In a word, they are brilliant! Having driven many 10s of thousands of miles with DSG (Stronic in Audi vehicles) transmissions I'd observe that those with a wet clutch (where the torque converter would be in a conventional Auto would be) have a smoother take up from rest. The 1.5 TFSI version has, IIRC, a dry clutch and tends to be slightly more abrupt.

One learns, with experience, that a swifter move away from rest requires the accelerator to be depressed just a smidgen sooner than you'd perhaps expect. With the 1.5 there is the inescapable fact that its a fairly heavy vehicle and a brisk move away from rest will likely see the front wheels scrabbling for grip.

If the grip issue troubles you than the solution could be to look for one of the two 2 Litre petrol versions that both had 4 wheel drive (part time using a Haldex device in the rear axle) and either 190 or 300PS, Fuel economy on the 300PS version varies according to the way you drive it - I average 35mpg and long runs get close to 40mpg.

 

I find the DSG box in my wife's 1.5TSI to be dim-witted and slow to make decisions. The gear change itself may take fractions of a second, but the decision to change gear is glacial. The only way I have found it acceptable when overtaking on B-roads (95% of my driving is B-roads) is to use the manual paddles to control the shifting myself, otherwise you find yourself hoping it will pick the right gear so you can actually pass the car before the opportunity is gone. Personally, I would prefer a manual gearbox as I can pick the right gear at the right time, and I'm not normally sat in traffic riding the clutch, so I don't see the same downside of manuals as many others.

 

On mine, this is a problem if its in eco, in drive its better and in sport, forgetting its in sport on a roundabout can certainly wake you up.

As others have said. You learn your way around it. I do often drive in eco and use paddles for overtakes etc

 

Try putting it in Sport mode

 

Manual transmissions are lots of fun until your left knee joint wears out - which was inevitable after 50 years+ of driving in my case.

 

We have the DSG in our 2.0 Diesel.
Thing is like a gazelle. No delay, no drag, just response.

 

Bucket loads of good old torque with a diesel, not so much with the 1.5 petrol...really blunts the available performance.

 

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll have to test drive one. I have had autos in the past when I had company cars and its just so much easier when you are queueing stop start in traffic.

 

The DSG transmission is a remarkable bit of an engineering, goes all the way back to 2003 (and even further if you include the Porsche 962 in the 1980s where the tech was originally developed). Like all things automotive it has evolved over time, the bugs were ironed out years ago.

If the test drive vehicle has a digital gear indicator display, you'll see the number change and you won't feel a thing - as you accelerate the transmission pre-selects the next gear upward, changing gear by opening and closing a pair of multi-plate clutches (like you'd find on most modern motorcycles), it happens in a few hundredths of a second. When you lift off the accelerator the transmission pre-selects the next gear downwards. Its very neat.

 

Coming from a 1.5 TSI petrol DSG myself I have no major concerns.

The hesitation I found seemed to be linked to start stop which is barely noticeable sometimes and turns engine off at terribly annoying times. I found turning this off that most of the hesitation was gone. I also note that there were some kangaroo issues on some models which was rectified mostly by software updates and from a certain year I believe cured. I've not experienced myself.

My understanding is that this engine mated to the DSG gearbox is setup to avoid harsh/rapid acceleration from standstill to reduce wear on clutches so more linear perhaps.

I live on a road where I have to pull into 60mph (or faster) speeding traffic with a blind bend close by. I have no issue accelerating out turning into or against traffic and then getting up to a good speed fairly quickly.

I now have all season tyres that seem to grip better which I think helps. Turning off start stop helps. Finally using sport mode seems to stop the feeling of the car coasting when not accelerating so when pressing the loud pedal it seems quicker to react. I never use Eco mode so switch between normal and sport.

I've come from a 1.6 100bhp non turbo focus so pretty much anything feels quick enough though!

For sure I notice it's a more relaxed drive and less engaging, the DSG Vs manual box in my opinion. I drove quite a few before I chose the DSG. I didn't expect to like the DSG I'll be honest. Didn't even want it before I tried. Love manuals. I really liked the Ateca manual as well.

Best thing is to really test out the DSG. Take it for an hour test drive. Get it up to temperature. Try turning off start stop. Try sport mode. Do multiple pulls from junctions and roundabouts. Know what you are getting and if you really are happy with that.

I'm converted myself. In a car like this it's great. I overtake on nearly every journey I make as I live in the country and especially now during harvesting with the constant tractors. No issue but in eco/normal it can take a second to realise what you are wanting from it. You soon get used to things and you adapt driving to suit the characteristics of how it drives. Similar I can't take corners quite as fast as my focus but pretty darn close!

 

A bit lumpy at slow speeds. But very good otherwise.