Used Volkswagen Golf GTE 2015-2019 review

What's the used Volkswagen Golf like?

Proof that the Volkswagen Golf comes in all shapes and sizes to appeal to all is to be found in the Volkswagen Golf GTE.

This is the 2015 to 2019 plug-in hybrid version of the seventh-generation (Mk7) Golf, which means it mates a conventional petrol engine with an electric motor and has the capability to run on electric-only power for up to a claimed 31 miles. Thus the GTE can take advantage of all that’s good about electric-only motoring for short journeys, while its entirely conventional petrol engine means you can motor normally once the batteries have run out of juice - in other words, there are no range anxiety issues.

It sits, as the name suggests, somewhere between the all-out sporting Volkswagen Golf GTI and the all-electric 2015-2019 Volkswagen e-Golf, with a hint of sportiness in its styling and make-up. That the GTE appears lower and leaner than a standard Mk7 Golf is an advantage of the sports suspension that lowers it by around 10mm.

Engines: Underneath, however, the two cars are virtually indistinguishable. The GTE gets the 148bhp 1.4 TSI petrol engine, which drives the front wheels in conjunction with a 101bhp electric motor built into the same housing as that used by the bespoke six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Trims & equipment: It comes with an appropriate amount of kit for its (original) price, including climate control, LED headlights, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and parking sensors to the front and the rear. In fact, it comes with the same kit that's found on a GT Golf. You’ll also get an e-remote mobile service subscription, efficient driving software, unique 17in alloy wheels and numerous sporty touches.

Paying a bit more, used, gets you the GTE Advance, with its sat-nav, heated front seats, rear tinted windows, 18in wheels and an exterior sound generator designed to let the public know you are there when the car is in electric mode.

Ride & handling: On the road, the GTE is smooth, refined and decently quick. Indeed its 0 to 62mph acceleration time is nearly as quick as the GTI’s, at 7.6sec. It’s rapid and, in electric-only running, pleasingly quiet, but it doesn’t have the sharpness to it that the GTI has, and it isn’t quite so much fun to drive.

Of course, its real forte is economy. You can run the Golf GTE in one of four modes: pure electric, hybrid, GTE and ‘battery charge’. In pure electric mode it behaves much like the fully electric e-Golf, so the petrol engine stays switched off and there's a silent stream of power the instant you push the accelerator pedal.

With a fully topped-up battery (which takes 3-4 hours from a domestic three-pin socket) expect to get about 20 miles down the road before the batteries run out of juice, rather than the claimed 31 miles. In cold weather, you won’t even get that far.

Most of the time it's easier to run in hybrid mode, with the 1.4-litre petrol engine being assisted by an electric motor to improve performance and help deliver good fuel economy. As in all the best plug-in hybrids, there’s a seamless transition between petrol and electric power, so you can barely detect which is doing the bulk of the work.

Interior & practicality: Inside, there are figure-hugging tartan seats and a sporty-looking steering wheel, in a nod to the GTI. The driving position is excellent, being multi-adjustable, and the visibility good. The dashboard is logically laid out and easy to use, and the quality is high, with plenty of nice-looking plastics and a good choice of materials.

There’s plenty of space, too, especially up front. A couple of six-footers will be comfortable in the rear, although the boot is noticeably smaller than a regular Golf’s, at 272 litres, in order to make room for the petrol tank and batteries, and the rear seats don’t fold totally flat.

If you're interested in finding a used Volkswagen Golf GTE, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Ownership cost

What used Volkswagen Golf will I get for my budget?

Prices for the GTE start off at around £10,000, this buying you a 2015 car with an average mileage. Expect to pay between £11,000 and £17,000 to secure a 2016 or 2017 car that satisfies the same criteria, and £15,000 to £20,000 for a 2018 or 2019 model.

Our recommendations

Used Volkswagen Golf GTE 2015-present

Which used Volkswagen Golf should I buy?

You get a choice of two GTEs, the standard one and the Advance version. This adds larger alloy wheels and a little more kit, and its CO2 emissions are slightly higher and its fuel economy slightly down on the standard car. We’d seek out the standard car for that reason, despite the Advance getting sat-nav included.

Our favourite Volkswagen Golf GTE: 1.4 TSI GTE

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Alternatives

Used Volkswagen Golf GTE 2015-present

What alternatives should I consider to a used Volkswagen Golf?

The Hyundai Ioniq can be bought as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or a pure electric-only car. The plug-in hybrid version equates to the GTE, and it comes with a good-quality interior, low running costs and a reassuringly normal driving experience.

The 2016-2022 Kia Niro PHEV is a good bet, too. It's well made, practical, reliable and good value used. In plug-in hybrid form it's potentially cheap to run, too, with the official figures showing it can run for up to 38 miles on electric-power alone before the engine kicks in.

Or you could go for an electric car with much more radical styling in the BMW i3. It’s also made from carbonfibre, which makes it much lighter than most electric cars and pays dividends in terms of outright acceleration. The older and now no longer on sale range-extender version has a small petrol engine on board that acts as a generator, meaning range anxiety issues are lessened.

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If you're interested in finding a used Golf, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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