I will be ordering a company car (my first one) for my new job and have decided on a Superb estate as I really enjoyed it when test driving (drove the 2.0 TDI 190 then as that was what the dealer had available). Now the question is which engine to choose. I am considering the 1.4 TSI ACT (150 hp), the 2.0 TDI (150 hp) or the 1.6 TDI Greenline (120 hp). Performance is not important to me as long as it is adequate for my needs, as I more enjoy drive safely, comfortably and economically. I will be choosing a manual gearbox regardless of which engine I end up going for as I do enjoy that part of driving. My two main criteria are comfort and fuel economy.

 

Usage will be mainly long motorway journeys at 110-120 kph (maybe 30,000 km/year, not sure yet) with only me + maybe 50-100 kg of luggage load in the car. It will also need to handle my wife and upcoming child but I have no worries there for the Superb :-) I will be paying for the fuel I use privately but the company pays for fuel used on work trips and everything else related to the car.

 

So, which engine of the three would you go for if you were me?

 

Also, is there a difference in comfort between the 2.0 TDI and the 1.6 TDI Greenline? The latter does have lower suspension, is the ride too harsh or does road noise get more intrusive? Lastly, how much of a difference do the optional acoustic windows make in terms of noise reduction? Are they a worthwhile option?

 

Thanks in advance!

Edited 28 November, 20178 yr by jmorrill

"Real world" MPG figures reported on the web are 49.9mpg for the 1.4 ACT TSI and 53.9mpg for the 2.0 TDI 150 diesel. There is no real world figure for the 1.6 TDI on the Honest John site. The two diesel "official" consumption figures are pretty similar, but with significantly more torque, the 2.0 TDI will be the easier one to drive.

 

If the real world figures are about right, this means that over 30000 miles a year, the annual difference between petrol and diesel is about 45 litre of fuel. Compare that with the difference in price, if any, of the cars/BIK etc.

If you are ordering, then there is a chance the petrol might be changed to the 1.5tsi   same power output, but with variable geometry which gives better torque.   It appears the 1.4tsi is gradually being changed through the range

 

The 1.8 tsi is also available in Sweden (but cannot comment as its not available in UK)

 

I would probably avoid the low power diesel, there isn't going to be much difference in fuel consumption at a constant speed, but you will need to work the gears more (and be gentle on the accelerator) to show any significant fuel saving.   Remember the official test is at +25c (not an everyday temperature in Sweden).  For short journeys in the cold, diesel will not be efficient.   Also if you are in wrong gear going up a hill, the 1.6 may actually work harder (be at higher rpm)  and use more fuel.     As the DSG box has extra gear it is likely to save fuel, as will be in a better ratio some of the time, but if you like changing gear manually that is your choice.

 

I do not know the relative prices of fuel in Sweden, but as the post above says real world difference is probably only 8%  in fuel consumption,  in the UK you can pay 15% more at some captive fuel stations (eg motorways) than in towns with competition between fuel stations.   So can lose any diesel savings by buying fuel at the wrong location.  

 

 

 

 

There is very little difference in actual performance between the two 150hp (110kw) engines but the petrol engine is far smoother and revs out nicely if you feel inclined.

Neither are a bad choice since you are doing a reasonable annual mileage but if Swedish authorities get on the diesel bashing bandwagon then you may find some places may restrict diesel access t places in the near(?) future.

See if you can get a test drive of a 1.4tsi, even if it is an Octavia then you will get some basis for comparison.

Hmm, if the difference in fuel consumption is that small I'd probably go with the 1.4 TSI since I generally enjoy petrol smoothness more than diesel grunt and the difference in fuel cost would be small (diesel and petrol are priced very similarly in Sweden). I did consider the future political uncertainty of diesel but as I will only be using this car for 3 years I did not think it would be a major issue within that time frame. I will make sure to ask for a test drive of an 1.4 TSI car! There should be a few other dealers near me and one of them may have one available.

 

Regarding the 7-speed DSG, is it like the manual with an "extra" (7th) gear regarding drive ratios? Or are the gears spaced differently (i.e. 6th DSG may not be the same as 6th manual)? From speaking to other car dealers (VW) I got the latter impression. I do enjoy shifting manually but would consider the DSG if it meant noticeable fuel savings (which could also negate the extra cost of the DSG in terms of BiK tax).

Edited 28 November, 20178 yr by jmorrill

So far I have only done one long journey in my Superb 1.4TSI DSG hatchback. I average about 44mpg and benefited from some 50mph restrictions. This is not quite as good as my previous car, a 1.4TFSI S-Tronic Audi A3 saloon (so same engine and gearbox).

 

One reason I went for the petrol is I prefer a petrol turbo and the performance is adequate. I also do not do huge miles. And here in the UK the company car is taxed as a benefit based on emissions and you pay 3% more of the benefit if it's a diesel. So the cheaper, lower emitting petrol 1.4TSI saves me money. If I did more private miles then I might have been better off with the diesel.

7 minutes ago, rtj70 said:

And here in the UK the company car is taxed as a benefit based on emissions and you pay 3% more of the benefit if it's a diesel. 

 

4% after the budget! (EDIT - after April 2018)

Edited 28 November, 20178 yr by bigjohn

I must confess I didn't pay much attention to the budget. But I guessed correctly that diesels will be targeted in the UK for extra taxes etc. when I ordered my petrol Superb. Although it won't apply to cars already on the road surely - that would be unfair.

Edited 28 November, 20178 yr by rtj70

I agree with most of the others; the petrol will be multitudes nicer to drive and still very frugal. There's a 1.4 TSI economy thread somewhere (I'm still looking) but basically they average 45mpg and will do into the 50s on the motorway. They have plenty of low down pull thanks to the turbo and yet will happily rev out to the red line when required (unlike the TDIs). That's compared to low to mid 30s average and into the 40s on a run for my 220ps 2.0 TSI. 

 

I had a 150ps 2.0 TDI DSG Octavia as a courtesy car for a few weeks before my Superb arrived (it was delayed) and although competent it was breathless, noisy and unrefined in comparison to the petrols (I tried both the 1.4 ACT and the 2.0 before ordering the 220). It's better on fuel on a long run, no doubt, but the differences aren't massive at all (1.4 ACT TSI vs 2.0 TDI). I'd personally take the refinement, hushed engine and flexibility but everyone has different tastes and wants. As an aside, although an older generation I did have a mk2 Superb with the 1.9 PD TDI which arguably had more grunt than the newer CR TDIs. It was a Greenline with only 105ps and although it did the job, and was remarkably good on fuel, nice to drive it was not.

I have the 1.4 dsg hatchback, performance is more than adequate and it's so so quiet and smooth. Getting 39.8 to the gallon so far, 800 miles just come up. I do expect a little more mpg as I have been sitting in the drive with the engine running while looking through the settings etc.

I would recommend the DSG whichever engine you go for.

The green line attracts the least tax, bik. 

 

When cruising on the motorway at an indicated 79mph, my Superb at the weekend was very quiet and very comfortable. I am glad I went for the adaptive suspension. It was more comfortable with that in normal than comfort too.

 

The original poster is in Sweden so I can't comment on how or even if the car is taxed as a benefit there.

14 minutes ago, rtj70 said:

When cruising on the motorway at an indicated 79mph, my Superb at the weekend was very quiet and very comfortable. I am glad I went for the adaptive suspension. It was more comfortable with that in normal than comfort too.

 

The original poster is in Sweden so I can't comment on how or even if the car is taxed as a benefit there.

 

As long as you are allowed private use of the company car (which I am) it is a taxable benefit. The tax depends mainly on the list price of the car and there is no factoring in emissions or petrol vs diesel, although some cars such as electrics or plug-in hybrids get a special reduction. (Emissions will be a factor in benefit tax starting July 1st, 2018 and diesels will then be taxed a bit more than petrols IIRC. However, I am getting my car before then so I will not be affected by it this time.)

 

With the engines I am considering for the Superb, the difference in benefit tax is negligible and choosing manual or DSG will have a bigger effect since DSG-equipped cars are a bit more expensive.

Edited 28 November, 20178 yr by jmorrill

17 minutes ago, rtj70 said:

When cruising on the motorway at an indicated 79mph, my Superb at the weekend was very quiet and very comfortable. I am glad I went for the adaptive suspension. It was more comfortable with that in normal than comfort too.

 

The original poster is in Sweden so I can't comment on how or even if the car is taxed as a benefit there.

 

Out of interest (and not 100% OT as the info may help the OP), do you have manual or DSG? Also what kind of revs are you pulling in top gear at 70mph and 80mph? For my 220ps 2.0 TSI it's about 1,900rpm (or less) at 70mph and around 2,100rpm at 80mph. As you can see from the small increase in revs, there's not much in it fuel consumption or comfort wise. I just wonder how differently geared the 1.4 is.

In the UK the benefit is based on list price and emissions. So diesels cost more than the 1.4TSI because they are more expensive and the emissions are higher. I'd have gone for an L&K 2.0 TSI DSG if the emissions did not come into it I think. I really can't recommend the DSG enough - had it on my Audi A3 and now on this. 

 

I would think for you a 1.4TSI DSG is about the same list price as a 2.0TDI manual... or at least close.

 

The 1.4TSI I liked in the Audi and now in the Superb because you can feel the front end is lighter than it would be with a big and heavy diesel engine. And it is so refined.

 

My drive at the weekend was stress free with the car doing most of the steering, acceleration and braking too.

Rainmaker I have the DSG. Not noticed what the revs were to be honest... it's all pretty silent. At times it's running on 2 cylinders as well (As does yours I am sure) and you'd never know.

 

Don't forget the 1.4 has the 7 speed dry clutch DSG and yours will be 6 speed wet clutch. If you ordered now you'd get a 7 speed wet clutch DSG.

5 minutes ago, rtj70 said:

Rainmaker I have the DSG. Not noticed what the revs were to be honest... it's all pretty silent. At times it's running on 2 cylinders as well (As does yours I am sure) and you'd never know.

 

Don't forget the 1.4 has the 7 speed dry clutch DSG and yours will be 6 speed wet clutch. If you ordered now you'd get a 7 speed wet clutch DSG.

 

Nope, no ACT on the 2.0 TSI mate only the 1.4. You're right about the 'boxes, though I haven't tried the 7 speed wet clutch yet. I'm glad you're happy with the 1.4 TSI, I almost ordered it instead of the 2.0 and everyone who has one says they're very happy with it.

If you're nearby we could compare how they are. You say NW and I'm near Manchester. Excellent cars.

22 hours ago, jmorrill said:

Regarding the 7-speed DSG, is it like the manual with an "extra" (7th) gear regarding drive ratios? Or are the gears spaced differently (i.e. 6th DSG may not be the same as 6th manual)? From speaking to other car dealers (VW) I got the latter impression. I do enjoy shifting manually but would consider the DSG if it meant noticeable fuel savings (which could also negate the extra cost of the DSG in terms of BiK tax).

Going by the 1.4tsi Octavia the 7th gear in a DSG box is slightly longer than the 6th (top) gear in a manual. At 70mph the manual is pulling about 2500 rpm and the DSG about 2200 rpm. I don't know how this equates to actual fuel savings at these speeds though, I doubt it is much.

Comparing the official consumption figures on DSG and Manual Octavia the DSG is better of the two, but even VW themselves admit that it is easier to 'game' the test with a DSG because the manual revs, change points and duration are strictly dictated by the test whereas the DSG can do what it wants (is programmed to do) to maintain the necessary speed profile.

IF you like manuals (like me) then you should get one. In Australia manual gearboxes are not even an option on many offerings, and it may happen there too.

I test drived 2.0 diesel and 1.4 tsi act. The 1.4 was better for me. I live in Finlad so lot`s of cold mornings and petrol engine warms up faster, and it is quite quiet. I ordered a few extras like Webasto, warmed windshield etc.

4 hours ago, Alex70 said:

Webasto, warmed windshield

first is "must have"

second creates more problems than advantage

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/395894-what-exact-option-kills-gps-signal-reception-under-windscreen/

 

9 minutes ago, MartiniB said:

first is "must have"

second creates more problems than advantage

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/395894-what-exact-option-kills-gps-signal-reception-under-windscreen/

 

I don`t mind if a GPS signal is weak. For me, my safety is much more important and where I live, we have about 6 months of ice and snow and many days of sub zero rain that freezes as soon as it hits the windscreen. 

There is a lot of love for 1.4 but in Ireland my dealer advised me that they are a wedding ring and could be impossible to get rid of in three years- the only petrol that sells here and only in low numbers is the 280ps. Looking on autotrader it looks like diesel is still in the majority though I see some fresh 1.4’s at very reasonable money

In a few years it will be diesels that are harder to resell in the UK.

6 minutes ago, rtj70 said:

In a few years it will be diesels that are harder to resell in the UK.

I think the opposite

 

At the moment they seem to be hitting the new diesels rather than existing owners of diesel cars so rather than getting penalised on a new one some people may favour second hand, making them a bit more desirable.

 

If your an owner of a euro 5 diesel at the moment and it hasn't had the emissions update it will be very sought after on the second hand market. The 2.0 PD's were rubbish, the emissions update has ruined all the CR engines so the only ones left are the newer Euro 6 diesels or find yourself a mature motor with the 1.9 PD.

 

I'll be ordering my next company car around the end of January. 

 

Currently I'm undecided on the 1.4tsi Superb and the 1.5tsi Karoq. Now that the diesel tax is getting higher and higher and petrol consumption is almost matching diesel, the petrol is now lower tax than the 2.0tdi.

 

Is there any news on when the 1.5 will be coming to the Superb?

Edited 15 December, 20178 yr by CoolC