VAG cars with the 1.4 ACT engine

[acme]

I had a MK7 Golf GT with the 1.4 ACT (150 bhp) engine as a company car between 2014 & 19 covering 86k miles, whilst not a firecracker as such as a daily it was superb, quick ish, quiet, economical. Whilst I’ve gone on to far ‘better’ things as a do it all daily I still think that engine takes some beating.

So does anyone know what other VAG cars it was in, I don’t seem able to find a definitive list & whilst I could simply get a Golf not only do they offer poor value but it would be nice to try something different – this will be a winter/leave it anywhere additional car to sit alongside something else.

So far I have the Seat Leon FR, Skoda Superb SE-L (only?) – bit too big, and the A3 COD.

Have I missed one, any thoughts appreciated.

Cheers

[SteBrown91]

-Golf mk7 prefacelift
-Mk3 Leon FR (up to 2018)
-Audi A1 s-line
-Audi A3 8V prefacelift
-Audi A4/5 B9 prefacelift
-VW Polo BlueGT
-Skoda Octavia/superb/kodiaq prefacelift, and very late model Yetis
- Seat Ibiza FR
-B8 Passat prefacelift
-Virtually all VW group PHEV until very recently

Basically if it’s a 1.4 and 150bhp it’s an ACT

[AI1601]

One of VW’s best modern petrol engines, I rate it highly. Doesn’t seem to be any issues with them. We have it in wife’s Mk3 Leon, and I reckon it’s a better overall package than the Golf.

[Glosphil]

AI1601 said:

One of VW’s best modern petrol engines, I rate it highly. Doesn’t seem to be any issues with them. We have it in wife’s Mk3 Leon, and I reckon it’s a better overall package than the Golf.

I agree. In 2019 I was looking at Golf GTs & Leon FR with the 1.4TSi (150) ACT engine & DSG. I bought a Leon. The Golf was over £5k more expensive at 1 year old. Its advantages over the Leon seemed to be only better front seats, slightly higher interior quality & independant rear suspension rather than beam. On the other hand the Leon has all LED lights (including headlights) & climate control instead of the Golf's A/C. The Leon also looks better.

I haven't regretted my decision. As to your original point; I agree an ecvellent engine with great torque for a 1.4T. Better than most other 1.4T with 150hp & even beats some 1.6Ts.

Also very quiet when driven 'normally' . A passanger asked if it was an electric car!

[AI1601]

Glosphil said:

I agree. In 2019 I was looking at Golf GTs & Leon FR with the 1.4TSi (150) ACT engine & DSG. I bought a Leon. The Golf was over £5k more expensive at 1 year old. Its advantages over the Leon seemed to be only better front seats, slightly higher interior quality & independant rear suspension rather than beam. On the other hand the Leon has all LED lights (including headlights) & climate control instead of the Golf's A/C. The Leon also looks better.

I haven't regretted my decision. As to your original point; I agree an ecvellent engine with great torque for a 1.4T. Better than most other 1.4T with 150hp & even beats some 1.6Ts.

Also very quiet when driven 'normally' . A passanger asked if it was an electric car!

I personally could not find any difference in the interior quality between the two. Would be nice to have the independent rear suspension though but not essential. Other things the Golf GT comes with are front sensors and adaptive cruise control (?) I believe. I would take the Leon’s LED front and rear lights and climate control over them however.

Agree the engine is pretty quiet but slightly gruff when pushing on. Ours also has a strange flutter/resonance of the turbo wastegate linkage arm when in 2 cylinder ACT mode - a clip off eBay has reduced this greatly.

[acme]

SteBrown91 said:

-Golf mk7 prefacelift
-Mk3 Leon FR (up to 2018)
-Audi A1 s-line
-Audi A3 8V prefacelift
-Audi A4/5 B9 prefacelift
-VW Polo BlueGT
-Skoda Octavia/superb/kodiaq prefacelift, and very late model Yetis
- Seat Ibiza FR
-B8 Passat prefacelift
-Virtually all VW group PHEV until very recently

Basically if it’s a 1.4 and 150bhp it’s an ACT

Many thanks, superb! (sorry)

I should've added the A1 & Polo are too small, but I didn't realise the Octavia had it as an option having previously searched for one and been unable to find one, I suspect an estate version would suit the purpose perfectly.

Another advantage is the tax cost, I won't begrudge it as much when in the summer it sits there for weeks on end not moving.

[acme]

Glosphil said:

A passanger asked if it was an electric car!

Funny you should say that. I recall in my Golf in traffic at a standstill with the fan on at the lowest speed you couldn't hear the engine.

When I first got it driving in car parks pedestrians often wouldn't know you were approaching them from behind, something I soon had to account for.

Rather childish but I did enjoy winding down the window when going past a wall at lowish speeds and letting it go into 2 cylinder mode, great sound.

[acme]

Seems your experiences mirror mine and you all seem very happy with the 1.4.

I've heard suggestions the 1.5 which I assume is virtually identical with another 100cc has had some issues, plus cambelt changes are more expensive as it needs setting up to 100% accuracy and so a specialist tools required at a cost of circa £3k so not many places can do it.

'Jack Reacher' on here had a Leon at the same time I had my Golf mirroring similar high mileage and seemed very happy with his, so seems a Leon touring is worth a look too. Can't deny I used the ACC a lot, wouldn't be surprised if during my 86k miles, 30 or 40 was without my feet on the pedals!

Cheers

[VR99]

I have a 2018 Golf 1.4 TSI with the 125 bhp engine, regret not going for a 150 bhp Leon instead as the extra poke would of been nice. At the time needed a car quickly and Golf GT's were rarer and a fair bit pricier.

Would anyone know the difference between the 150 ACT engine and the 125 bhp model in my TSI, is it just a remap or completely different engine?

[LeoSayer]

I've owned an A3 with the 1.4CoD 140bhp engine and DSG gearbox since new in 2014 and done over 60k miles.

The power delivery is quite diesel like with plenty of torque but of course it has a much larger power band and is very refined at all but high revs.

I've never had to top up the oil, it averages over 40mpg and I even managed 140mph on the autobahn.

It's also a pretty lightweight engine weighing something like 80kg less than the equivalent diesel.

It's not hard to keep the 2 cylinder mode going for quite long stretches and yes, I also like the sound although it's fairly muted.

[SteBrown91]

VR99 said:

I have a 2018 Golf 1.4 TSI with the 125 bhp engine, regret not going for a 150 bhp Leon instead as the extra poke would of been nice. At the time needed a car quickly and Golf GT's were rarer and a fair bit pricier.

Would anyone know the difference between the 150 ACT engine and the 125 bhp model in my TSI, is it just a remap or completely different engine?

I would imagine there are some fundamental differences to accommodate for the ACT setup at least, but I do know you could get the 150bhp engine in other markets without ACT. I imagine there still would be differences but I bet a remap on the 125 would take you to around 150bhp anyway.

[Antony Moxey]

I have a Leon FR with the engine under discussion, and it is indeed a bit of a flyer, especially as I had it remapped a year or two ago to put out 200 horse instead of the standard 150. Acceleration in 4th from 40ish is fantastic.

[Harry Bastard]

With the Leon and Golf are they both COD or is it just the Audi ? Considering the Leon FR 150 as it’s a nice motor.

[acme]

Harry bd said:

With the Leon and Golf are they both COD or is it just the Audi ? Considering the Leon FR 150 as it’s a nice motor.

Audi’s COD (cylinder on demand) is just their name for VW & Seat’s ACT (active cylinder technology), which is only available in the GT version of the Golf MK7 & Leon FR. As with the Golf I think you can also get a Leon 1.4 without ACT and 125bhp.

[acme]

VR99 said:

I have a 2018 Golf 1.4 TSI with the 125 bhp engine, regret not going for a 150 bhp Leon instead as the extra poke would of been nice. At the time needed a car quickly and Golf GT's were rarer and a fair bit pricier.

Would anyone know the difference between the 150 ACT engine and the 125 bhp model in my TSI, is it just a remap or completely different engine?

I don’t know the specific answer to your question as I’ve wondered this too, but two years into owning the Golf ACT I had a regular 1.4 for 3 weeks/1000 miles and I was taken aback at how different it felt. Getting back in mine the engine felt a LOT smoother and quieter, it really was like a sewing machine.

[acme]

LeoSayer said:

I've owned an A3 with the 1.4CoD 140bhp engine and DSG gearbox since new in 2014 and done over 60k miles.

The power delivery is quite diesel like with plenty of torque but of course it has a much larger power band and is very refined at all but high revs.

I've never had to top up the oil, it averages over 40mpg and I even managed 140mph on the autobahn.

It's also a pretty lightweight engine weighing something like 80kg less than the equivalent diesel.

It's not hard to keep the 2 cylinder mode going for quite long stretches and yes, I also like the sound although it's fairly muted.

Before I got mine in 2014 I test drove the 2.0TDI literally back to back with it, of course then almost all company cars were diesel. It was the lightness being all over the nose that convinced me without doubt the GT ACT was the way to go, there simply was no comparison. It proved the right decision as my long commute in those days had a significant chunk across country which made it far more pleasurable.

[Quhet]

I'm coming to the end of my time with a 1.4 Leon and echo others comments in saying that the engine is a peach and the perfect blend of performance and economy. I did c450 miles in mine yesterday and it averaged 55.4mpg which is pretty damn impressive I think.

The only reason I'm changing cars is that we need something bigger. Hoping that the 2l tsi (220ps rather than the 280) Superb Estate I've got my eye on does a decent job

[Harry Bastard]

I have been looking at a 2016 A4 with the 1.4 TFSI engine which has covered 110k. It’s a nice car and quite well priced.

Would you buy this engine at higher mileage or should I run. ?

[bcr5784]

acme said:

Seems your experiences mirror mine and you all seem very happy with the 1.4.

I've heard suggestions the 1.5 which I assume is virtually identical with another 100cc has had some issues, plus cambelt changes are more expensive as it needs setting up to 100% accuracy and so a specialist tools required at a cost of circa £3k so not many places can do it.

Cheers

I read a road test which said that the 1.5 wasn't as nice as the 1.4, which surprised me. However, having had a 1.5 Leon as a courtesy car l have to agree. The 1.5 didn't seem at all special.