Towards the end of last year we had the chance to test-drive the new VW Golf TDI in Europe. Our review of the car was nothing but stellar which you can read about here - Mk6 Golf First Drive

Since the review, we also had to part ways with our Project TDI - Goodbye TDI

From our experiences with the diesel-equipped Dubs, we felt a void in our lives after months without driving one. So we pleaded with VWoA to see if we could get another loaner. With the diesel gods on our shoulders, we were given the keys to a ’10 Golf TDI for a week to quench our thirsts.

You might be wondering why we’re crazy about the TDI? If you haven’t driven one yet, then you simply won’t get it. For decades, diesels have possessed the stereotype of being loud and dirty. But believe it or not, diesel has become quieter and cleaner than ever. And its fuel economy is unmatched compared to normal unleaded fuel cars. Plus, diesel-equipped vehicles account for more than 50% of new car sales in Europe. If the Europeans embrace it, shouldn’t we?

Don’t let the 140hp of the 2.0 liter diesel fool you. It’s not slow like a Honda Civic but hauls ass thanks to 236 lb-ft of torque which is available as low as 1700rpm. The four-cylinder features a common rail direction injection, intercooler and six-speed manual or optional DSG automatic transmission. While front-wheel drive, the car has plenty of power to overtake or pass cars on the highway and get itself off the line.

But the hidden treasure behind the car is its fuel economy. Forget wasting time at the pumps because the TDI returns impeccable mileage per gallon. According to VW, the TDI in six-speed manual form should return 30mpg in the city and 41mpg on the highway - with DSG, 30mpg in the city and 44mpg highway. Matched to a 14.5 gallon tank, you can do the math... This car goes longer than the Energizer bunny.

So while we had the Gold TDI for a week, we decided to record our mileage to and from work. Driving from Hollywood to El Segundo, a 16-mile journey, we averaged 42.2mpg. Returning home we recorded 37.7mpg. The following day, we made 43mpg flat on the way to the office while returning home yielded 32.7mpg with more traffic. Impressive figures considering most petrol cars would yield in the 20mpg range. High performance cars like our own Project M3 or SUVs would return less than 20mpg.

The TDI really spreads its legs on longer freeway journeys which we enjoyed to Orange County one day. 42 miles one way, we recorded 48.3mpg and reached our destination in 47 minutes.

Finally, the most staggering number – after driving 450 miles for the week, we still had a quarter-tank of fuel left! Talk about saving time and money at the pump…

The new Golf TDI may not be the sexiest car on the lot but it is very functional and hands-down beats any hybrid car in the looks and power department. And just imagine the car with some wheels and suspension. It’ll look cooler than a factory GTI in no time.

According to VW, the new Golf TDI starts just above $22k, but when you add all the features you can reach $28k really fast. Our test car was priced at $27k with navigation, Sirius radio, heated seats, Bluetooth, etc.

But if you keep the car stripped down, you have an economical powerhouse that won’t disappoint. So if you haven’t driven a TDI yet, get off your butts and head to the nearest dealership. If the Golf isn’t your cup of tea, the TDI also comes in the Jetta, Sportwagen and Touareg.