It would cost over a million kroner if it could be purchased in Denmark. Yet a state-of-the-art electric car cannot compete with a diesel-powered Golf from 1977.
Even a modern electric car like the Lucid Air can't match the range of a diesel-powered Volkswagen Golf from 1977.
A new test reveals how an almost 50-year-old car can still outperform a state-of-the-art electric car when it comes to range.
The Golf's diesel engine and its efficiency from another era prove to be a tough nut to crack in a direct comparison.
The test was conducted by the folks behind the YouTube channel EverydayDriver and included three vehicles: the electric Lucid Air, the hybrid Hyundai Sonata, and the classic Volkswagen Golf Mk1 with a diesel engine.
The Golf, also known as the "Rabbit" in the US, has been restored to its original condition from 1977, and functions as it did back then.
The purpose of the test was to investigate how far each car could travel on a single tank of fuel or charging during normal driving. All three cars had a target of reaching 725 kilometers without having to refuel or charge along the way.
The Lucid Air, representing the latest in the world of electric vehicles, was the first car to run itself out of energy. Although the electric car had a significant range, its performance was limited by its weight and high energy consumption in the battery.
With the Lucid Air out of the test, the classic diesel Golf and the hybrid Hyundai Sonata continued. The Golf's simple design and efficient diesel engine gave it a clear advantage, especially on longer journeys without frequent stops.
As part of the test, emphasis was placed on simulating realistic driving conditions that drivers encounter in everyday life. This included highway driving, city driving and trips in hilly terrain.
Having reached the limit of their range, the two remaining cars were taken on a drive on a closed race track, where the last of their fuel was used up as the cars continued until their tanks were completely empty.
The results showed that the diesel-powered Golf from 1977 managed to outperform both modern cars in terms of range. The Hyundai Sonata did well. But it ultimately couldn't match the older car's efficiency over distance either.
The test highlights the challenges that modern technologies still face in terms of range, especially when compared to older diesel engines that prioritized simplicity and efficiency.
While electric cars and hybrids are gaining ground as the transportation of the future, this comparison reminds us how technological advancements don't necessarily mean improvements on all fronts. Diesel's efficiency is still hard to beat. Even after nearly five decades.
