Me too.
VW leaves the torque converter unlocked for too long.
(and then they still call it "Tiptronic" - Porsche would be ashamed).
Turn the grave around

).
For comparison: My in-laws' Viano has a 2.2 CDI engine and...
it also needs a 5-speed automatic transmission (110 kW, 2,040 kg curb weight).
In the city, it consumes around 10-11 liters.
"I also find the fuel consumption of the Golf/Passat, when considered in relation to its power-to-weight ratio, to be..."
too high.
Interestingly, regarding the
specifications from Benz (for urban driving), but:
EU3: 11.6 L
EU4: 12.7 L
This extreme difference is only observed with automatic transmissions.
For manual transmissions, the ratio is 11.2 / 11.4.
That's all about environmental protection...
