The Volkswagen 2.5L Inline-five found in the current Golf, Jetta, and Passat has been ok engine during it’s life. Now, Volkswagen is changing the guard.

Car & Driver has learned from a couple of sources that Volkswagen is looking to replacing the 2.5 with a 1.8L turbo four. There are two reasons for the change. One is due to Volkswagen simplifying their manufacturing lines because the 1.8L turbo would be based on the same family as the 2.0L turbo. The second reason is due to how close the 2.5 and 2.0T are in fuel economy. A Jetta 2.5 equipped with a manual gets a MPG rating of 23 city/33 highway while the 2.0T equipped with a manual gets 22 city/33 highway.

Source: Car & Driver

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The 2.5 isn't bad, but the 1.8t turbo sounds much better.

VW desperately needs a more fuel efficient gasoline engine for the Golf, Jetta, and Beetle. However, VW's reliability and maintenance costs still scare me, even though I find the new VW's, including the Passat, very appealing.

the 2.5 has all the fuel economy of a v6 with all the power of a 4 cylinder. throw in the nhv of a misfiring pushrod and it is the worst of all worlds.

2.5 is a turd of the highest order. the single best thing VW could bring to market to make their common cars relevant in their sales push is to have a competent four cylinder to sell in volume that can run with all the other good four cylinders out there.

On 11/23/2011 at 9:49 AM, regfootball said:

2.5 is a turd of the highest order. the single best thing VW could bring to market to make their common cars relevant in their sales push is to have a competent four cylinder to sell in volume that can run with all the other good four cylinders out there.

And the smaller Turbo motors have proven to be a winner.

interested to see how the new 2.0 in the Passat turns out.  the 1.8 is decent.  This new 2.0 as a base engine should really set the Passat apart from those with tiny 1.5's.