2010 VW Golf TDI starts at $21,990, rated at 29/40 mpg city/hwy - or maybe 30/42?
2010 Volkswagen Golf - Click above for high-res image gallery
For 2010, Volkswagen is again discarding the Rabbit badge in favor of the Golf name used in the rest of the world's markets, and they will begin arriving in the U.S. in the coming weeks, beginning with the GTI. The standard Golf will again be available with diesel power, the same 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine that arrived last year in the Jetta TDI. Although they aren't linked to from the main VW site, new GTI and Golf websites are now live and include TDI information, specs and pricing.
The base 2-door, 2.5-liter gas-powered Golf starts at $17,490 and the 4-door at $19,190. Like the Jetta, the TDI models come with a higher level of equipment and therefore start at $21,990 and $22,590 with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The new GTI, meanwhile, starts at $23,290.
What's interesting are the fuel economy numbers for the TDI. The Volkswagen website lists both the manual and DSG versions of the new Golf TDI as 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. However, a quick check of the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov site shows that the Golf TDI rates even better at 30 mpg city and 42 highway. Similarly, the EPA also lists the 2010 Jetta TDI with DSG at the same level of improvement over the 2009 model's 29/40. Assuming the EPA numbers are correct, VW must have done some recalibration work on the DSG model. Thanks to Jay for the tip!
Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Golf
[Source: Volkswagen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lucien 10:41AM (8/24/2009)
So you pay $4500 extra for the diesel version (with some base upgrades) which still doesn't get similar mileage to hybrids and in city driving even 40%+ less than a hybrid (and more compared to Prius).
So why pay that much extra money for a small compact diesel? It's time German manufacturers stop touting their diesel how 'clean' they are (with diesel rust particles) and admit they just don't have hybrids ready yet. It will be more interesting to see next year's Touareg Hybrid.
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Seth 11:02AM (8/24/2009)
Not exactly.
You only pay $4500 'more' for a TDI-with-options golf over a regular gas golf. It is possible to get a TDI cheaper than a loaded golf it depends on how you spec it.
Now to compare to a hybrid, spec an insight or prius at the same level as a TDI (since we are comparing lowest common denominator) and see what your cost difference is for the vehicle sale.
That is before you start to discuss annual fuel cost which may or may not be important to you. The difference between 34mpg mixed (d) and 50mpg (h) [EPA mixed values] is, at 15000 miles a year, 100 gallons/y or about 8 extra fill ups, or about $233/y.
Now you can talk apples to apples when you say 'that much extra money'.
KK 11:03AM (8/24/2009)
There are many other cars that cost as much as the Prius (or more) and get worse fuel economy. Obviously fuel economy is not the only factor that car buyers care about.
Michael Hippenhammer 11:53AM (8/24/2009)
You can't tow with a hybrid. My TDI Beetle is my little pick-up with my utility trailer and camp trailer. I dare you to try the same thing in a hybrid that I do with my diesel.
Snowdog 10:54AM (8/24/2009)
Anyone find Canadian Prices. Going by this and some info I read elsewhere. I suspect the TDI golf will be starting around $25K in Canada. Which drops it off my list.
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daj1701e 11:27AM (8/24/2009)
As stated in the recent review of the Ford Fusion hybrid - Hybrid's do not perform as efficiently in cold weather climates, so the TDI would actually be much more comparable, if not much better than hybrids, in those environments.
Also, for those that drive mostly on highways, TDI engines could be more efficient as well. Personally, living with both of those factors in the Northeast, I would easily purchase a TDI over a hybrid and get much more benefit from it.
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Sam 2:16PM (8/24/2009)
Consumer reports Rated the Rabbit (GOLF) as one of the overall most cost effective vehicles to drive. That was with the 2.5 liter gas engine. Now with this TDI, the GOLF can finally claim the top spot.
SnowDog, initial prices for the TDI in Canada are rumored to start at 22,000.
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Snowdog 4:19PM (8/24/2009)
From what I read, on the Golf you can only get TDI on a 4 door Comfortline, which puts you at $23K before you even add the TDI, so I figure $25K.
Ian 2:41PM (8/24/2009)
Only 3 days ago this column reported that Mazda's 2.0L gasoline engine was being upgraded to produce 32/42 mpg. So why pay a premium for the same mileage by a diesel?
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Bill 3:06PM (8/24/2009)
And nobody here believed that press release.
Lucien 2:39PM (8/24/2009)
I'm just saying if you're willing to spend that much extra for the diesel version to get better FE (with 30 less HP than cheaper base) then I argue you may as well buy a (larger) more fuel-efficient hybrid or a non-diesel small car . Economically it doesn't make sense (instead you love the design perhaps or some other reason).
The Golf TDI *starts* at $21,900 and not sure that will give you a 4 door with automatic. A lot of money for a very small compact (smaller than almost all hybrids).
The Jetta Wagon TDI makes more sense to me. At least it has a lot more space to offer and pricing is almost same. But it isn't that cheap either.
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KK 3:36PM (8/24/2009)
Again, the diesel engine is not a $4500 extra. If you look at the Jetta specs, the TDI is better equipped than the SE trim level, so it's less than $2400 premium for the diesel engine. And while it has less horsepower, it has a lot more torque, so it's overly simplistic to say you're giving up power and money just for better fuel efficiency.
Also, not everyone thinks a larger size is an advantage. I myself chose a Honda Fit over a Prius because I felt the Prius was larger than I needed.
Snowdog 4:22PM (8/24/2009)
It makes little difference to me how much of that $4500 is TDI and how much is other options, if I am forced to take all the other options as the only way to get a TDI, it raises the entry point by $4500.
KK 5:15PM (8/24/2009)
"... if I am forced to take all the other options as the only way to get a TDI, it raises the entry point by $4500."
Fair enough. But by the same reasoning, for me the price premium of the Hybrid Synergy Drive is over $6000 - because I'd be forced to accept a larger 5-door body, rather than the Yaris/Fit sized body which is perfectly adequate for me.
Lucien 3:48PM (8/24/2009)
How could the Golf TDI be the top cost efficient vehicle? A Corolla for instance costs 6-7K less with only 10% less FE:
Corolla combined: 30mpg
Jetta diesel combined: 34mpg
But looking at VW site I do see now you get a few more options with the diesel so perhaps difference is only 3K. But none of the options are really that expensive on most other cars like Insight/Prius (and if not already included in base).
The Mazda article has a typo since they say 43mpg (US) but then they say it's 15% more efficient than previous model. If you do add up 15% you end up with 38mpg which is still pretty close to the Golf diesel. The city rating will definitely go up with their start/stop system.
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Sam 4:44PM (8/24/2009)
How could the Golf TDI be the top cost efficient vehicle? A Corolla for instance costs 6-7K less with only 10% less FE
Because when you take into account the cost of a vehicle you need to include all costs, including initial price, Depreciation, fuel economy, maintenance, and insurance. When you take into account how CLOSE the race was with the GASOLINE engine and then consider the diesel equipped vehicles retain close to 40% better Resale value than their gasoline counterparts, the extra 2-3000 you spend to spend to purchase the vehicle is more than recouped. Plus add the extra "real world" fuel economy, and the fact that diesel is up to 20% cheaper than gasoline ( at the moment) and you have a recipe for a very economical premium vehicle.
Matt Peckham 4:15PM (8/24/2009)
Why does it get such (in my opinion) lame mileage. This thing should be more like 35/48.
It's like the only diesels they sell over here offer only minor improvements in economy, thereby continuing the "why buy diesel" debate that the American Car Industry seems to be perpetuating.
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Throwback 4:20PM (8/24/2009)
TDIs usually exceed their EPA numbers. For example, a co-worker saw 46 mpg in her manual Jetta TDI during a recent road trip.
Snowdog 4:32PM (8/24/2009)
"TDIs usually exceed their EPA numbers"
So do gas cars on the highway, where TDI fans like to quote:
At Consumer Reports which does more real world type testing:
Jetta TDI got: 47mpg highway.
Honda Civic got: 43mpg highway.
You can get a cheaper, more reliable civic and still get over 40 mpg highway. In fact that means the Civic gas engine is just as efficient (if not more efficient) than the TDI on the highway, because the diesel fuel has 15% more energy, but it isn't getting 15% more mpg.
wincros 5:39PM (8/24/2009)
I think Snowdog is confused. I own a current model Civic and 43mpg is not realistic. I did a lot of research and my memory of CR's mileage was in the low 30s which is realistic. That 43 may be for the Civic Hybrid. Road and Track got 32 for the Civic and 42 for the Hybrid version. My best mileage on a two lane road in the desert was 36 mpg at a steady 70 mph. Just what the EPA says. Mileage in the city has never been as good as the EPA figures.