XtraBoost can still be accessed with the high-voltage battery at minimum charge, as well as in
kickdown and with the transmission selector lever in the M or S position.
High speed performance was excellent, however, with plenty of power always in reserve when you needed a fast reaction to a
kickdown with your right foot.
A prompt
kickdown function makes overtaking easy and the car never feels as if it's struggling despite the diminutive engine - even on the motorway.
Insurance e automatic is smooth and quick - although not always so to
kickdown - and there are steering-wheel mounted paddles to ring the changes manually.
The automatic box suits the high output 238bhp engine perfectly, and has a very good
kickdown that will drop one or two gears simply by the amount of pressure on the accelerator.
On a first drive with the 35 TFSI S line this 148bhp new engine is really impressive with good, low down torque and ample oomph for that all-important mid range overtaking, while the sevenspeed automatic gearbox has a decent pace (and quiet)
kickdown on acceleration and offers good response at all speeds.
Still, the
kickdown from the four-speed auto wasn't as rough as I was expecting.
Featuring Engine Idle Shutdown and Auto Idle
Kickdown to avoid unnecessary idling, the engine boasts lower fuel consumption than previous models.
The engine is very smooth and quiet, with just an occasional gentle thrum revealing that it's a diesel, and there is plenty of urge both on
kickdown and from rest.
Plunging the accelerator into
kickdown immediately springs the petrol engine back to life.
Kickdown is usually enough to bring the engine into its powerband out of corners or when overtaking, but you can always use the permanently active column-mounted paddles.