Marked out as the first petrol-powered Golf to be launched under the company’s ‘BlueMotion’ branding, the new model offers official fuel consumption of 4.3l/100km along with 99g/km.

The 115hp 1.0 TSI unit offers 200Nm and brings a top speed of 204kph, with VW saying the downsized 999cc high- three-cylinder unit is as refined as a four-cylinder engine.

The engine is offered with both the standard 6-speed manual gearbox and the optional 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG).

In Germany the Golf TSI BlueMotion is available in two equipment trim levels: Trendline and Comfortline.

The new unit is also being launched in the Golf Estate and Golf Sportsvan. The Golf Estate also consumes 4.3l/100 km; with DSG the figure is 4.5l/100 km. For the Golf Sportsvan, the figures are 4.5 (manual) and 4.6l/100 km (DSG).

The new Golf TSI BlueMotion Trendline is priced at 20,450 euros in Germany and includes standard features such as air conditioning, seven airbags, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, XDS electronic differential lock, start/stop system with brake energy recovery, model-specific rear spoiler in body colour, sport suspension (body is 15 mm lower) and BlueMotion 15-inch "Lyon" wheels.