Get Driving -> Information on driving safely and efficiently Guide for Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

Always make sure that nothing can interfere

with the pedals.

·

Driving

Always fasten floor mats securely to the floor.

·

Information on driving safely

and efficiently

Never put floor mats or other floor coverings on

top of already installed floor mats.

Always make sure that nothing can fall into the

driver footwell while the vehicle is moving.

·

Pedals

NOTICE

Always make sure that the pedals are able to move

freely and that nothing can interfere with them. If

a brake circuit fails, more brake pedal travel will be

needed to bring the vehicle to a stop. The brake

pedal must be pressed farther and harder than nor-

mal.

Gear recommendation

Fig. 90 In the driver footwell: Pedals in vehicles with

automatic or DSG transmission.

Fig. 92 In the instrument cluster display: Gear recom-

mendation.

Key to fig. 92:

A

B

Current gear.

Fig. 91 In the driver footwell: Pedals in vehicles with

manual transmission.

Recommended gear.

Your vehicle may be equipped with a gear recom-

mendation feature. The gear recommendation dis-

plays a gear in the instrument cluster display that

can help reduce fuel consumption.

Key to fig. 90 and fig. 91:

1

2

3

Accelerator pedal

Brake pedal

For vehicles with an automatic or DSG transmission:

The selector lever must be in the Tiptronic position

→ page 150, Shifting with Tiptronic®.

Clutch pedal

All pedals must always be able to move freely in and

out without interference from floor mats or other

things.

If the optimal gear is already selected, another gear

is not recommended. Only the current gear is dis-

played.

Only use floor mats that leave the pedal area free

and are held securely in place with floor mat fasten-

ers to help prevent sliding.

WARNING

The gear recommendation is only intended to as-

sist the driver to select a gear for optimum fuel

economy. The gear recommendation cannot take

road and traffic conditions into account.

WARNING

Objects in the driver footwell can prevent the ped-

als from moving freely. This can cause loss of vehi-

cle control and increase the risk of serious person-

al injuries.

Information on driving safely and efficiently

133

The driver is responsible for selecting the cor-

rect gear for the current driving conditions, such

as when passing or when driving on hills.

speed. Active braking and accelerating is then not

necessarily required.

·

Use the cruise control when possible to help main-

tain a uniform driving style → page 160, Cruise con-

trol, or → page 162, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

Selecting the optimal gear can help to reduce

fuel consumption.

If possible, coast the vehicle to a stop, for example,

when you can see that the next traffic light is red or

about to turn red.

The gear recommendation display turns off if

you depress the clutch pedal (manual trans-

mission) or move the selector lever out of the Tip-

tronic position (automatic or DSG transmission).

Avoid full throttle acceleration

Driving at higher speeds uses more fuel. The air re-

sistance and the power needed to move the vehicle

increases at high speeds, for example over about

80 mph (130 km/h).

Efficient driving style

Reduce idling

In situations where the vehicle will be stopped for

a longer period of time, such as at a railroad cross-

ing, switch off the engine.

In vehicles with the Start-stop system, the engine

will switch off automatically in many cases

→ page 146, Start-stop system.

Refuel in moderation

A completely full tank raises the weight of the vehi-

cle. A partially-filled tank is plenty, especially in city

traffic.

Avoid traveling short distances

Fig. 93 Fuel consumption in miles per gallon (mpg) at

two different outside air temperatures.

A cold engine uses a lot more fuel right after start-

ing. It takes a few miles (km) before the engine is

warmed up and fuel consumption is stabilized.

Under the same conditions, the vehicle consumes

more fuel in winter than in summer. Therefore, avoid

driving short distances unnecessarily and consoli-

date routes.

“Letting the engine run to warm up” is not only ille-

gal in some places, but also technically not necessa-

ry and wastes fuel.

Perform regular maintenance

Regular maintenance is necessary for fuel-efficient

driving and helps extend the life of the vehicle.

Adjust the tire pressure

The proper tire pressure helps reduce rolling resist-

ance as well as fuel consumption. When purchasing

new tires, always make sure that the tires are opti-

mized for lower rolling resistance.

Fig. 94 Fuel consumption in l/100 km at two different

outside air temperatures.

Drive defensively

Adjust the tire pressure according to the figures on

the tire pressure label → page 276, Tire inflation

pressure.

Frequent braking and acceleration increase fuel con-

sumption significantly. By watching the traffic, you

can help avoid unnecessary braking and accelerat-

ing. If you keep enough distance from the car in

front of you, you can maintain a more constant

134

Driving

Use low viscosity engine oil

— In hot outside temperatures, it may be helpful to

ventilate the vehicle before driving and then to

drive a short distance with the windows open. Af-

ter that, switch on the air conditioner with the

windows closed. Keep the windows closed when

driving at high speeds. Open windows increase

wind resistance and fuel consumption.

Fully “synthetic,” low viscosity engine oils that ex-

pressly comply with Volkswagen oil quality stand-

ards can help reduce fuel consumption. Low viscosi-

ty engine oils reduce the frictional resistance on the

engine and are distributed more evenly and quickly,

particularly when cold-starting the engine. The ef-

fect is particularly apparent in vehicles that fre-

quently travel short distances.

— Switch off electrical loads once they have served

their purpose.

Always ensure the right engine oil level is main-

tained and keep to the scheduled service intervals

(engine oil changes).

WARNING

Always adjust your speed and driving style to visi-

bility, road, traffic, and weather conditions.

Make sure the engine oil that you purchase expressly

complies with Volkswagen oil quality standards and

is the oil approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle.

NOTICE

Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neu-

tral (N), especially when the engine is not running.

The transmission will not be lubricated and will be

damaged.

Avoid unnecessary weight

The lighter the vehicle, the more economical and

eco-friendly it will be. For example, an extra 220 lbs

(100 kg) of weight increases fuel consumption by up

to 1 pint per 60 miles (0.3 l/100 km). Remove unnec-

essary dead weight from the vehicle.

Find out about other ways to protect the envi-

ronment. Think Blue.^®is the international

Volkswagen brand for sustainability and environ-

mental compatibility.

The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the less fuel it

will consume. Remove unnecessary items, such as

roof racks, from the vehicle.

Your Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volks-

wagen Service Facility can provide you with

additional information about correct maintenance

and replacement parts that are particularly fuel effi-

cient, for example new tires.

Use extra electrical loads in moderation

Comfort inside the vehicle is important, but it is also

important to use extra electrical loads, such as the

air conditioner and seat heating, in an environmen-

tally conscious manner.

Under the same conditions, the vehicle con-

sumes more fuel in winter than in summer.

Saving energy can be easy, for example:

Think Blue. Trainer.

Fig. 95 Infotainment system screen: Think Blue. Trainer. (if equipped).

Your vehicle may be equipped with

a Think Blue. Trainer. that analyzes your driving

Information on driving safely and efficiently

135

while the vehicle is moving forward. It then gener-

ates a visual display which can help you to adopt

a more fuel-efficient driving style.

: The speed is not fuel-efficient.

: The driving style is fuel-efficient.

Key to fig. 95:

5

The average fuel consumption is displayed in

the units set by the driver, for example, Av. mpg or

Av. l/100km. The value refers to the distance trav-

eled since the start of the trip. A blue frame

around the display indicates a fuel-efficient and

consistent driving style. A gray frame indicates

a less efficient driving style.

1

The Blue Score is a rating of your driving style

efficiency on a scale of 0 to 100. The higher the

value displayed, the more efficient your driving

style. A blue frame around the display indicates

a fuel-efficient and consistent driving style.

A gray frame indicates a less efficient driving

style.

You can touch the display to show the statistics

for the last 30 minutes of the current trip. If the

current driving time is less than 30 minutes, the

values from the last trip are displayed in gray.

You can touch the display to show the statistics

for the last 30 minutes of the current trip. If the

current driving time is less than 30 minutes, the

values from the last trip are displayed in gray.

Think Blue.

6

Tap the

function key for additional

2

3

The position of the two arcs in the outer ring

shows the acceleration. At a constant speed, the

arcs appear in the central area. The arcs move

up and down during braking and acceleration,

respectively.

tips on saving fuel.

Displaying the Think Blue. Trainer.

When the vehicle is not moving, press the

tainment button followed by the

Info-

, and

Vehicle

,

The white segment in the central ring shows the

current evaluation status. It gradually moves

clockwise about every 5 seconds, creating

a blue segment each time. The blue segments in

the central ring show driving style efficiency.

The larger the blue segment, the more efficient

the driving style during this period.

Think Blue. Trainer.

function keys.

OR: Press the

Infotainment button until the

Think Blue. Trainer. is displayed → page 26, Infotain-

ment system operation and displays.

WARNING

4

Never pay so much attention to the graphics

shown on the screen that you fail to notice what is

going on around you.

Various symbols in the inner ring provide feed-

back about the current driving style:

: Think ahead while driving.

Always pay close attention to what is happening

around the vehicle.

·

: A different gear is recommended (larger

number). Only applies to vehicles equipped with

a gear recommendation feature.

Brake pad wear depends mostly on operating condi-

tions and the way the vehicle is driven. If you do

a lot of city and short-distance driving and/or have

a sporty driving style, you should have the brake

pads checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility more often

than the regular service intervals.

About the brakes

New brake pads do not provide full performance

during the first 100 to 200 miles (200 to 300 km)

and must first be “broken” in → . To some extent,

you can make up for the somewhat reduced per-

formance by applying more pressure to the brake

pedal. But, during the break-in period, the stopping

distance for hard braking and emergency braking

will be longer until the brakes are fully broken in.

Avoid hard braking and situations that might require

hard braking (such as following other vehicles too

closely) – especially during the break-in period.

Wet brakes (for example, after driving through wa-

ter or washing the vehicle or after heavy rainfall) will

not brake as well. Stopping distances will be longer

when brake discs are wet or, in winter, even icy. Wet

or icy brakes must be dried as soon as possible by

carefully applying the brakes a couple of times while

traveling at a relatively high speed. Make sure no-

136

Driving

body is behind you and that you do not endanger

yourself or others →

ABS provides. Contact your authorized Volkswa-

gen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service

Facility as soon as possible.

.

Brakes coated with road salt also react slower and

need longer stopping distances. If there is salt on

the roads and you are not braking regularly, brake

carefully and gently from time to time to remove

any salt coating from the brake discs and pads →

If the brake pads are worn or you notice

changes in the way the vehicle brakes, immedi-

ately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer

or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to

have the brake pads checked and, if necessary,

replaced.

·

.

Brake disc corrosion (rust) and dirt buildup on the

brake pads are more likely to occur if the vehicle is

not driven much or is driven only for short distances

with little braking. If the brakes have not been used

and there is some rust on the discs, clean the brake

discs and pads once in a while by carefully braking

a couple of times while driving at relatively high

speed to help clean the brake discs and pads. Make

sure nobody is behind you and that you do not en-

WARNING

New brake pads do not provide maximum braking

performance.

New brake pads do not have the best stopping

·

power for the first 200 miles (300 km) and must

be “broken in.” You can compensate for the

slightly reduced braking force by putting more

pressure on the brake pedal.

danger yourself or others →

.

Brake booster

Drive with extra care while the new brake pads

·

The brake booster works only when the engine is

running. It increases the force on the brakes above

and beyond the pressure put on the brake pedal by

the driver.

are being broken in. This reduces the risk of col-

lisions and serious personal injuries due to a loss

of control over the vehicle.

Never follow other vehicles too closely or put

·

If the brake booster is not working or if the vehicle

has to be towed, you will have to push the brake

pedal harder to make up for the lack of booster as-

sistance and the resulting longer stopping distance

yourself into other situations that might require

sudden, hard braking, especially when the brake

pads have not been broken in.

→

.

WARNING

Constant braking causes the brakes to overheat

and even to fail leading to collisions and serious

personal injury.

WARNING

Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and

serious personal injury.

Never “ride” the brakes or apply the brake pedal

too often or too long.

·

If the brake warning light

or does not

·

go out, or lights up when driving, either the

brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or

there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the ve-

hicle as soon as you can do so safely and get ex-

pert assistance → page 255, Brake fluid.

Riding the brakes will substantially reduce brak-

ing performance, increase stopping distance,

and can cause complete brake system failure.

·

WARNING

If the brake warning light

the same time as the ABS warning light

or , the ABS may not be working properly.

This could cause the rear wheels to lock up rela-

tively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake

lock-up can cause loss of vehicle control.

or lights up at

Overheated brakes will reduce the vehicle's stop-

ping power and increase stopping distances con-

siderably.

When driving downhill, the brakes have to work

especially hard and heat up quickly.

·

If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive

slowly and very carefully to the nearest author-

ized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility, or other qualified workshop and

have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden

hard braking and steering.

Before driving downhill, especially on hills that

·

are long or steep, always reduce speed and shift

into lower gear (manual, automatic, or DSG

transmission). This will let the vehicle use en-

gine braking and reduce the load on the brakes.

Otherwise, the brake system could overheat and

possibly fail. Only use the brakes when you

need them to slow the vehicle down more or to

stop.

If the ABS indicator light

or does not go

out, or if it lights up while driving, the ABS sys-

tem is not working properly. The vehicle can

then be stopped only with the standard brakes

(without ABS). You will not have the protection

Information on driving safely and efficiently

137

A damaged front bumper or a non-standard

spoiler can reduce airflow to the brakes and

make them overheat.

·

Driving a loaded vehicle

For good handling when driving a loaded vehicle,

please observe the following:

WARNING

— Securely stow all luggage → page 213, Stowing

luggage.

Wet brakes or brakes coated with ice or road salt

react slower and need longer stopping distances.

— Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.

— Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.

Carefully apply the brakes to test them.

·

Always dry brakes and clean off ice and salt

— Brake earlier than you would if you were not driv-

ing a loaded vehicle.

coatings with a few cautious brake applications

when visibility, weather, road and traffic condi-

tions permit.

— If applicable, observe information about driving

with a roof rack → page 218, Roof rack.

WARNING

Driving when the brake booster is not working in-

creases stopping distances and can cause acci-

dents and serious personal injuries.

Heavy loads can change the way your vehicle han-

dles and increase stopping distances. Heavy loads

that are not properly stowed or secured can shift

suddenly, causing loss of control and serious in-

jury.

Never let the vehicle coast when the engine is

switched off.

·

If the brake booster is not working (such as

when the vehicle is being towed), a lot more

pedal force is needed to slow down and stop.

·

Secure the load properly to keep it from shift-

ing.

·

Always remember when transporting heavy ob-

jects that they change the vehicle's center of

gravity and also the way it handles.

·

NOTICE

Never “ride” the brakes by keeping your foot on

·

— Always distribute the load as evenly as possi-

ble.

the brake pedal when you do not want to brake.

Constant pressure on the brake pedal can make

the brakes overheat. Riding the brakes will sub-

stantially reduce braking performance, increase

stopping distance, and can cause complete brake

system failure.

— Secure heavy objects as far forward in the

luggage compartment as possible.

— Secure luggage in the luggage compartment

using suitable straps and the tie downs

→ page 216, Tie-downs. Also see

→ page 216, Luggage compartment – fea-

tures.

Before driving downhill, especially on hills that

are long or steep, always reduce speed and shift

into lower gear (manual, automatic, or DSG trans-

mission). This will let the vehicle use engine brak-

ing and reduce the load on the brakes. Otherwise,

the brake system could overheat and possibly fail.

Only use the brakes when you need them to slow

the vehicle down more or to stop.

·

Always tie down heavy items securely with suit-

able straps.

·

Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the up-

right position.

·

Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or

·

When the front brakes are serviced, you

should have the rear brake pads inspected at

the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the safety

compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Ex-

ceeding permissible weight can cause the vehi-

cle to skid and handle differently.

the same time. The wear of all brake pads should be

checked regularly by visually inspecting the pads

through the openings in the wheel rims or from un-

derneath the vehicle. If necessary, the wheels can be

taken off for a more thorough inspection. See your

authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volks-

wagen Service Facility for more information.

Always adapt speed and driving to the heavier

·

load and the weight distribution in the vehicle.

Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility condi-

tions into account as well.

Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden

braking and driving maneuvers.

·

Always brake earlier than you would if you were

not driving a loaded vehicle.

·

138

Driving

If you absolutely must drive with an open trunk

lid, do the following to reduce the risk of carbon

monoxide poisoning:

·

Driving with an open trunk lid

Driving with an open trunk lid can lead to serious

personal injury. If you have to drive with an open

trunk lid, make sure that all objects and the trunk lid

itself are properly secured and take appropriate

measures to keep toxic exhaust fumes from entering

the vehicle.

— Close all windows and the power sunroof.

— Switch off the climate control system's air re-

circulation feature.

— Open all air vents in the instrument panel.

— Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.

WARNING

NOTICE

Driving with an unlatched or open trunk lid can

lead to serious personal injury.

The open trunk lid changes the vehicle length and

height.

Never transport objects larger than those that

·

fit completely in the luggage compartment, be-

cause the trunk lid cannot be fully closed prop-

erly.

Driving through water on roads

After closing the trunk lid, always pull up on it

to make sure that it is properly closed and can-

not open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.

·

Note the following to help prevent vehicle damage

when driving through water, for example on flooded

roads:

Always stow all objects securely in the luggage

·

compartment. Loose objects can fall out of the

luggage compartment and injure others on the

road behind you.

— Check the depth of the water before driving

through it. The water must not be any higher

than the bottom of the vehicle body →

.

Drive carefully; anticipate what other drivers

will do.

·

— Do not drive faster than walking speed.

— Never stop the vehicle, and do not drive in reverse

or switch the engine off when driving through

water.

Avoid abrupt or sudden acceleration, steering,

or braking, because the unlatched trunk lid can

move suddenly.

·

— Oncoming vehicles may create waves that raise

the water level and make it too deep for your ve-

hicle to drive through safely.

Always mark objects sticking out from the lug-

gage compartment clearly for others to see.

Obey all applicable legal requirements.

·

— Always manually deactivate the Start-stop system

before driving through water → page 146, Start-

stop system.

Never use the trunk lid to “clamp” or “hold” ob-

jects that stick out of the luggage compart-

ment.

·

Always remove any luggage rack or other rack

WARNING

·

mounted on the trunk lid (along with any lug-

gage on the rack) before driving with an open

trunk lid.

After driving through water, mud, sludge, etc., the

brakes react slower and need longer stopping dis-

tances.

Always dry the brakes and clean off any ice

·

WARNING

coatings with a few careful applications of the

brake. Make sure not to endanger other moto-

rists or cyclists or disobey legal requirements.

Driving with an open trunk lid can cause poisonous

carbon monoxide in the engine exhaust to get into

the passenger compartment. Carbon monoxide

causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and

loss of consciousness. It can lead to accidents and

severe personal injuries.

Avoid abrupt or sudden braking maneuvers im-

mediately after driving through water.

·

NOTICE

Always keep the trunk lid closed while driving to

help keep poisonous exhaust fumes from being

drawn into the vehicle.

·

Vehicle components such as the engine, transmis-

sion, suspension or electrical system can be se-

verely damaged by driving through water.

·

Never transport objects that are too large to fit

completely into the luggage area, because then

the trunk lid cannot be fully closed.

·

Never drive through salt water. Salt causes vehi-

cle corrosion. Thoroughly rinse with fresh water

all vehicle parts that were exposed to salt water.

·

Information on driving safely and efficiently

139

Break-in period

Brake system malfunction

The red warning light comes on.

A new engine must be carefully broken in during the

first 1000 miles (1600 kilometers). During the first

few hours of driving, the engine's internal friction is

higher than later when all moving parts have been

broken in.

A text message may also appear in the instrument

cluster.

—

Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe place as

soon as possible.

— If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, immedi-

ately take it to the nearest authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility

for repair. Drive slowly and very carefully, allow

for the longer stopping distance, and be ready to

push longer and harder on the brake pedal to

slow the vehicle down.

Breaking in a new engine

For the first 600 miles (1000 km):

— Do not use full throttle.

— Don't let the engine speed get above 2/3 of the

maximum speed.

From 600 to 1000 miles (1000 to 1600 km):

— Speed may gradually be increased to maximum

If the vehicle braking performance changes

permissible road and engine speed.

If the brake pads are worn or you notice changes in

the way the vehicle brakes:

Engine life is influenced by how you drive the vehi-

cle for the first 1000 miles (1600 km). Even after-

wards, driving at moderate engine speeds, especially

when the engine is cold, will tend to reduce engine

wear and help the engine to last longer and go far-

ther. But do not drive at an excessively low engine

speed, either. Always downshift if the engine is not

running smoothly.

— Immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility

for assistance.

WARNING

Failure to heed warning lights and instrument

cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to

break down in traffic and result in a collision and

serious personal injury.

New tires and brake pads

Note applicable requirements for breaking in new

parts.

Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.

·

Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to

do so.

— New tires and replacement tires → page 260,

Tires and wheels.

— Brakes → page 191, Braking assistance systems.

NOTICE

Breaking in a new engine gently will increase

service life and reduce oil consumption.

Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS

can result in vehicle damage.

Tips and troubleshooting

When the ignition is switched on, several warning

and indicator lights come on briefly for a function

check. They go out after a few seconds.

140

Driving

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