I've had mine for 18 months now (16 reg) and am still very pleased with it. The 166mpg is achievable if your daily commute is less than around 25/26 miles, depending on the conditions and how you drive. I use hybrid mode on the faster roads where the petrol engine is the most efficient, and electric power at other times, whenever possible. I think it's possible to "beat "the hybrid mode in terms of efficiency by manually switching between the mode and hybrid at the appropriate points. This way I reckon you should be able to get over 100 mpg on a normal daily commute to work and back. I looked at the new e-Golf recently, and was impressed with what I've done with it. I think it would be fine as a daily commuter with increased range but I would still have a problem using it for longer journeys of hundreds of miles. Having both power trains inspires confidence for long journeys - at the moment I don't think the infrastructure is quite up to the job of ensuring that I can get a charge on the motorway for example. GTE mode is a hoot, and feels really quick although of course it uses (noticeably) more fuel so I use it sparingly. Mine doesn't have a specific "battery hold" mode but in hybrid mode it favours the petrol engine and attempts to maintain the battery charge level and range. At slow speeds the car uses the battery, but generally you are on petrol, and the car switches automatically between them as you go. In practice, the electric range drops only very slowly in Hybrid. I think four modes is probably enough! Most of the time you only use two of them. Very good car though and I would recommend it to anyone. Just anyone! Although...I would like to see an estate version and some brighter colours.
Simon Cooper You mentioned that you own a GTE... As much as I would like to buy an EV, the GTE golf is very attractive. Since I live between the south of France and Spain, and travel between both countries every 6 months, would the GTE be a good buy, in your opinion? Another aspect that makes me reluctant to buy one is the cost of maintenance.. Any feedback would be appreciated..
It's still a quite economical car on long routes, it's just not going to benefit from the electrics as much on the motorway. If you had a daily commute of 100 miles, that would be a problem, but if you just make a very long trip twice a year, I don't see any problem with the Golf GTE. You can go completely emission free on short journeys without any range problems on long journeys, where you can use the petrol engine.
split suited The short answer is that yes I would recommend the GTE - it gives you low running costs on a day to day basis if your commute is 25-30 miles or less, and no range anxiety on longer runs due to the excellent petrol engine. It's also great to drive in both EV and petrol modes and the GTE mode puts a smile on your face! I think the residuals should be a lot stronger than a pure EV in a similar price bracket, due to public perception that it is a rapidly advancing sector. When I bought mine the electric range was (and still is I think) better than most other hybrids, even ones costing much more (e.g. Merc, BMW). The i3 was comparably priced but the looks didn't really appeal, nor did the tiny range extender engine. Overall, a pretty amazing bit of kit.
Another great review from you Sir. Intellectual, knowledgeable and funny at the same time. Thank you for sharing your experience with this great car and helping us making wise decisions. Just purchased exactly the same model and colour. Lots of happy miles ahead. Looking forward to another video of yours and wish you all the best.
Great review once again, yes these are cars of the moment - for now that is ! and are helping kill diesels. Are you sure about £279.00 for the charging point, sounds cheap and err, accurate?
No one struggles with cables like that. Its literally a 2 min task to plug it in and get it charging. Its quicker than putting a fuel nozzle in the filler neck.
*LED Lights (**3:12**) Tell me about it, thought they were supposed to 'last forever' but have already had to replace both number plate lights at £12.80 each. Fortunately a few minutes DIY job, take it to Dealers dread to think*
@3:00 into the video and you're driving with one hand (I say hand, more like three fingers and a thumb!) at the 7 o'clock position and on wet roads? Tut! Tut! Sir. Howardever (Do you like my pun?), though your video's are so good to watch, I'm still not sure about any sort of "E" powered car. Unless, of course, you're talking about the utterly delightful and jaw droppingly awesome Porsche 918! Which, sadly, due to its price, puts it out of the realms of about 99.9% of the public. That's even if you could find one for sale!! Though I have to say, this GTE is the best hybrid I've yet to see.
*If you are 'young enough' to eventually 'pay back' the "saving" I have a Mercedes B200 AMG CDi which regularly delivers over 60 mpg, and have seen 72.4 mpg (Latest Model 2019 £30,825 and emissions tested as 'too low to register') Therefore current cost of fuel @ £5.76/Gallon to cover 30 miles = £2.88 so you save on all 'Electric Mode' £1.55 - however have calculated (assuming you are now 30) that you will need to be nearing 90+ before quids up. EG 60 Years by which time the car will be History. Pioneers are great for leading. I am very conscious and aware of the 'damage that ICI Engines can produce' but would point out that my current car produces less harmful emissions in 20,000 miles that a Diesel Bus or HGV does in 1,000 Miles or an Aircraft in 100 Miles !*
In case someone is interested how sporty the GTE really is - Nordschleife Onboards here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YGmW7KCc4uY.html | ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8LBO6YxLdJc.html
Hi, in ur previous video about Lexus IS300h .. i was surely to buy rge Lexus but now i have abother option which is Golf gte .. my question 8s : should i charge it everyday ? I cant use it like the Lexus and it will charge itself?
*I was amazed to find after all the 'hype' that the Lexus is **_NOT A PLUG IN HYBRID,_** therefore you cannot charge it up overnight from cheap mains electric, an absolute CON and not worth a candle*
You fall into the magical self charge hype. I ran aToyota Auris hybrid for 5 years same drive as Prius, pretty frugal for an 1800cc (49 mpg overall, driven gently) but nothing magic. It caused me to decide that a PHEV was the only acceptable choice. I now have a GTE and I am very satisfied. A test drive of a BMW i3 was very good but to match the spec of my GTE would have been some £45000 for a REX (only acceptable version), no second hand i3 have my specification.
@@baz1289 Well, the system and the philosophy of a full hybrid and a plug-in hybrid is completelly different. For me plug in hybrids are not worth it because you have to carry around much more weight, (bigger batteries) you need a place to charge it and the right daily driving distance. Otherwise it doesn't make sense. You basically drive around 2 completelly different drive trains and it will take a lot of time to compensate the surcharge, especially if you don't have the best conditions. (more than 50km to drive per day; no charging stations at home & your work; ...) I have to drive 75km one way to work (at least 150km per day) and a plug-in hybrid like the GTE is not suitable for it. I'll stick to my Prius instead.
They seem to be doing better than specified, thought is VW doesn't want the spec to suggest it's as fast (to 60) as a GTI, not that it would be in the real world with some twists anyway. speakev.com/threads/gte-performance.10876/
No, in fact it's 6,3s 0-62mph ... VW is conservative in this figure just not to "mess" with the GTI. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gxRptqAOt7E.html
It's 27 miles in winter heater off and 23 heater on and 30 in summer AC off 25 AC on - based on lightish throttle around town and on b roads - goose it in electric on motorway and yes drops by about 4-5 miles on above figs - these are real world stats !
*VW up to the usual lies again at **2:28** and at £10.000 more expensive than the **_Golf 1.4 5 Door Petrol_** is it worth it. Live to 100 years old maybe by which time the car would be 'History'*
