.
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HA HA! Good man, you just saw the reversing camera in action. The camera is concealed behind the badge and the badge hinges automatically to allow the camera to have a peek. If it was driving along, that’s a different story.
Doctor, you do know the function of the back door badge, don’t you?
Timing belt or chain? If it’s still the same 50,000km timing belt in the previous model, forget it.
Golf Timinig belts are 120,000ks.
There isn’t a previous model 1.6 TDI to compare to eitehr.
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Ta-DAH!!
Yeah, and the Miele fridge is made in China at the same factory as a Westinghouse, so you are paying an extra $1000 for a handle and a badge to make people think its got something special under the skin, but it doesnt!
Yeah, it’s true Miele don’t build their own fridges. They are actually built by Liebherr (the same company who produces cranes and earthmoving equipment) in Austria. I have both Miele and Liebherr products at home and it’s nice not having to throw out appliances every couple years like I used to.
I may be getting off course here but I cannot stand ignorance. You buy a Miele for quality engineering and the most extraordinary after sales service I’ve come across. We’ve had one problem with the appliance and despite the problem being caused by us (whoops) Miele still repaired it even though it was a long time out of warranty. If only auto makers could respect their customers as much…
I think you will find the prices quoted a pre-duty reduction.
Take 1000-1500 of those prices so that the cheapest Golf now starts under 25K.
I have to agree with Snatch. Firstly I too am aware of quality problems with the Falcon drvetrain as I own one and my dealer is resistant to say the least.
When it was in last time they gave me a second hand (low km) corolla for a courtesy car. It was rubbish. I have since test driven the new Golf with the intention of getting rid of my problematic falcon and have come away stunned at how good it is to drive for a short wheelbase car. I will be trading up.
Yes it is now cheaper.
I’ve had my golf since Jan 2005 – 2.0 TDI with DSG. While there have been some problems with it, dealer support and some patience have seen them resolved. Sure there might be some relaibility issues but show me a car that doesn’t have some negative feedabck. And people who complain do so more loudly than those who are satisfied. Would I get another Golf?…yes. Just waiting see how good teh new Polo is when it gets here bewfore i decide.
**SCOOP**
At least a HONEST open-eye owner who admits to the the constant issues of golf problems and issues, and NOT a one eyed fanboy who is living in denial…
Well done John for being honest and speaking the TRUTH!
Of course you can buy Japanes and have a bug-free vehicle 99/100 times…
You’ve eaten so much of the “Japanese Reliability” pie your stomach is protruding past your eyes and blocking your vision of current and past problems with Japanese cars. Recall the Mitsubishi fiasco, some or their directors are still in jail for covering up vehicle faults. Now it’s Toyota who is “very sorry”, and we won’t mention the ultra reliable history of Nissan Patrol 3.0 diesel engine blowups.
Japanese bug free 99/100 – no way nellie.
How many Toyotas have now been recalled in the last 12 months.. is it 8,000,000 yet? Very reliable cars aren’t they?
Is this part of the global recall of over 1/4 million Volkswagen cars due to suspension failures?
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THIS was my research – people on here seem to think that they know it all.
The Golf, like many other GOOD euro models, give the consumer choice. Not all consumers out there want to purchase a car on the advice from people who don’t have the chivalry to admire good design/engineering innovation and to just advice people to buy something which is slightly more reliable than something which is safer, more comfortable, more efficient and nicer to drive.
Yes the Mazda3 is the closest car from the east to bettering the Golf on good design, however if all east brands were that close to the Golf’s design then I would say that the Golf’s price and reliability is questionable, but apart from the 3 nearly all the others are still playing catchup to the Golf in respect to design and engineering innovation.
Very good car if you after fuel economy but here is the latest news VOLKSWAGEN has revealed the first all-electric version of its global top-seller, the Golf, which previews the zero-emissions drive system and plug-in lithium-ion battery technology that will power a range of new small cars from 2013. A hybrid Jetta will follow in 2012, powered by the hybrid drive system revealed in VW’s Coupe Concept at the Detroit motor show in January, while Golf and Passat hybrids will go on sale in Europe in 2013. VW says the five-door, five-seat Golf EV weighs 1545kg – 205kg more than a comparable Golf BlueMotion TDI with DSG transmission. Performance claims include 0-100km/h acceleration in 11.8 seconds and a top speed that is limited to 140km/h in the interests retaining battery charge.