New Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In vs New Volkswagen Golf GTE

Behind the wheel

Driving position, visibility, build quality

The Ioniq has a fully electric driver’s seat, including adjustable lumbar support, and, together with generous steering wheel adjustment, this makes it easy for most drivers to get comfortable. The Golf GTE driver’s seat and steering wheel offer a similar breadth of adjustability, including adjustable lumbar support, but the seat has to be moved manually unless you fork out an extra £525. Still, the Golf’s sports seats have far bigger side bolsters, which hold you in place more effectively during cornering.

Visibility out of both cars is good, thanks to their thin front pillars and decent-sized front windows, but the Ioniq’s sloping roofline, thicker rear pillars and split, smaller rear screen make its rear view more compromised.

Both cars get front and rear parking sensors as standard, and the Ioniq also comes with a reversing camera to help.

The Ioniq has some of Hyundai’s best-quality interior fittings to date, with sections of soft plastics and slick, robust switches and air vents. Even so, the Golf is the plusher of the two. Its high-quality plastics continue lower down its dashboard and doors, its construction feels even more solid and its switches feel every bit as nicely damped as the Ioniq’s.