| For 2010, Volkswagen's compact hatchback changes | | | | common rail direct injection, which pumps fuel directly |
| its name from Rabbit to Golf, and a turbodiesel engine | | | | into the combustion chambers at extremely high |
| rejoins the lineup for the first time since 2006. | | | | pressure. The exhaust manifold incorporates an |
| The Golf's standard engine is the same 2.5-liter inline | | | | integral variable-geometry turbocharger, designed to |
| five as last year's Rabbit. It has an aluminum head, an | | | | minimize turbo lag. The results are 140 horsepower |
| iron block, chain-driven dual overhead cams, and | | | | and an impressive 236 lb-ft of torque. |
| variable valve timing. Since 2008, it has been rated at | | | | The TDI is not as powerful as the 2.5-liter gasoline |
| 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. | | | | engine, but it has much stronger mid-range |
| The 2.5-liter engine gives the Golf reasonable | | | | performance and superior fuel economy. With EPA |
| performance, comparable to the big four-cylinder | | | | estimates of 30/41 with manual transmission, 30/42 |
| engines in competitors like the Mazda3. The inline five | | | | with the DSG automatic, the TDI is actually thriftier than |
| has a peculiar engine note, but in the new Golf, it is well | | | | some smaller, gasoline-powered cars, like the Honda |
| suppressed. Fuel economy is average for the class; | | | | Fit and Scion xD. |
| EPA ratings are 22/30 with manual transmission, 23/30 | | | | While the diesel emits fewer greenhouse gases, it |
| with automatic. | | | | releases higher levels of smog-producing emissions. A |
| The new Golf TDI uses the four-cylinder, 2.0-liter | | | | particulate-trap filter and oxidization catalyst allow the |
| turbodiesel added to the Jetta line last year. The | | | | TDI to meet EPA Bin 4 and California ULEV II |
| 2.0-liter diesel is a 16-valve, DOHC engine, with an iron | | | | standards, but its EPA Air Pollution score is only 7, |
| block and an aluminum head. It uses Volkswagen's | | | | compared to 9.5 for the 2.5-liter gasoline engine. |