Volkswagens are well respected within the automotive industry, seemingly winning awards left right and centre for their cars. Most of these awards are gifted to their engines, or even the VW Golf, but this in many ways actually underestimates what the brand has actually managed to achieve. Rather than just concentrating on the engine (although they have clearly done well in this arena), they have developed a whole range of clever little technologies designed to make the drive even better.

Whilst some of these technologies, such as their fuel economy and general efficiency system, BlueMotion, are mainly available on their new cars, a little bit of searching and familiarising yourself with that they offer (and where) is a good idea. This will show that many of the advancements are actually available on used Volkswagens, and with 09 reg car starting to come on the market you can even get a used VW with the most modern of technologies if you search!

BlueMotion, as I have mentioned before, is probably Volkswagens favourite technology at the moment. Conforming to all the sudden requirements regarding fuel economy and CO2 emissions, this is designed to go down well with both the legal requirements and public enthusiasm for greener cars and saving the world. Obvious until we have zero emissions the world is still going to be damaged – but doing your bit and saving some cash has to be a good thing! This tech works by making every element of the car more economic, from a more streamlined less resistant exterior design through to a funky gearshift.

The extra bits of technology that make BlueMotion possible are just as important as the changes made to fuel efficient in the engines, known as TSI or TDI engines. The DSG gearbox is one such addition, designed to prevent the wasting of fuel and similar through slow and inefficient gear changes. Through many complex and no doubt magical methods, this somehow saves fuel. Which is great!

The next technology, the auto start/stop, is also great for BlueMotion, killing time when the engine is just idling and doing nothing but waste fuel. You don’t have to have this facility turned on if you don’t want to, but what with it being so easy to use it seems silly to go to the effort of switching it off. This is great for city drivers, so Polo and Golf owners will no doubt be happy!

Not everything is all about efficiency, although I had to admit that this is the technological focus of nearly all car brands at the moment, responding to public demands. If you want something for luxury, however, then the on board computers, built in sat nav systems and wonderful sounds systems packed with speakers are also available too! These are designed purely to make life simpler and to make the act of driving as pleasurable as it possibly can be. I think, so far, that Volkswagen seem to have done pretty well in the dark and murky realm of in car technology!