Is poor electric range on my new Volkswagen Passat GTE grounds for rejection?

My company car just came up for replacement. As I largely do short trips, I decided to ditch diesel and got a Volkswagen Passat GTE last week. My commute is just over 10 miles each way, so I had hoped to be able to get to work and back again on a single charge (Volkswagen claim 31 miles). Despite turning off all unnecessary electrics (including the radio) and driving very gently in regenerative mode, the best I've achieved was 14 miles before the battery gave up. The car isn't really meeting the purpose for which it was bought. Am I likely to have any grounds for rejecting the car because of poor range?

Asked on 7 February 2017 by dfulton77

Answered by Honest John

If they say it will do 31 miles on electric power alone and it won't then that is grounds for rejection because 31 miles is an important figure. It qualifies PHEV minicabs for exemptions when entering the London Congestion Zone. Our experience of the Passat GTE was wholly positive. See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/volkswagen/volkswa.../ There might be something wrong with your individual car, with its battery pack, or with the type of home charger you are using.

Tags: legal and consumer advice consumer rights buying and selling commuting electric cars right to reject electric range

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

Select a few terms below

Similar questions

Should I buy an Audi A3 diesel or hybrid?

I'm looking at changing my 2013 petrol Renault Clio 0.9 TCe for a diesel as my commute to work is now 134 miles (67 miles each way). I make this commute up to four times per week, however, in a few months...

I just bought a faulty new car - am I entitled to a refund if I didn't sign the logbook?

I bought a vehicle and paid in full for it, only to find on the trip home there was a gearbox problem. I then found out that only the seller singed the logbook. I have the vehicle and one half of the logbook...

What is a zero per cent insurance claim?

My sister has put a £200 deposit on a £3990 2012 Hyundai i10 1.2 today. When phoning for an insurance quote, the call centre operative asked her if she had an outstanding claim on the car from 2014. She...

Related models