Volkswagen Kills Its Five-Banger, Revives The 1.8T

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Volkswagen is reviving a historic (or infamous, depending on your perspective) nameplate for the 2014 model year, as it drops the 2.5L 5-cylinder engine. In its place is a 1.8L four-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.

The new 1.8T engine luckily has no relation to the prior 1.8T, which ate coilpacks like Takeru Kobayashi at a Nathan’s buffet. The new 1.8T will be in place on the Passat, Jetta and Beetle, as well as the next-generation Golf when it debuts as a 2015 model.

Also big news for the much maligned Jetta: all versions will get an independent rear-suspension, replacing the much criticized beam axle suspension. The penalty for this is electric power steering. Can’t win ’em all, right?

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Ccd1 Ccd1 on Jul 11, 2013

    The question which immediately came to my mind was what is going to power the redesigned TT-RS??? Reports were that the turbo 5 banger was going to be carried over to the redesigned model

  • Chicagoland Chicagoland on Jul 12, 2013

    "The penalty for this is electric power steering..." Sounds like the same Luddite complaints about anything new in cars. Heard it about EFI, ECM's, breaker-less ignition, radial tires, catalysts, and even remote keyless entry. "why in my day we didn't need no heaters in cars!"

  • GeeKay GeeKay on Jul 12, 2013

    Excuse me, BUT, I have a 2003 1.8T, bought new, and it has never, ever, eaten a single coilpack in 180,000Km. Just sayin'

  • Shalini Shalini on Jan 10, 2014

    I think the electrical power cannot give these types of power in at a time. It can give single hydraulic power only or maximum two.

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