Golf Bluemotion has ability to make fellow road users green

AT last, an eco-friendly derivative model that doesn’t look like its been designed to appeal to a beardy crowd of car haters.

For too long car manufacturers have failed to lure their customers into their most green models because of goofy aerodynamic addenda, tiny wheels, and tardy driving dynamics.

Volkswagen guilty of 'green' faux pas

Thankfully, Volkswagen—guilty of the above with its first-generation Polo Bluemotion—have created more appeal with their new Golf Bluemotion.

Sitting 15mm lower than its Golf stablemates and featuring a nicely judged rear spoiler and colour-coded detailing, it looks like a hot hatch range-topper.

Only the aptly named Wellington alloys (shod with chubby, low rolling resistance rubber) let the look down with their diminutive 15 inch diameter.

Small eco premium is welcome

At £18,130 the three-door Bluemotion’s raft of fuel consumption and emission slashing technology adds just £235 to the equivalent Golf S.

Regenerative braking creates electricity to be used by the car’s electrical systems while stop-start technology saves fuel in stop-start traffic.

As a result the 104bhp 1.6-litre TDI engine claims 74.3mpg and 99g/km CO2 emissions, meaning free annual road tax.

Only bona fide eco drivers should expect 74mpg

I achieved closer to 62mpg but, with its 55-litre fuel tank, Volkswagen claim it’s possible to go more than 800 miles between fuel stops.

The Volkswagen Audi Group are kings of the quality interior and the Golf’s soft touch dashboard, crisp design and user friendly lay-out is spot on.

Semi-automatic air conditioning, an excellent touch screen stereo and an endlessly adjustable steering column and seat are among the highlights.

Bluemotion is a surprisingly engaging steer

If eco driving is about maintaining momentum then the sports suspension is probably its most effective weapon. Tight chassis control is afforded by what feel like very short travel springs.

The ride was never crashy or uncomfortable during my test—those plump tyres probably helped take the worst edges off—but the car rode as flat as most focussed hot hatches.

Despite fuel-saving biased long gear ratios, 185lb.ft. of torque helps get the Bluemotion to 62mph in 11.3 seconds and on to 118mph, but it’s brisk rather than quick.

With cruise control, long gearing and slippery aerodynamic aids, a motorway cruise is a relaxed and refined affair.

Genuine gripes were hard to come by

For a begrudging adopter of fuel-efficient driving only the nagging of a gear-shift indicator, which aims to keep the 1.6-litre TDI spinning at an occasionally vibration causing 1,000rpm, caused frustration.

The Golf is an accomplished premium hatchback—that we already knew—but it was a breath of fresh air to find that the Bluemotion version offered a greener slant with no drawbacks for the style-conscious or the keen driver.

Finally, a green car with the ability to get the average car nut green with envy...