Texts: Niclas von Bell, Clas von Bell
Volkswagen’s first rechargeable hybrid, the Golf GTE, was launched back in 2014. Now we took the latest version for a test drive.
With the GTE name, Volkswagen has apparently wanted to position the car somewhere between the electric Golf and the GTI model. So it’s a slightly sportier rechargeable hybrid.
The car’s redesign is hardly visible from the outside, but there’s a lot more going on inside the shell.
The Golf GTE is a driver’s car. It’s slightly lower than the standard Golf, with a 10 mm lower sports suspension.
The suspension is stiff and the steering is precise. The controls, the large screen and the graphic and accurate, information-rich instrument cluster are clear and easy to use.
Total 204 horsepower
The GTE model has the same internal combustion engine as the standard Golf. It is a petrol 1.4-litre TSI turbo engine with 148 horsepower. The car’s electric motor has a power output of 101 hp. Together, the engines produce 204 horsepower.
The transmission is a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Of course, the gears can also be changed manually using the steering wheel ‘flaps’ or the gear stick.
The car also uses a gearbox with the electric motor. Electric power alone can reach speeds of well over 80 km/h.
Engaging the combustion engine depends on the driving mode selected, of which there are five.
Extra weight from batteries
GTE is the car’s sportiest driving mode. In GTE mode, the power of both engines is used to provide extra torque.
Together, the engines accelerate the Golf GTE from zero to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds – and up to a top speed of 222 mph in a matter of moments.
The GTE version suffers slightly from the extra weight required by the batteries. The 8.8 kilowatt-hour battery is located under the rear seat, adding 120 kilograms to the weight. All in all, the car is 300 kilos heavier than the Golf GTI.
The car features a wide range of driver assistance systems, including intelligent cruise control, traffic assist, emergency braking, parking assist and blind spot sensor.
Intelligent cruise control measures the distance and speed of vehicles ahead. When combined with a dual-clutch gearbox, the system stops the GTE in a traffic jam and automatically restarts. The system maintains the distance to the vehicle ahead within its limits up to a speed of 210 km/h.
An emergency braking function intervenes at low urban speeds. Pedestrian detection detects, for example, if a pedestrian suddenly enters the carriageway.
Lane and reversing assist is available. Reversing assist helps when reversing out of a parking space. Sensors in the rear bumper monitor for crossing traffic behind. If a car, bicycle or pedestrian approaches from the side, the system warns you with a beep and a warning on the infotainment system screen. If the driver fails to react in time to the risk of a collision, the system automatically applies the brakes to reduce or even prevent the consequences of a potential accident.
Battery full in less than four hours
If you want to get the most out of your car’s electric motor, you should charge it from the mains before driving.
At home, you can recharge your electric motor battery from a standard grounded electrical outlet in up to 3 hours and 45 minutes. At a general charging point or with an optional charger, charging takes 2 hours 15 minutes.
Regardless of the driving mode, the car will always use the electric motor when starting. The internal combustion engine may only switch on at speeds above 60 km/h. Of course, if the battery is flat, the combustion engine will start immediately.
You can drive about 50 kilometres on electric power alone. On petrol alone, you can get a little less than in a normal Golf, because the GTE version has a slightly smaller fuel tank of just 40 litres.
The battery of the electric motor is also charged while driving. This allows the battery to be recharged on the motorway, for example, and the car to be driven with the electric motor in an urban environment.
The more expensive Golf version
Two navigation systems are available as options on the Golf GTE. The Discover Media system features an 8-inch colour touchscreen, eight speakers, radio, CD drive, two SD card slots, aux-in and usb connections and bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.
The Discover Pro navigation system offers gesture control, allowing you to change the radio channel or change the car’s system settings with a simple flick of the wrist. The system features a 9.2-inch screen, eight speakers, radio, CD player, two SD card slots, aux-in and usb connections and bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.
According to Volkswagen, the car’s fuel consumption is less than 5 l/100 km. Carbon dioxide emissions are 36 g/km.
The Golf hybrid is quite expensive. The basic model costs just over €40,000, and the test-driven model, with its optional extras, costs over €44,000.
There are many basic Golfs available for less than €30 000, so you need to have a good reason to buy a plug-in hybrid.
