Those are very good numbers. My 2011 Golf TDI with 6 speed routinely gets 55 mpg on highway trips. Best is 58 mpg. But its more than fuel economy. The car is a blast to drive and is nicely finished, especially the cabin.
Just bought a 2015 Golf TDI with 6 sp manual. It truly is capable of high mpg with quick upshifts and feathering the pedal. But as someone said, the equivalent TSI Golf is still efficient and likely makes more economic sense. But the TDI is just a lot of fun!
I have a 2013 golf tdi and I get 46mpg at 74 mph with the ac on. For me that is the perfect speed. Not slow but not so fast milage drops. I have the DSG the manual would even do better. Can't wait to see the full economy with these new TDI engines once they are broken in (about 30k miles) thanks for the great review as always!
In my 2014 tdi, I average 43mpg 50/50 city/hwy. last trip I took, it had 200 miles on it and I avg 51 the entire trip, and got 724miles out of a tank. I now have 18k miles and average 45-47
Hey MPGoMatic, couple of tips from a fellow TDI owner (2 of them now!) KermaTDI tunes are to die for imo! They're fast, reliable, and upped my 2015 TDI (6speed) by about 12% plus the drivability improved quite a bit! Also get so NMF ionic friction reducer and you'll want to fall asleep while you drive because its so damn smooth haha
It looks like you got off 46 at Valley Rd! I grew up nearby that exit. Even though I haven't lived there in 15 years it looks the same. Great test, btw.
In order to meet EPA Emissions standards, I m supposed to Trade my VW Golf with a 12 gallons tank and a 860 Miles Range for a used Dodge Ram heavy duty Truck with a 360 Miles Range from its 38 Gallons Tank ??? . Screw the EPA , I m keeping my GOLF !!!
My Mazda2 ... errh, Toyota iA ... is "tuned" for mileage (just 106 hp from 1.5L with GDI vs. 130 hp for the Fit with GDI) and easily gets 42-47 mpg on freeway trips, not counting the warmup (warmup cycle seriously degrades average gas mileage). That's 42-47 mpg AVG average not instantaneous. Technology has gotten really good!
When I was in driving school almost two years ago I mostly drove the Golf VI 1.6 TDI Blue Motion with a 5-speed manual, 105 hp and 184 ft lb of torque. Normally driving in the city and on country roads I averaged 4,4 l/100 km (58.8 mpg). However, we had to do one lesson trying to get as good MPG as possible. I managed to get as low as 3,5 l/100 km (78.4 mpg). But honestly, at some points I was really causing other drivers to get mad at me :)
Nice numbers, fe1138lix! Manual turbo diesels are a blast to drive ... I nailed a 50 MPG highway run in Slambo yesterday. Pumped the tires up, kept it under 60 MPH for the most part and in the slow lane. Did it mid-morning, when traffic was fairly light. It was interesting to watch the traffic fly by in the fast lane, often with another slow-goer tailing behind me.
MPGomatic Yeah, As I've said the other drivers weren't too happy with my driving style of never exceeding 50 mph even thought 62 mph were allowed on some parts
fe1138lix I never hold up other drivers by driving slower than the speed limit on a single lane road. On multi-lane roads, I'll roll a bit slower in the slow lane at times ... that's what it's there for ... =)
I love diesels and the Golf TDI is my favorite. This will be my next daily driver car even if the differential in gas and diesel remains. I've managed 43.1 MPG out of my 2012 Elantra on an all-highway run averaging 65 MPH. That is 3 MPG better than the original highway rating and 5 MPG better than the new 'corrected' rating. That being said, I got 43.1 MPG INTENDING to get good mileage and playing the game a bit. For just driving the way most people do, a 250 mile run down I-5 still got me 38.2 MPG so I think the corrected rating is spot-on.
Jordan Worley I have managed 40+ MPG on several occasions, claimed by the computer AND backed up by my calculations with the computer being only 0.2 to 0.5 off. I'm not 'retarded' as you so eloquently put it and am fully capable of simple division. In seriousness, have your dealer check the rear brake calipers. Mine seized up for reasons the dealer could not explain and were replaced under warranty. Before that repair, my highway mileage was right about where yours is.
LOL I'm all too familiar with I-287. This is all home turf to me Dan! Even better, if I could have one car, it would be a Golf TDI. Instant classic video.
Thanks, ecoRfan! The Golf TDI is a winner in my book, too. =) The drive up I-287 isn't bad outside of rush hour. I avoid driving it during peak times ...
In my 6MT mk7 TDI the best I ever got was 63mpg on a 70km trip, but it was absolute perfect warm up and highway conditions for it. Normally I get around 44mpg mixed city hwy. The furthest I ever got was 972km on the 50L of fuel. Today I was doing a 20km drive through the city and had a regen in there and I was getting 18.9mpg. They're not great city cars.
I know it’s not Golf related, but, I saw that interstate sign for Mahwah and instantly, “Johnny 99” popped into my head. Great review on the Golf TDI though.
does anyone knows the real world mpg for cruising at 80 mph? Most high mileage videos are at "low" highway speed which I could get 20+ mpg on my f150, but only get 16 mpg at 80mph cruise.
Totally agree! 65 MPH is so stupid. You are more prone to distraction at that speed. I live in Utah and the speeds are 80-85, and everyone does 85-90. We've had a huge decrease in accidents and accidents relating to distraction. And how about a real acceleration test, not a skimpy 3 second one!
Gotta figure the TSI equipped cars won’t last as long because of the propensity for the owner to beat it more often than a Diesel engine equipped car...I drive a 2011 focus to and from work, I put between 25-27,000 miles on a year commuting to work. I’m considering the golf TDI as my next vehicle. Can anyone attest to the reliability? I don’t give a Frenchman’s f*ck about the emissions. I want to know if they are reliable. Could someone who takes meticulous care of a vehicle get 250-300k miles on this engine?
The new 2015 TDI engine is awesome no doubt and the price point has also come down based on a comparable 2014 TDI. However it still costs around $2500 more than a similarly equipped TSI 1.8T gas engine which should get around 38 mpg in a similar test. Here is some math calculations between TSI and TDI. Let's assume you can average 50mpg with the TDI and drive 15K miles/year. Current national average for Diesel is $3.89 15000/50 = 300 gal 300 x 3.89= $1167 (your yearly gas cost) Let's assume you can average 32mpg with the TSI and drive 15K miles/year. Current national average for regular is $2.69 15000/32 = 468.75 gal 468.75 x 2.69 = $1260 (your yearly gas cost) $1260-1167 = $94 (your yearly fuel savings over the TSI) I realize that gas and diesel prices change constantly and that this gas vs diesel difference could narrow and make your yearly savings greater. But even so it would take you at least 7-8 years to make up the $2500 premium of the TDI. TheTDI makes way more sense in other countries where diesel is actually less than gasoline but in the US unless diesel drops significantly it becomes harder to justify.
I have been using this argument forever! It's so true! I even presented it to my local Volkswagen dealer. the response was.. "It only favors people who commute 20,000+ miles a year, and the TDI hold resale value higher than other models" Even still, diesel is not as readily available where I live. (maybe 2 out of 20 stations carry diesel).. It's just not worth it.
Drewwberry It's the tax structure of diesel in the US along with the refining process, although it varies between states (NJ taxes diesel a lot higher than DE for example). I think diesel is the best technology for efficient compact cars, but the fuel prices tend to favor hybrids.
Jiten gori You are counting on fuel not going back up though...Its not something I would bet on too much on. When diesel was 4.09 and RUL was 3.50+, the diesel was the way to go. Diesel seems to rarely spike, RUG is always all over the board based on the latest political issues
To clear up the confusion about the Dieselgate scandal and US emissions standards, it has to do entirely with particulate matter and not global warming. The diesel actually has much lower carbon content, but much higher particulate matter. This means that in European cities the smog content is worse with the many diesels, but carbon emissions are regulated much lower. Obviously this car is an excellent performer with its MPG and power combination the way it sips fuel climbing the hill at speed, but that comes at the cost of particulate matter.
The energy in the fuel comes from burning carbon and hydrogen. Diesel has a higher carbon content. The hydrocarbon strings are longer than in gas (therefore it burns slower too).
I recently learned in a college class that gasoline has a higher carbon content, but diesel has much more particulate matter. The European Union signed a deal with European automakers in 1998 to cut carbon emissions by 25% by the year 2008. Unfortunately, that meant much more smog in the densest-populated areas.
you need to compare that from mpg from full to empty i posted a video on the same subject with 2015 tsi golf i was averaging 18 mpgs a gallon from full to empty ... the fuel consumption meter is no accurate
Riccardo C I just watched your videos. It's a bummer that you're falling far short of the EPA numbers! It's frustrating, I know. The trick with a turbocharged engine is to stay out of the boost as much as possible. Whenever you're in the boost, you're pumping a LOT more gas into the engine. That's the way it's designed. The best way to learn how to stay out of the boost is to use the built-in Instant MPG/Fuel Consumption display in your VW. The next time you fill up, turn on the display and keep an eye on it as you drive. You will learn when to back off on the throttle. Small changes to driving style can yield significant benefits.
+Riccardo C HOW do you know the gas station is accurate? There was a story in L.A. about station operators bribing government inspectors to certify pumps only giving 0.95 gallon instead of a full gallon (i.e. not accurate) .
Does it really matter to turn of the cruise control when going down hill? When I go down hill in my car with the cruise control set, the current consumption drops to zero as well. I am not sure if all cruise control are programmed like that though.
I am not sure about some cars but the ones I have driven in cruise control tend to keep the throttle slightly more open than when I would otherwise just have my foot off of the gas pedal. I think the cruise does that just to " be ready" in case it needs to give it more fuel. That slight cruise throttle can take a small chunk out of the indicated MPG from what I can tell.
Zeal S Thanks for your reaction man, I guess it depends on the settings of the manufacturer. I thought all cruise controls disable the throttle when going down hill, but that is apparently not the case.
I would get almost the same numbers in my gasoline Mitsubishi Mirage. For a diesel, I think this is disappointing. Also VW can do better, search for VW XL1 with 235 mpg. Yes two hundred and thirty five. However, it was a limited sale prototype that cost you more than it would ever save you in fuel cost....
You need to throw-away some MPG techniques when driving diesels. For example the "wide open throttle" is ineffective because diesel engines are always WOT in state. The air intake is wide-open all the time. Pushing the diesel pedal to the floor just wastes fuel (engine transitions from lean burn to rich burn) .
Great conditions for the test. However, the computer is not at all accurate in calculating MPGs and should be done by hand. It doesn't hurt to post the numbers the computer spits at you, but in the end, they are not accurate.
+maverickjoe03 While built-in MPG meters are more or less accurate these days - sometimes more, sometimes less - they're much better than in the past. I always do tank fill calculations when possible. That said, variations introduced *at the pump* can outweigh inaccuracies in the electronic calculations. I've tracked every fill in my project car (aka SLAMBO) over the past year or so via Fuelly.com and have seen some big jumps/losses due to fill variation.
+MPGomatic I will certainly be the first to admit that the pump can have variations, but those variations are not as large as the one calculated by the car. If you say that you've tracked every fill in your project, then show the calculated MPG as well as the one shown by the car. In my experience, modern MPG meters vary as much as 2-3MPG compared to what the pump says. Also, Fuelly is susceptible to errors as much as MPG meters. Garbage in, garbage out.
+maverickjoe03 I'm not calculating with an in-car meter on this project. Only with tank fills. That data - gallons pumped and miles traveled - is plugged into Fuelly. That's a simple calculation. I've seen +1 gallon variations *at the pump* depending on the ('99 Civic HX) project car's angle at the time of fill. If the car is not level (tail high) more gas flows into the tank. It's wild.
+MPGomatic Yeah, that data - gallons pumped and miles traveled can used to calculate MPGs as you have said, which is a good number to report. What gas station do you go to that in not level? Maybe it is more of an east coast thing...
I find the "Calculate" MPG to be inaccurate. I hear people saying that they are getting 50 or more MPH, but have yet to see it from anyone. By that I mean..... If you have driven 500 miles, 10 gallons of gas will fill up your tank as 10 x 50 = 500. Although the my current TDI calculates a rate of fuel consumption at 47 mpg, In reality, I'm seeing more like 38 MPG per fill up on average. The most I have ever seen is 49MPG, driving down hill, out of the mountains, from Colorado in my old and sold 2011 Golf TDI.
Has anyone here tested to see how accurate the car's computer is at calculating the MPG? Also, were you using AC? If you weren't, do you know how much your MPG would be affected if you drove with it on?
Tony CJ No A/C. Outside temps were in the high 40s to mid 50s. I would expect an A/C hit in the summer, as with any vehicle, but IDK how much. Best place to check for the A/C hit and CPU/fill discrepencies is the TDIClub forums.
Part of the problem is the additional state and federal taxes levied on diesel fuel, pedrof830. Diesel passenger car drivers are unfairly taxed. :/ It's taxation without representation ... www.mpgomatic.com/2013/09/21/u-s-diesel-policy-taxation-without-representation/
MPGomatic They should differentiate between car diesel use and that used for trucks.The truckers can always pass on the cost to others, car owners cannot.
Bob Xziang Manual calculations are only dependable if you can do them over a long term with extremely precise filling procedures. That’s not possible during a one-week manufacturers test fleet vehicle. The filling process introduces a number of variations. FL tests at altitude, as well. Your Mileage Will Always Vary. 😁
Had an 04 VW Passat diesel for a year and got rid of it for two reasons. One is that it wasn't much fun to drive. It was torquey and handled surprising well it was just slow. Number two is that the heat SUCKED. If it was 25 degrees or so driving around town or anywhere under interstate speeds the engine would not fully heat up. Actually if you were cruising at about 50 it would go back to being cold and I'd have to downshift to keep the revs up and the heat working.
You are an idiot. Replace the damn thermostat. It should never go down once the temp reaches the middle. You probably sold it for dirt cheap too I'm assuming. The only thing that causes the temp to go down when driving is a thermostat stuck open.....
First off I'm not an idiot. Second of all do your research on the car before running your mouth. I was far from the only one that complained about the heat or lack there of in those cars. That model Passat diesel was only around for the 2nd half of 2004 and 2005. It had a 2.0 liter diesel unlike all the other VW diesels that had a 1.9 liter. Maybe the 1.9 liters have better heat, never had one. When I sold it in 09 the I sold it for what private party value was and it was damn near mint with only 20k miles. Guy actually flew here from a couple states away and drove it home.
black98rt I have done my research, and know VW's very well. From early MK1 VW's 1974 to 2005 VW used a poor quality of foam that sealed the blend doors from outside air (when you had the heat on). The foam deteriorated rather quickly and didn't seal properly allowing cold air in, more so when the vehicle was moving hence the air getting colder when moving, and warmer when sitting still. VW wouldn't change the layout of the under dash just because the motor changed... Hell they used the same control arms, and rear axle beams for over 30 years.
Those are very good numbers. My 2011 Golf TDI with 6 speed routinely gets 55 mpg on highway trips. Best is 58 mpg. But its more than fuel economy. The car is a blast to drive and is nicely finished, especially the cabin.
Just bought a 2015 Golf TDI with 6 sp manual. It truly is capable of high mpg with quick upshifts and feathering the pedal. But as someone said, the equivalent TSI Golf is still efficient and likely makes more economic sense. But the TDI is just a lot of fun!
I have a 2013 golf tdi and I get 46mpg at 74 mph with the ac on. For me that is the perfect speed. Not slow but not so fast milage drops. I have the DSG the manual would even do better. Can't wait to see the full economy with these new TDI engines once they are broken in (about 30k miles) thanks for the great review as always!
I bought an se 6 speed in Tornado red. Awesome little car.
"Oh wow! A tent sale!" Had my cracking up, thanks for the video!
In my 2014 tdi, I average 43mpg 50/50 city/hwy. last trip I took, it had 200 miles on it and I avg 51 the entire trip, and got 724miles out of a tank. I now have 18k miles and average 45-47
Hey MPGoMatic, couple of tips from a fellow TDI owner (2 of them now!) KermaTDI tunes are to die for imo! They're fast, reliable, and upped my 2015 TDI (6speed) by about 12% plus the drivability improved quite a bit!
Also get so NMF ionic friction reducer and you'll want to fall asleep while you drive because its so damn smooth haha
It looks like you got off 46 at Valley Rd! I grew up nearby that exit. Even though I haven't lived there in 15 years it looks the same. Great test, btw.
Thx redcarsarasota, Indeed I did! =)
In order to meet EPA Emissions standards, I m supposed to Trade my VW Golf with a 12 gallons tank and a 860 Miles Range for a used Dodge Ram heavy duty Truck with a 360 Miles Range from its 38 Gallons Tank ???
.
Screw the EPA , I m keeping my GOLF !!!
niceguy60 move to Kansas they don't care about emissions
Probably lobbyists from the oil monopoly.
California... Screw California.
My Mazda2 ... errh, Toyota iA ... is "tuned" for mileage (just 106 hp from 1.5L with GDI vs. 130 hp for the Fit with GDI) and easily gets 42-47 mpg on freeway trips, not counting the warmup (warmup cycle seriously degrades average gas mileage). That's 42-47 mpg AVG average not instantaneous. Technology has gotten really good!
When I was in driving school almost two years ago I mostly drove the Golf VI 1.6 TDI Blue Motion with a 5-speed manual, 105 hp and 184 ft lb of torque. Normally driving in the city and on country roads I averaged 4,4 l/100 km (58.8 mpg). However, we had to do one lesson trying to get as good MPG as possible. I managed to get as low as 3,5 l/100 km (78.4 mpg). But honestly, at some points I was really causing other drivers to get mad at me :)
Nice numbers, fe1138lix! Manual turbo diesels are a blast to drive ...
I nailed a 50 MPG highway run in Slambo yesterday. Pumped the tires up, kept it under 60 MPH for the most part and in the slow lane. Did it mid-morning, when traffic was fairly light. It was interesting to watch the traffic fly by in the fast lane, often with another slow-goer tailing behind me.
MPGomatic Yeah, As I've said the other drivers weren't too happy with my driving style of never exceeding 50 mph even thought 62 mph were allowed on some parts
fe1138lix I never hold up other drivers by driving slower than the speed limit on a single lane road. On multi-lane roads, I'll roll a bit slower in the slow lane at times ... that's what it's there for ... =)
4.4 l / 100 km = 53.5 mpg
3.5 l / 100 km = 67.2 mpg
lfsracer79 Yeah, seems like I converted my numbers to UK gallons not to Us gallons. Thanks! :)
I love diesels and the Golf TDI is my favorite. This will be my next daily driver car even if the differential in gas and diesel remains. I've managed 43.1 MPG out of my 2012 Elantra on an all-highway run averaging 65 MPH. That is 3 MPG better than the original highway rating and 5 MPG better than the new 'corrected' rating. That being said, I got 43.1 MPG INTENDING to get good mileage and playing the game a bit. For just driving the way most people do, a 250 mile run down I-5 still got me 38.2 MPG so I think the corrected rating is spot-on.
Jordan Worley I have managed 40+ MPG on several occasions, claimed by the computer AND backed up by my calculations with the computer being only 0.2 to 0.5 off. I'm not 'retarded' as you so eloquently put it and am fully capable of simple division. In seriousness, have your dealer check the rear brake calipers. Mine seized up for reasons the dealer could not explain and were replaced under warranty. Before that repair, my highway mileage was right about where yours is.
Dan, nice to see you back. Please stick with this instead of the other show.
Many thanks, juschill7! I'm aiming to do both. And a bunch more!
LOL I'm all too familiar with I-287. This is all home turf to me Dan! Even better, if I could have one car, it would be a Golf TDI. Instant classic video.
Thanks, ecoRfan! The Golf TDI is a winner in my book, too. =)
The drive up I-287 isn't bad outside of rush hour. I avoid driving it during peak times ...
In my 6MT mk7 TDI the best I ever got was 63mpg on a 70km trip, but it was absolute perfect warm up and highway conditions for it. Normally I get around 44mpg mixed city hwy. The furthest I ever got was 972km on the 50L of fuel. Today I was doing a 20km drive through the city and had a regen in there and I was getting 18.9mpg. They're not great city cars.
I know it’s not Golf related, but, I saw that interstate sign for Mahwah and instantly, “Johnny 99” popped into my head. Great review on the Golf TDI though.
Thanks for the kind words, Bill! The old Ford plant is long gone. Did you catch the E-Street Band on SNL last night?
54.3 MPG combined for both. LOL but diesels are tremendous with their fuel consumption. I for one love diesel motors. sound good to me.
does anyone knows the real world mpg for cruising at 80 mph? Most high mileage videos are at "low" highway speed which I could get 20+ mpg on my f150, but only get 16 mpg at 80mph cruise.
Thanks buddy
Totally agree! 65 MPH is so stupid. You are more prone to distraction at that speed. I live in Utah and the speeds are 80-85, and everyone does 85-90. We've had a huge decrease in accidents and accidents relating to distraction. And how about a real acceleration test, not a skimpy 3 second one!
Trace Estes exactly
Gotta figure the TSI equipped cars won’t last as long because of the propensity for the owner to beat it more often than a Diesel engine equipped car...I drive a 2011 focus to and from work, I put between 25-27,000 miles on a year commuting to work. I’m considering the golf TDI as my next vehicle. Can anyone attest to the reliability? I don’t give a Frenchman’s f*ck about the emissions. I want to know if they are reliable. Could someone who takes meticulous care of a vehicle get 250-300k miles on this engine?
The new 2015 TDI engine is awesome no doubt and the price point has also come down based on a comparable 2014 TDI. However it still costs around $2500 more than a similarly equipped TSI 1.8T gas engine which should get around 38 mpg in a similar test. Here is some math calculations between TSI and TDI.
Let's assume you can average 50mpg with the TDI and drive 15K miles/year. Current national average for Diesel is $3.89
15000/50 = 300 gal
300 x 3.89= $1167 (your yearly gas cost)
Let's assume you can average 32mpg with the TSI and drive 15K miles/year. Current national average for regular is $2.69
15000/32 = 468.75 gal
468.75 x 2.69 = $1260 (your yearly gas cost)
$1260-1167 = $94 (your yearly fuel savings over the TSI)
I realize that gas and diesel prices change constantly and that this gas vs diesel difference could narrow and make your yearly savings greater. But even so it would take you at least 7-8 years to make up the $2500 premium of the TDI. TheTDI makes way more sense in other countries where diesel is actually less than gasoline but in the US unless diesel drops significantly it becomes harder to justify.
I have been using this argument forever! It's so true! I even presented it to my local Volkswagen dealer. the response was.. "It only favors people who commute 20,000+ miles a year, and the TDI hold resale value higher than other models" Even still, diesel is not as readily available where I live. (maybe 2 out of 20 stations carry diesel).. It's just not worth it.
Drewwberry It's the tax structure of diesel in the US along with the refining process, although it varies between states (NJ taxes diesel a lot higher than DE for example). I think diesel is the best technology for efficient compact cars, but the fuel prices tend to favor hybrids.
Jiten gori You are counting on fuel not going back up though...Its not something I would bet on too much on. When diesel was 4.09 and RUL was 3.50+, the diesel was the way to go. Diesel seems to rarely spike, RUG is always all over the board based on the latest political issues
Imagine NOT buying the TDI version in 2015
How does this compare to the last generation model with the non-urea tank diesel engine?
Do the same test with the 6 speed manual. Thanks
Ive got this engine in my 2014 audi a3 here in the uk its a good little engine
To clear up the confusion about the Dieselgate scandal and US emissions standards, it has to do entirely with particulate matter and not global warming. The diesel actually has much lower carbon content, but much higher particulate matter. This means that in European cities the smog content is worse with the many diesels, but carbon emissions are regulated much lower. Obviously this car is an excellent performer with its MPG and power combination the way it sips fuel climbing the hill at speed, but that comes at the cost of particulate matter.
The energy in the fuel comes from burning carbon and hydrogen. Diesel has a higher carbon content. The hydrocarbon strings are longer than in gas (therefore it burns slower too).
I recently learned in a college class that gasoline has a higher carbon content, but diesel has much more particulate matter. The European Union signed a deal with European automakers in 1998 to cut carbon emissions by 25% by the year 2008. Unfortunately, that meant much more smog in the densest-populated areas.
you need to compare that from mpg from full to empty i posted a video on the same subject with 2015 tsi golf i was averaging 18 mpgs a gallon from full to empty ... the fuel consumption meter is no accurate
There's always variation. How far off was the gauge in your car?
Exremely far off ho to my videos label vw fuel lie
Riccardo C I just watched your videos. It's a bummer that you're falling far short of the EPA numbers! It's frustrating, I know.
The trick with a turbocharged engine is to stay out of the boost as much as possible. Whenever you're in the boost, you're pumping a LOT more gas into the engine. That's the way it's designed.
The best way to learn how to stay out of the boost is to use the built-in Instant MPG/Fuel Consumption display in your VW. The next time you fill up, turn on the display and keep an eye on it as you drive. You will learn when to back off on the throttle. Small changes to driving style can yield significant benefits.
+Riccardo C HOW do you know the gas station is accurate? There was a story in L.A. about station operators bribing government inspectors to certify pumps only giving 0.95 gallon instead of a full gallon (i.e. not accurate)
.
Here is a tip for you, if you want to get even better MPGs don't use cruise control.
How can you reset the mpg ??
Where was this filmed? 48 in October?
The Garden State!
Does it really matter to turn of the cruise control when going down hill? When I go down hill in my car with the cruise control set, the current consumption drops to zero as well. I am not sure if all cruise control are programmed like that though.
I am not sure about some cars but the ones I have driven in cruise control tend to keep the throttle slightly more open than when I would otherwise just have my foot off of the gas pedal. I think the cruise does that just to " be ready" in case it needs to give it more fuel. That slight cruise throttle can take a small chunk out of the indicated MPG from what I can tell.
Zeal S
Thanks for your reaction man, I guess it depends on the settings of the manufacturer. I thought all cruise controls disable the throttle when going down hill, but that is apparently not the case.
Zeal S The cruise control in my Civic Hybrid (manual shift) will throttle-off completely
.
electrictroy2010
That's good to know.
I would get almost the same numbers in my gasoline Mitsubishi Mirage. For a diesel, I think this is disappointing. Also VW can do better, search for VW XL1 with 235 mpg. Yes two hundred and thirty five. However, it was a limited sale prototype that cost you more than it would ever save you in fuel cost....
Yes, but nobody could afford it and if it was to be manufactured in a way where you could stand driving it, it would get say 50 mpg.
Would love to see a sequel to this AFTER the car was reprogrammed following Dieselgate.
You need to throw-away some MPG techniques when driving diesels. For example the "wide open throttle" is ineffective because diesel engines are always WOT in state. The air intake is wide-open all the time. Pushing the diesel pedal to the floor just wastes fuel (engine transitions from lean burn to rich burn)
.
Good to know 👍
Great conditions for the test. However, the computer is not at all accurate in calculating MPGs and should be done by hand. It doesn't hurt to post the numbers the computer spits at you, but in the end, they are not accurate.
+maverickjoe03 While built-in MPG meters are more or less accurate these days - sometimes more, sometimes less - they're much better than in the past. I always do tank fill calculations when possible. That said, variations introduced *at the pump* can outweigh inaccuracies in the electronic calculations. I've tracked every fill in my project car (aka SLAMBO) over the past year or so via Fuelly.com and have seen some big jumps/losses due to fill variation.
+MPGomatic I will certainly be the first to admit that the pump can have variations, but those variations are not as large as the one calculated by the car. If you say that you've tracked every fill in your project, then show the calculated MPG as well as the one shown by the car. In my experience, modern MPG meters vary as much as 2-3MPG compared to what the pump says. Also, Fuelly is susceptible to errors as much as MPG meters. Garbage in, garbage out.
+maverickjoe03 I'm not calculating with an in-car meter on this project. Only with tank fills. That data - gallons pumped and miles traveled - is plugged into Fuelly. That's a simple calculation.
I've seen +1 gallon variations *at the pump* depending on the ('99 Civic HX) project car's angle at the time of fill. If the car is not level (tail high) more gas flows into the tank. It's wild.
+MPGomatic Yeah, that data - gallons pumped and miles traveled can used to calculate MPGs as you have said, which is a good number to report. What gas station do you go to that in not level? Maybe it is more of an east coast thing...
maverickjoe03 All it takes is one tire off the concrete pad onto the asphalt.
I find the "Calculate" MPG to be inaccurate. I hear people saying that they are getting 50 or more MPH, but have yet to see it from anyone. By that I mean..... If you have driven 500 miles, 10 gallons of gas will fill up your tank as 10 x 50 = 500. Although the my current TDI calculates a rate of fuel consumption at 47 mpg, In reality, I'm seeing more like 38 MPG per fill up on average.
The most I have ever seen is 49MPG, driving down hill, out of the mountains, from Colorado in my old and sold 2011 Golf TDI.
+Roberto Viana Check Fuelly.com?
They are inaccurate. I own a Golf 5 1.9 tdi and I can drive for 1100 kilometers with less than 55 liters of diesel.
Has anyone here tested to see how accurate the car's computer is at calculating the MPG?
Also, were you using AC? If you weren't, do you know how much your MPG would be affected if you drove with it on?
Tony CJ No A/C. Outside temps were in the high 40s to mid 50s. I would expect an A/C hit in the summer, as with any vehicle, but IDK how much. Best place to check for the A/C hit and CPU/fill discrepencies is the TDIClub forums.
Great vid! Thanks :-)
I have a 2014 kia rio sx 5 and i want to sell it.
I want the new TDI GOLF SEL
Wow, that is amazing mileage, it's just too bad that diesel fuel is now on par or above premium gas as far as cost is concerned,
kma198199 You can also factor in the higher resale value of the TDI's vs the petrol Golf.
Part of the problem is the additional state and federal taxes levied on diesel fuel, pedrof830. Diesel passenger car drivers are unfairly taxed. :/ It's taxation without representation ... www.mpgomatic.com/2013/09/21/u-s-diesel-policy-taxation-without-representation/
MPGomatic
They should differentiate between car diesel use and that used for trucks.The truckers can always pass on the cost to others, car owners cannot.
In Toronto Diesel is usually cheaper in the summer time mostly because diesel is mostly used to heat homes during the winter
*****
It's not VW's fault that their cars cheated during dyno testing, HA HA HA
Old video I know but come on when ever you do a mpg test do it via manual calculatiins to please. (Check out fast lane truck for example)
Bob Xziang Manual calculations are only dependable if you can do them over a long term with extremely precise filling procedures. That’s not possible during a one-week manufacturers test fleet vehicle. The filling process introduces a number of variations. FL tests at altitude, as well. Your Mileage Will Always Vary. 😁
That's a pretty decent compact car.
Hah, you drove by my VW dealership!
what dash cam are you using? go pro? looks awesome
hernluis1 - Thx! I used a Panasonic V720 for this one. It's a (small!) conventional camcorder.
Had an 04 VW Passat diesel for a year and got rid of it for two reasons. One is that it wasn't much fun to drive. It was torquey and handled surprising well it was just slow. Number two is that the heat SUCKED. If it was 25 degrees or so driving around town or anywhere under interstate speeds the engine would not fully heat up. Actually if you were cruising at about 50 it would go back to being cold and I'd have to downshift to keep the revs up and the heat working.
You are an idiot. Replace the damn thermostat. It should never go down once the temp reaches the middle. You probably sold it for dirt cheap too I'm assuming. The only thing that causes the temp to go down when driving is a thermostat stuck open.....
First off I'm not an idiot. Second of all do your research on the car before running your mouth. I was far from the only one that complained about the heat or lack there of in those cars. That model Passat diesel was only around for the 2nd half of 2004 and 2005. It had a 2.0 liter diesel unlike all the other VW diesels that had a 1.9 liter. Maybe the 1.9 liters have better heat, never had one. When I sold it in 09 the I sold it for what private party value was and it was damn near mint with only 20k miles. Guy actually flew here from a couple states away and drove it home.
black98rt I have done my research, and know VW's very well. From early MK1 VW's 1974 to 2005 VW used a poor quality of foam that sealed the blend doors from outside air (when you had the heat on). The foam deteriorated rather quickly and didn't seal properly allowing cold air in, more so when the vehicle was moving hence the air getting colder when moving, and warmer when sitting still. VW wouldn't change the layout of the under dash just because the motor changed... Hell they used the same control arms, and rear axle beams for over 30 years.
Dang it was in the 60s my car is lucky to get 23mpg >.
Where I live diesel costs 50 cents more per gallon.
And these numbers mean nothing now thanks to Dieselgate.
65 MPH is way too slow.
nice and QUIET!