If you are about to buy a new car in the UK or in Europe, you may consider the Volkswagen Golf. The eighth generation of the Golf seems to be pretty great in terms of design, comfort, and technology. Also, buyers get access to a lot of available powertrain versions including modern hybrid offers.
Today, I will tell you more about the 1.5 eTSI mild hybrid powertrain of the new Volkswagen Golf. I will cover its main features, overall durability, and also some common issues. Although the engine is new, it has already been used in several VAG cars, so I know a lot about its potential issues and downsides.
Here’s what I will cover in this article:
- Main features of the 1.5 TSI mild hybrid version of the new VW Golf.
- The durability of the 1.5 eTSI engine in the Golf.
- What are the most common problems with this engine?
- How can you prolong the life of the powertrain in your hybrid VW?
What do we know about the 1.5 eTSI engine in the Golf?
This is the EA211 generation turbo engine that belongs to the TSI engine. Actually, it’s absolutely the same as in the non-hybrid version of the Golf (1.5 TSI) but it has an additional hybrid pack with an electric motor and a small battery pack.
This is not a plug-in hybrid, so you can’t charge it. Also, the Golf 1.5 eTSI can’t go all-electric. The electric part serves to ensure the efficient use of the start-stop feature and also the improvement of the torque. This is how the mild hybrid engine works. You will not even feel the difference compared to non-hybrid Golf.
Here are some key features of this engine:
- the gasoline engine is the 1.5 TSI engine that offers 150 horsepower and about 250 Nm of torque;
- the electric part consists of the starter generator and also the 48-volt Li-Ion battery pack with limited capacity;
- the gasoline engine will shut off whenever possible like when you release the gas pedal or stop at the traffic light;
- the gas mileage is said to be 10% greater than with the 1.5 TSI non-hybrid version but in reality, it’s almost the same;
- the eTSI engine is only equipped with the 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch) transmission, but the gearbox was updated, so it shouldn’t have all those nasty problems it used to show;
- you should be able to get about 5 liters per 100 km, on average, which is not bad and not too good for a vehicle with hybrid technologies.
Actually, I managed to get even less than 5 liters per 100 km in a non-hybrid Golf powered with a 1.5 TSI engine and manual transmission. The hybrid version is only offered with the DSG transmission and I only hope that Volkswagen learned its lesson about this transmission. I remember the same transmission about a decade ago and it was a disaster!
Overall, the introduction of the hybrid technology for the 1.5 TSI engine looks weird to me. You don’t get much more power or torque and you don’t get almost any fuel economy privilege. But you are made to pay more. Maybe, this is why I don’t see many eTSI Golf cars on the roads these days.
How many miles will the 1.5 eTSI engine last in the Golf?
Well, I don’t see a reason why it should last less than the non-hybrid 1.5 TSI which is about 240,000 kilometers or 150,000 miles. But there are several things you will need to know about hybrid technologies before you choose this car.
First of all, the hybrid battery isn’t going to last that long. After about 150,000 kilometers, the hybrid battery will need replacement. The good thing is that this is not a PHEV car and the battery is not huge, so it won’t cost a fortune. But still, this milestone of 150K km should be considered.
Also, the transmission is not going to last that long. At least, you will need to replace the clutch in it once every 100,000 kilometers or so. If you haven’t yet dealt with DSG transmissions, the word combination “clutch replacement” may sound fine to you. But DSG dual-clutch system costs a fortune and is not that easy to install, so labor will cost another fortune. By the way, here, I have written about the DQ200 transmission in the Kamiq – you may want to have a look.
Whereas you can buy the 1.5 TSI non-hybrid with a manual transmission, the hybrid version is only available with the 7DSG and it affects the overall reliability of the vehicle. Also, it affects your potential maintenance costs significantly.
What may break in your 1.5 eTSI VW Golf engine?
One of the most important things is to know where and how your expensive turbo hybrid engine may throw a surprise and refuse to work properly. I’ve researched the forums in different countries and also spoke to VW dealership workers to gather the stats and I was surprised to know that not so many reports have been made for the 1.5 eTSI engine.
Here’s what you should consider:
1. Carbon buildup is inevitable
The engine is not that new – it was first introduced in 2017 and wasn’t largely updated since then. It means the engine doesn’t have combined direct plus port fuel injection. It only has direct injection and it means that at about 50,000 miles or 80,000 kilometers, the intake valves will be covered in carbon.
The buildup is formed because the fuel doesn’t come through the valves – instead, it’s injected directly into the cylinders. So, at about 50K miles, you will need to visit the garage or the dealership and have the valves cleaned. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be cheap.
2. Timing belt issues
I was lost among the recommendations in different countries. VW says different things about the same engine, so some owners are sure the timing belt will survive 15 years, and some others think it’s 5 years without mileage restriction. But I strongly recommend replacing the cambelt along with the tensioner and the pulley at about 90,000 kilometers or 60,000 miles. If you install an aftermarket belt kit, replace it after 40K miles or 60K kilometers to avoid jumping.
If the belt jumps or breaks, I’m sure the repair cost for this engine will be higher than the price of the remanufactured engine on eBay. Unfortunately, some belt jump occasions were reported.
3. Active Cylinder Management problems
I’m not sure if the ACT is activated in the hybrid version of the 1.5 TSI but if it is, you may get first problems with it even before the warranty period is over. The ACT system in Volkswagen engines is very raw. It may cause internal oil leaks, poorly timed cylinder deactivation, etc. So, the engine may lose power, show bad fuel efficiency, etc. But I couldn’t find any information about the ACT system in the eTSI version, so you need to ask your dealer about this.
4. Turbocharger needs high-level maintenance
As with almost any modern engine, the 1.5 eTSI is very tender and will quickly die with inappropriate oil in it. If you decide to cut your maintenance costs and buy some cheap oil with the wrong viscosity, chances are that your eTSI engine will die within the next year.
The turbocharger with the variable geometry feature is extremely dependent on the oil quality. Once something goes wrong with the oil, it starts overheating and wearing out heavily. So, make sure you maintain the engine in accordance with VW recommendations and even better.
This is true for any TSI engine – even the smallest 1.0 TSI that I’ve described on one of other articles.
5. Uneven work
A lot of owners say that the engine shows the so-called kangaroo effect. When you start driving, it suddenly shakes and almost stalls and then goes OK. Also, the idling speed may be not super smooth.
I wouldn’t say these are serious problems and they are just some factors you should consider. But it’s not cool to buy a pretty expensive Volkswagen and have these unpleasant issues happening to you every other day.
Can you prolong the life of the 1.5 eTSI engine?
Yes, you can prolong the life of this engine by adjusting the maintenance and also your driving style to its needs. The engine is good and reliable but it won’t like irregular oil change and abusive driving.
Here’s what you can do to drive your Golf 1.5 eTSI for longer:
- change oil at least once a year or according to the mileage interval set in your region by Volkswagen;
- buy VW oil and don’t experiment with the viscosity and other important features;
- avoid independent garages – they still don’t know much about the engine and will not provide your Golf with high-quality repairs;
- warm up the engine for about a minute before you start driving in the morning;
- warm up the transmission by putting it in D or R as soon as you start the engine and keeping the brake pedal pressed;
- avoid aggressive driving – you can drive actively, but abusing your engine and revving it up to 5-6K RPM is not a good idea;
- have the vehicle inspected once a year in a dealership to identify possible minor problems and solve them immediately.
To wrap up
Although I’m not a Volkswagen fan, I see the 1.5 eTSI engine as a not-bad try to give buyers a bridge between PHEV and non-hybrid vehicles. Anyway, I can’t imagine a person who buys the 1.5 eTSI, 7DSG version after comparing it with other Golf models available in the dealership. They have a good 1.4 plug-in hybrid option and then there is a non-hybrid 1.5 TSI with an eternal manual transmission.
Even though the 1.5 eTSI engine seems to be good, I just don’t understand its marketing benefits. What do you think about the 1.5 mild-hybrid Golf? Please share your opinion in the comments below.
