Current Leon / VAG Petrol Engine efficiency.

[tjdixon911]

I'm looking to replace my Leon SC FR 2.0TDi with possibly another Leon ST FR

Looking at nearly new models, the majority are now petrol either 1.4 (125bhp/150bhp), 1.5 Evo (130bhp) or 1.8 (180bhp).

Anyone running one of these engines, if so how efficient are they? I am currently doing c. 350miles a week and getting 50-60mpg out of the diesel (dual carriage way mostly)

I've not bought the same car back to back before but the Leon seems to offer much better VFM than the Octavia/Golf equivalents.

[xjay1337]

Economy is very dependant on driver styles etc.

Best bet is to see if you can get one from a dealer for a day as a test drive, or worst case, hire one.

[rory]

I’m picking up a 1.5 FR Sport tomorrow. I think it’ll need a few miles to loosen up though.

There are some crazy deals out there currently e.g. stock un-optioned cars for £17.5k.

[tjdixon911]

rory said:

I’m picking up a 1.5 FR Sport tomorrow. I think it’ll need a few miles to loosen up though.

There are some crazy deals out there currently e.g. stock un-optioned cars for £17.5k.

Yeah, I have seen some of those, even un-optioned they are fairly well spec'd from what I can see - my local dealer has one but they are asking £18.5k.

[g7jhp]

Looking across total length of ownership including depreciation I'd expect the petrol Golf GTI Mk7 or Octavia VRS Mk3 to be as cheap to own.

[Fast and Spurious]

tjdixon911 said:

I'm looking to replace my Leon SC FR 2.0TDi with possibly another Leon ST FR

Looking at nearly new models, the majority are now petrol either 1.4 (125bhp/150bhp), 1.5 Evo (130bhp) or 1.8 (180bhp).

Anyone running one of these engines, if so how efficient are they? I am currently doing c. 350miles a week and getting 50-60mpg out of the diesel (dual carriage way mostly)

I've not bought the same car back to back before but the Leon seems to offer much better VFM than the Octavia/Golf equivalents.

Hi there, I have an Ibiza with the 1.5 EVO engine, 150bhp. I've done 6,000 miles now so its getting run in, averaged 46mpg. If I'm careful I can get over 50mpg. Most miles done commuting which is a mix of motorway, dual carriageway and urban. Run on Tesco momentum 99 octane...which is still cheaper than diesel. Its a great engine, would NEVER go back to diesel.

[tjdixon911]

g7jhp said:

Looking across total length of ownership including depreciation I'd expect the petrol Golf GTI Mk7 or Octavia VRS Mk3 to be as cheap to own.

Don't tempt me with comments like this, my heart tells me a GTI is the way to go, my head says a semi sensible sized estate (I can fill my boot too easily in the hatchback and spill onto the rear seats) I have a toy in the garage so don't need a hot hatch as a daily (it would be too easy not to get the toy out then)

I feel I have done well with my Leon, paid £17k (nearly new) and being offered £6+k trade after 80k / 4.5years - is a golf / VRS going to do better with an initial price of c. £25k. I work on building sites so am loathed to plough too much into a car for that reason...

[tjdixon911]

Fast and Spurious said:

Hi there, I have an Ibiza with the 1.5 EVO engine, 150bhp. I've done 6,000 miles now so its getting run in, averaged 46mpg. If I'm careful I can get over 50mpg. Most miles done commuting which is a mix of motorway, dual carriageway and urban. Run on Tesco momentum 99 octane...which is still cheaper than diesel. Its a great engine, would NEVER go back to diesel.

That sounds fairly reasonable, with the price difference of current petrol/diesel costs (subject to change) I guess the pence/mile wouldn't be much difference at all...

[missing the VR6]

I've worked for Volkswagen Group for 9 years and have generally averaged 20-25,000 miles per annum. 1.4/1.5 150ps TSI DSG driven sensibly does very about the same as a 2.0 150ps DSG driven hard 40-45MPG. I've just done the run from my GF's in Crawley to Ashford all Motorway, cruise control at 85 and 55 in average speed sections, show'd 41MPG, in 2.0TDI would be about 50.

With regards you mostly being on motorways and dual carriage ways it's the TSI's lack of torque compared with the 2.0TDI which is very frustrating. They're so lethargic in comparison.

[AI1694]

I’ve driven the 1.4 TFSI COD 150ps on a number of occasions and have to say it’s a brilliant engine. Adequate torque and power for daily driving needs and the economy is also very good. Would be the pick of the bunch for me.

[va1o]

1.4 TFSI COD seems to behave very differently depending on the application. I loved it in a Manual Leon as it felt very nippy and responsive. But in a Q3 S-Tronic recently it felt very lethargic and was less economical than my TT 2.0 TFSI.

Probably best to take if for a decent length test drive and see what you think! The new 1.5 hasn't been getting amazing reviews and isn't really an improvement from the 1.4, it's more just a WLTP box ticking exercise.

[fatboy b]

We have a 1.4 tsi 150 in our Golf. The car has been a pile of poo, but the engine is really quite good. Its efficiency drops substantially on the motorway as the gearing is aimed at A-roads, but the o/h gets high 40’s low 50’s mpg.

[rory]

My wife’s just driven the Leon 1.5 back from
Ashford to Reading and it had 19 miles on the clock when we set off. It was fairly slow going but she got 47.7mpg, I was following in my Superb 2.0 TDi 150 which has 48k on the clock and got 60.5mpg.

[tjdixon911]

Test drove a 1.5 130ps today, compared to my current diesel it just seemed lacking in power/torque... It wasn't bad but I felt mine drove better, maybe just needs a bit of getting used to. That said it was too samey, think I will look towards something else.

[xjay1337]

tjdixon911 said:

Test drove a 1.5 130ps today, compared to my current diesel it just seemed lacking in power/torque... It wasn't bad but I felt mine drove better, maybe just needs a bit of getting used to. That said it was too samey, think I will look towards something else.

Not sure if it's your bag but most of the TSI engines can be remapped and made quite a bit more pokey.
Run with 99 octane fuel if you do. (should really do anyway).

[Tomo1971]

Had a few on hire from Greenmotion over the last 6 months, Leon FR Estate DGS 7 Speed.

On the commute to work (48 mile), A road and M1, the fuel computer was showing anything between 45 to 55, speed dependant.

Great engine, its one I would leave diesel for when my wifes car needs changed.

[tjdixon911]

Tomo1971 said:

Had a few on hire from Greenmotion over the last 6 months, Leon FR Estate DGS 7 Speed.

On the commute to work (48 mile), A road and M1, the fuel computer was showing anything between 45 to 55, speed dependant.

Great engine, its one I would leave diesel for when my wifes car needs changed.

Is that a particular engine?

[damianmkv]

I had a mk7 GTD manual and averaged 45.7mpg over 73k / 4 years

I got a 7.5 GTi PP dsg at the end of march this year and have averaged 36mpg over 14k so far. If you're pootling in traffic on the motorway, stick it in eco and you'll get 45+ ( of course I'd get 60+ in the GTd )

On short journeys, the GTD would still do 50mpg quite easily but the GTi gets half that. If you fill up with normal unleaded ( which I doubt many do with a GTi but.. ) then on 18k pa, the GTi will cost you £430 more in fuel per year than the GTD. or £35 per month

Ok, I get 10mpg less now but the GTi is so much more fun to drive. It's worth £1.20 a day extra in fuel

Edited by damianmkv on Sunday 9th December 08:14

[Sheepshanks]

tjdixon911 said:

Test drove a 1.5 130ps today, compared to my current diesel it just seemed lacking in power/torque... It wasn't bad but I felt mine drove better, maybe just needs a bit of getting used to. That said it was too samey, think I will look towards something else.

It’s the torque that you feel - that petrol will be massively down on where your diesel is.

[Fast and Spurious]

tjdixon911 said:

Test drove a 1.5 130ps today, compared to my current diesel it just seemed lacking in power/torque... It wasn't bad but I felt mine drove better, maybe just needs a bit of getting used to. That said it was too samey, think I will look towards something else.

What????!!! When I read 1.5 130ps in your first post I thought it was a typo, but had WLTP really reduced this engine from 150ps to 130ps? That's rubbish if so. In 150ps form in the lighter Ibiza its a cracker.