Speaking of charging, there are plenty of options depending on your lifestyle and location. If time’s on your side, you’ll reach the full E-Golf range with a three-pin plug at home in 13 hours. More realistic, but slightly more expensive, is a dedicated charging port, which can also be used in the home. You’ll also find these in public spaces - ideal for when you’re leaving the car all day to go shopping. You’ll reach full charge in four hours. If you’re really pushed for time, though, pull in to a modern-looking service station. Top-of-the-range charging stations will get you fully charged in just 45 minutes - just enough time for you to recharge too. So we know how long it will last, but just how does the Volkswagen E-Golf perform? Quick getaways from traffic lights come easily, and you’ll soon rocket to 62MPH as if you were in a diesel hatchback.
There isn’t much power beyond 70, but for a morning commute, it’s everything you need. The engine benefits from regenerative braking - just put it into ‘B’ on the gear selector and the energy saved will be redirected to the battery, a similar effect to engine braking in a petrol/diesel car. There are a few driving modes, including eco mode if you are falling foul of the “range anxiety”, but the standard mode is just as comfortable as a traditional Golf. Naturally, it’s a totally silent drive, and the Golf handles well around country roads. Take note, Nissan Leaf. The latest E-Golf has been given the same interior upgrades as its fossil-fuelled cousins. To justify its price tag, it also comes with quite an impressive range of on-board tech, including dual-zone climate control, a heated windscreen and an infotainment system displayed on a 9.2-inch screen. It’s also incredibly comfortable, with tactile soft materials and a sensible driving position. The pedals are perfectly aligned with the steering wheel, and many of the controls look the same as a classic Golf - plus some minor adjustments to display the power left. Adjust your lumbar support, steering wheel position and seat with ease.
Rotary controls ensure there aren’t too many distractions from the road either. We mentioned justifying the price tag - it starts at £29, 740 for a very basic model, but realistically, it’s more like £33k. This puts it at around a similar price to the Nissan Leaf, although far more than the Renault Zoe, but the interior styling and improved performance somewhat make up for this. Alternatively, there is always the option to lease a VW Golf electric with us at Complete Leasing, which is available now on business or personal contract hire. You’re looking at an E-Golf lease (UK) price of around £370 per month on PCH or £310 on BCH, depending on your needs. There hasn’t been a whole load of innovation since the initial leap to 186 miles back in 2017, but the interior tweaks do give the 2019 E-Golf a modern edge. As with every electric car, we’re loath to push it beyond the range anxiety barrier, but as a commuting car, the E-Golf pushes all the right buttons. Sit back, relax and know that your interior comfort is second-to-none as you wait in traffic. Don’t hesitate to contact us today, obligation-free, and we’ll be able to help you with any leasing-related queries. Or, we can help find you the best leasing deal in the UK!
An order form was set up on Volkswagen Canada’s website, and according to Public Relations Manager Thomas Tetzlaff, as this is being written, almost half of the 250-unit allocation of 2017 models have already been spoken for. Standard features include cloth upholstery, heated front seats, a heated windshield, dual-zone climate control, an intelligent key system, a leather-wrapped wheel with blue stitching as well as an eight-speaker sound system with eight-inch touchscreen, rearview camera and USB audio input. 2,305 Technology Package adds ambient lighting, park distance control and steel door sill plates in addition to a 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with gesture control, navigation, solid state drive storage and Wi-Fi hotspot (subscription required). However, this system incorporates a volume slider instead of a physical knob, which we don’t like. So, here’s another EV on the Canadian market. It’s still a segment with microscopic sales numbers, and government rebates do help soften the blow of their high prices compared to their conventional, gasoline-powered counterparts. EVs are not for everyone, of course, but if we’re looking to purchase one that’s fun to drive, versatile and that offers good range, the e-Golf is as compelling as a regular Golf. The Bolt EV may offer more kilometres per charge, but the e-Golf offers more smiles per kilometre.
