Did you know that on average a Volkswagen Golf is sold every 40 seconds? It therefore shouldn’t come as a surprise that the new Golf is an evolution in its purest sense. Allow me to quickly go over the minor aesthetic changes before we dive into the specifics of each of the performance models and the all-electric e-Golf that I had the opportunity to drive over the weekend. The immediately evident cosmetic updates concern both the head- and taillights. At the front all Golf performance models now have freshly designed LED headlights that replace the old xenon lights. At the rear full-LED taillights come standard with any Golf. Altogether the new Golf’s design lines are less sharper-edged than those of its predecessor, something I personally think gives the new Golf a much better appearance. Additional design traits reside in the car’s various front-end faces. The different versions of the Golf are easily distinguishable through specific front bumper designs. The GTE and eGolf share additional LED lights in the lower part of the front apron and are complimented by a distinct blue line and badging that portray electric mobility.
The new Golf GTI gets red accents, and the new range topping Golf R boasts gloss black accents. Differences at the rear of the different model variants are characterized by the different tailpipes, or in the case of the e-Golf, no tailpipes at all. Just as its predecessor, the GTE has twin tailpipes on the left, the GTI has one on each side, and the R impresses with twin tailpipes on both sides of its rear end. I first got behind the wheel of the updated Volkswagen Golf GTE. Finished in white silver metallic, the new GTE looked especially striking under the bright Spanish sun. The impressive LED ensemble at the front is intriguing, and in particular I like the ‘winglet’ design LEDs at the lower end of the front bumper that smoothly transition into the flashy chrome central strip. The car’s modern character is surely well represented on the inside as well.
Behind the wheel I immediately take notice of the fully digitalized instrument cluster and enlarged infotainment screen. The optional 9.2-inch touch screen is a pleasure to work with and very responsive. When your hand comes in proximity of the screen it already lays out the menu options and ergonomically the system is set up in a logical way. The transition speed from one menu to another and the responsiveness of the navigation system still leave some room for improvement, but definitely do fine for the market segment in which the Golf operates. The fact that the infotainment system is all touch also facilitates the base for a neat and clean interior. There is no clutter in the form of unnecessary buttons and knobs all over the mid-console and the interior finishes are of a fine standard. In terms of tech the GTE and all other Golf models can now be optionally equipped with a new range of semi-autonomous driving and safety systems.
One that is uniquely reserved for the GTE is the ‘predictive efficiency assist’, a system that I first got acquainted with on the Audi Q7 e-tron. It looks ahead of where you’re driving and in cruise control adjusts the speed for corners and other lower speed obstacles to accomplish maximum efficiency. The new systems make use of new sensors and cameras, one of which is easily recognizable at the front of the car, right below the VW logo which functions as the car’s charge port. The steering wheel felt sturdy and is equipped with all the necessary buttons and features, including the shiny GTE engraving at the bottom. With the push of a button I brought the car to life in nothing but silence. We pulled away in ‘EV-mode’, a fully electric driving mode that taps into the car’s battery and should be capable of doing a full 50 kilometers without the help of the combustion engine. In order to access the full combined 204 hp produced by the hybrid drivetrain, you’ll have to engage ‘GTE’ mode. In GTE mode the car gains a powerful and sporty character combining both its sources of power.
It’s by far the most engaging drive mode and comes with a mild (speaker-induced) roar from the 150 hp TSI engine. The 6-speed DSG transmission becomes a bit more alert yet the car’s suspension remains exceptionally comfortable. When cornering at higher speeds in a more challenging setting however, I did feel the significant amount of extra weight that the battery and electric motor tacked on. The GTE seems to be far better suited for the ordinary urban and highway commute. It’s a comfortable highway cruiser that serves the needs of many. The next day a Volkswagen e-Golf stood ready to take me to the race track. Ahead of me, a 68-kilometer commute with 300 kilometers all-electric driving range. Taking place behind the wheel all was reasonably familiar given that the e-Golf and GTE share most of their design traits. The 9.2-inch infotainment system comes standard with the e-Golf, whereas it remains an option on all the other Golf models.
