Volkswagen’s Great Canadian Clean Diesel Tour: Halifax to Montreal
In a daring move, Volkswagen Canada is crossing the country – from Halifax to Vancouver – in diesel vehicles that can go the distance on only six tanks of fuel.
The TDI engine-powered cars selected to participate in the Volkswagen Great Canadian Clean Diesel Tour include the Volkswagen Beetle, Golf Wagon, Jetta, Passat, and the massive Touareg.
After a short flight from Montreal to Halifax last Sunday, the Volkswagen TDI motorcade got in gear early Monday morning for a two-day, 1,200-kilometre trip from Halifax to Montreal. Each two-person team had to drive each of the five vehicles made available for the excursion.
Monday
On a gloomy Monday, we travelled some 645 kilometres from the splendid Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia to Edmundston, New Brunswick.
The first car used was a Golf Wagon.
The main points of interest included:
- Cable Wharf in the Port of Halifax;
- Theodore Tugboat in the Port of Halifax;
- The Magnetic Hill Winery, where we were treated to a gourmet meal.
After this stop, we took a superb winding back road through the multicoloured forests of New Brunswick, which helped me rediscover Volkwagen’s dynamic performance.
The main points of interest included:
- Mr. Tomato (Ice Cream Parlor);
- Grand Falls;
- a small black bear that crossed our path;
- a huge deer in the middle of the road.
Tuesday
We set out in the rain. To make it to Montreal, we had to travel a little more than 585 kilometres, but not without stopping off in Quebec City on the way.
On this wet day, we drove a Volkswagen Passat, a Touareg and a Beetle.
The main points of interest included:
- The Auberge du Lièvre;
- The Bombardier factory in La Pocatière;
- Quebec City’s Écolobus;
- Paillard restaurant on Saint-Jean Street in Quebec City.
Now, let’s talk a little more about the cars.
Golf Wagon TDI
The Golf Wagon features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that delivers 140 horsepower and an excellent 236 lbs-ft of torque.
This same engine also equips the Volkswagen Beetle, Jetta and Passat – all of which come with a highly efficient six-speed automatic gearbox.
The soundproofing in the Golf’s open-concept passenger compartment was a pleasant surprise. This car is a real delight to drive, thanks to its ultra precise steering, comfortable suspension and responsive braking.
It was fitted with Continental 225/45R17 tires.
Jetta TDI
The car in front of us was travelling at 110 km/hr, and we thoroughly enjoyed following it on this sinuous road. The experience helped me learn more about the Jetta’s cornering performance, which is both impressive and safe.
The Jetta TDI’s suspension seems a bit firmer than the Golf Wagon’s. I noticed that the brake pedal was a touch spongy at low speeds, but it got back to normal as we picked up the pace.
Note that it was raining heavily during this part of the trip.
Passat TDI
Meet the group’s mid-size sedan. My co-pilot and I both took a turn driving this car.
We were shocked to discover that the soundproofing wasn’t up to par around the fenders. Fortunately, however, it wasn’t at all noisy, probably thanks to the Hankook 235/45R18 tires.
With seats for up to five passengers, it was the roomiest vehicle in the pack.
Limited to the North American market, the Passat TDI is built in Chattanooga, U.S.A. – but its handling is very reassuring nonetheless.
Touareg TDI
This is the exception that proves the rule. While all the other members of the Volkswagen family featured the four-cylinder turbodiesel, the Touareg was entrusted to a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine.
This is the same vehicle that the folks from Volkswagen used to pick us up at the Halifax Airport. Claustrophobes beware: the backseat of this beast is no place for three passengers, which is rather puzzling for this type of vehicle.
Once again, we shared the driving duties for this not-as-big-as-it-seems vehicle.
On board, the seats are quite high, both in front and in back, and the driver’s space is hampered by the excessively wide central console. Jean-Charles was disappointed by the lifeless braking.
The Touareg was fitted with Continental 275/45R20 tires.
Beetle TDI
Going from the Volkswagen Touareg to the Beetle is like going from one extreme to the other.
With its 2+2 configuration, the little Beetle has the least elbow room, storage space and cargo capacity in the group.
On the other hand, while its handling may be firmer, it is just as pleasant to drive as the others. Despite its aerodynamic design, it isn’t a particularly quiet car.
We are the champions!
Before beginning this exercise, we had no inkling that that we were actually in competition with the other teams and that we’d have to report our average fuel consumption after driving these five cars more than 1,200 kilometres. Once we made it home, we got the good news: The Car Guide’s very own Jean-Charles Lajeunesse and I had won!
Our average fuel consumption was 6.0 L/100 km after travelling all those kilometres between 110 and 115 km/hr.
This is proof positive that, turbodiesel Volkswagens can be every bit as fuel efficient as hybrid cars – and they often cost a lot less!
