Volkswagen Golf named best small family green car
Summary
The Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion has been named the greenest small car in the UK ahead of the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra.
The Golf Bluemotion, the eco-friendly diesel version of the popular hatchback, was named Best Small Family Car by the What Car? Green Car of the Year judges.
What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: "The Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion shows that it is still possible to be green by simply improving the technology that is already proven and available at the moment.
"The Golf offers a seamless driving experience that is hard to differentiate from a regular diesel Golf. It also has loads of luxury and safety features."
The Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion uses a 1.6-litre TDI engine developing 105PS. By improving the efficiency of the engine, Volkswagen has increased fuel economy to 74.3mpg and reduced CO2 emissions to a congestion charge-free 99g/km.
The Golf Bluemotion uses start/stop technology, low rolling resistance tyres and battery regeneration when the car brakes to improve its eco-credentials.
Head of Group Environmental Management, Andrew Bannister described the car as 'a best-selling family favourite made even better' after receiving the award.
The Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion costs from £18,845 in the UK where it is up against strong competition from rivals from Ford and Vauxhall.
The Ford Focus Econetic costs less than the Golf Bluemotion at £16,995, but CO2 emissions from the 1.6-litre diesel are 109g/km - enough for zero first year road tax but £30 in subsequent years.
Meanwhile, the Vauxhall Astra Ecoflex model costs £18,000 and delivers 99g/km of CO2 emissions in both three- and five-door versions. The Vauxhall model also offers a choice of 110PS and 130PS 1.7-litre diesel engines, both of which are sub-100g/km.
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