Volkswagen Golf FSi

Auto Express – April 17, 2002

Another Volkswagen Golf has joined the club! The eco-friendly 1.6-litre petrol model is the greenest and most frugal of the line-up to use unleaded. But does the newcomer score a hole in one, or is there still a 'fairway' to go? We got behind the wheel of one of the first German examples to find out...

a new badge hits the Golf

The initial thing you notice is that the FSi, which stands for Fuel Stratified Injection and has a similar direct-injection system to VW's excellent TDi diesel engines, is that it feels lethargic when compared to the standard 1.6-litre Golf. The 109bhp unit, identical to the one in the Audi A2 FSi, feels less at home in the VW's bulkier body, taking two seconds longer to hit 60mph from rest, in 11.8 seconds. A top speed of 121mph is impressive for the size of powerplant, but getting there is a chore. The engine's optimum output arrives at 5,800rpm, yet it's rough and noisy at anything above 3,500rpm.

The car feels more refined if you change gear early – which will also maximise the Fuses fuel economy (an impressive 45mpg) – but is lifeless and unresponsive at low engine speeds.

However, the FSI's major benefits are in the company car park rather than the golf club one. CO2 emissions are expected to be below 150g/km, which means this VW will slot into the lowest tax band quite easily. And given the current Golf's popularity among executives, this version could prove a hit when it arrives in Britain next year.

But next to the 1.9 TDi – the engine of choice for many Golf buyers – the FSi offers little advantage. VW says that by 2005 all its petrol powerplants will use FSi technology. In this model, the company's first attempt is below par, and later units will have to make sure it doesn't end up in the rough.

All Volkswagen Group communications and photos reproduced with permission of Volkswagen UK