Volkswagen Golf GTE Review 2024

The Volkswagen Golf GTE is not the only plug-in hybrid hot hatchback these days, with closely-related rivals in the shape of the Cupra Leon eHybrid and Skoda Octavia vRS iV. Yet the GTE does plenty of things well – even if its infotainment system is a pain and the hybrid powertrain eats into luggage capacity.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE is a hot hatchback that promises pious fuel consumption and environmental friendliness. Pitched as a plug-in hybrid version of the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI, the GTE accordingly has big shoes to fill.

Volkswagen has set the bar high, giving the GTE the same 245PS power output as found in the Volkswagen Golf GTI. A 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine is combined with an electric motor and a 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Power goes to the front wheels, with a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission in charge of managing it.

When fully charged, the Volkswagen Golf GTE is officially capable of covering nearly 40 miles on pure electric power. The hybrid tech also results in low CO2 emissions of just 27g/km, plus a WLTP fuel consumption figure of 235.4mpg.

Although these figures sound great on paper, the real-world numbers are likely to be less impressive. Nonetheless, a Volkswagen Golf GTE should still be capable of delivering around 60mpg in regular use, provided you charge the batteries regularly.

The key benefit of the Volkswagen Golf GTE’s quoted fuel economy is a low 12 percent Benefit-in-Kind company car tax rating. This helps towards relatively low running costs for a hot hatchback. It’s certainly cheaper to run than a GTI.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE looks the part, with Volkswagen having given it the same bodykit as the Volkswagen Golf GTI (and the diesel-powered Volkswagen Golf GTD model). This means a sporty front bumper, with plenty of honeycomb trim, plus an illuminated front grille. The sporty theme continues inside, with high-backed sports seats and GTI-inspired tartan upholstery.

Standard specification is strong, with three-zone climate control air-con, satellite navigation and IQ. Light LED headlights all included. This goes some way towards justifying the GTE’s rather high list price, which is now in excess of £40,000. The hybrid battery pack does have an impact on practicality, reducing boot space by 100 litres compared to a regular Golf hatchback.

Like a regular Golf, the Volkswagen Golf GTE also comes with Volkswagen’s Innovision infotainment system. A 10.0-inch multimedia touchscreen is used to control most of the car’s functions. Sadly, multiple presses and jabs are needed to complete even the most basic tasks. It remains a frustrating process, not helped by the GTE’s steering wheel with its over-sensitive haptic feedback controls. 

Volkswagen perhaps set expectations too high by giving the GTE the same output as the Volkswagen Golf Golf GTI. The latter is still a true hot hatchback, while the Volkswagen Golf GTE offers effective and efficient pace, but without much in the way of driver engagement.

For company car drivers, and those who want an electrified vehicle without the compromises of a full EV, the Volkswagen Golf GTE makes a lot of sense. But it certainly won’t wow you into taking the long way home.

The additional weight of the Volkswagen Golf GTE’s battery pack does result in a heavier car than the standard Golf GTI. A kerb weight of 1,627kg is certainly not in the lightweight hatch category, and it has an obvious effect on how the Volkswagen Golf GTE handles. The diesel Golf GTD is more fun to drive, even with less power.

Think of the Volkswagen Golf GTE as a powerful long-distance cruiser, rather than an outright hot hatchback, and it starts to make more sense. The standard chassis setup is firm, but not to the point of being uncomfortable. Handling falls into the class of being predictable and composed, with accurate steering that is not endowed with massive amounts of feel.

On a long motorway journey, or tackling fast and flowing A-roads, the Volkswagen Golf GTE will feel right at home. The optional Dynamic Chassis Control is a useful extra to have; it allows the suspension stiffness to be dialled back to Comfort mode when you’re not in the mood.

With 245PS, the Volkswagen Golf GTE boasts the exact same power output as the petrol-only Golf GTI. However, being a plug-in hybrid means it achieves the horsepower via a more complex process than the GTI’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE comes with a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, which is connected to an electric motor. The engine contributes 150PS alone, with the hybrid system providing the rest of the power.

Deploying all 245PS means a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds, aided by a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. This makes it half a second slower than the Volkswagen Golf GTI, but quicker than the Volkswagen Golf GTD’s 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds.

Channelling all that power, and a mighty 400Nm of torque, through the front wheels becomes the Volkswagen Golf GTE’s limiting factor. Again, it sees the plug-in hybrid Golf better suited to fast and efficient cruising, rather than chasing apexes on country lanes.

Regenerative braking is included on the Volkswagen Golf GTE, allowing the potential to top-up the batteries while driving. In normal use it is fairly innocuous, although engaging Sport mode makes the deceleration effect more obvious. In either setting, it results in an artificial feel to the brake pedal, although this is common to many hybrid cars.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE’s 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack has a maximum charging speed of 3.6kW via an included Type 2 connector. Using this will see the battery replenished in three hours 40 minutes, whilst a slower 2.3kW home wallbox will take five hours. Not being compatible with rapid-charging devices means there are no quicker options, unfortunately.

The Volkswagen Golf is one of the safest new cars in this sector, having been awarded a top five-star rating by Euro NCAP. Included in this were high scores for both adult and child occupant safety, with the Golf’s array of driver assistance systems also recognised.

Standard specification on the Golf GTE includes Travel Assist, allowing partially assisted driving up to 130mph. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and driver emergency assist are also standard. The latter system detects if the driver is no longer in control of the car, then automatically brings it safely to a stop.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE isn’t the first car you’d think of for towing, yet it offers a respectable amount of hauling capability. A tow bar appears on the factory options list, and the Volkswagen Golf GTE can pull a braked trailer weighing up to 1,500kg.

A Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid may be a better option for serious towing. It has the same power output as the Golf, but the ability to tow an 1,800kg braked trailer.

The Volkswagen Golf is the archetypal family hatchback, combining compact dimensions with everyday usability. However, even in standard form, the Mk8 Golf is not the most accommodating option. And choosing the hybrid Volkswagen Golf GTE version makes a further dent in practicality.

Front-seat passengers will have few complaints, with the standard sports seats being supportive and offering plenty of adjustment. There is also a sizable glovebox, numerous storage cubbies and door bins that are more than just a token offering.

Space in the rear is tighter, though, particularly when compared with related models such as the Cupra Leon e-Hybrid and Skoda Octavia vRS iV. Two adults will be able to fit, but carrying three people on the rear bench is best limited to short journeys only.

A regular Volkswagen Golf boasts a 374-litre boot capacity, but the Volkswagen Golf GTE’s hybrid batteries reduce this substantially, to just 273 litres. This on par with other hybrid-powered hatchbacks, but still feels a little disappointing. The rear bench seat does still 60:40 and fold down, at least.

The Volkswagen Golf was previously the benchmark for interior quality in this class, but the latest version is firmly in the middle of the pack. This is partly due to other brands pushing to be more premium, but also thanks to cost-cutting inside the latest Golf.

At least the Volkswagen Golf GTE has a few special details to lift the standard cabin. Its sports seats are finished in blue tartan upholstery, while the steering wheel is borrowed from the Golf GTI (with added blue stitching). LED ambient lighting is a neat touch, too. It all helps make the Volkswagen Golf GTE look more special, but it can’t disguise some of the cheaper materials used throughout the cabin.

Many words have been written about Volkswagen’s Innovision multimedia system, the majority of them not positive. It combines a 10.0-inch central multimedia touchscreen with a 10.25-inch digital dashboard display, then throws in plenty of frustration for good measure.

The touchscreen controls almost every interior function, save for a handful of items operated by touch-sensitive sliders and buttons. Having to navigate through multiple menus to change even simple settings is hugely annoying, and familiarity does not make things much easier.

In gaining the same sports steering wheel as the Golf GTI, the Volkswagen Golf GTE also inherits the bizarre haptic feedback controls fitted to it. This makes even adjusting the radio volume a needlessly difficult task.

The Golf’s infotainment system includes DAB radio, satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. Optional voice commands can be used to try and avoid battling with the touchscreen.

There are five specific driving modes, bespoke to the Volkswagen Golf GTE and accessible through the driver profile selection. These include the ability to drive on electric power only.

Prices for the Volkswagen Golf GTE start on the wrong side of £40,000, and that’s before the inevitable dive into the options list. For comparison, the equivalent Cupra Leon e-Hybrid will cost around £37,000, which obviously makes the Volkswagen Golf GTE look expensive.

Choosing the performance hybrid Volkswagen Golf GTE demands a premium over other Golf models, too. The petrol Volkswagen Golf GTI starts from just less than £38,000, with the diesel-powered Volkswagen Golf GTD cheaper still – at around £37,000. 

A core selling point for a plug-in hybrid like the Volkswagen Golf GTE is lower running costs, and this hatchback does not disappoint. Company car drivers in particular will be impressed, as the hybrid drivetrain offers a gateway to lower tax payments.

Official WLTP figures say that the Volkswagen Golf GTE will return a combined fuel consumption figure of 235.6mpg. Take that number with a big pinch of salt, however, as it is based upon the battery being fully charged when put through the testing process. In reality, figures between 50mpg and 60mpg are more likely in daily driving, which is still highly respectable for a performance hatchback with 245PS.

Keeping the 13kWh battery pack charged is key to extracting maximum fuel economy from the Volkswagen Golf GTE. When fully topped-up, the WLTP tests suggest a potential range of 37 miles on pure electric power alone. For average commutes, this could mean covering your entire journey without using any fuel.

The Volkswagen Golf GTE’s impressive official fuel economy figures, and related very low CO2 emissions of just 27g/km, translate into a Benefit-in-Kind tax rating of just 12 percent. For company car drivers, this means monthly payments of £80.91 at the 20 percent tax rate, or £161.82 for those in the 40 percent tax bracket.

Volkswagen supplies the Volkswagen Golf GTE with a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first) as standard. Fixed-price servicing is also available when buying new, covering the first two services for £269.

As part of Volkswagen’s performance range, the Volkswagen Golf GTE gains a host of special features. It builds upon the already generously equipped R-Line version, and shares many features with the GTI and GTD models.

Standard exterior specification includes bespoke Volkswagen Golf GTE styling, with unique front and rear bumpers that are inset with honeycomb detailing. GTE badging and blue trim above the IQ. Light adaptive LED headlights, also help mark out this plug-in hybrid model from the GTI and GTD.

Volkswagen fits the GTE with 17-inch ‘Richmond’ alloy wheels as standard. Many buyers will be drawn to the more visually alluring 18-inch ‘Bakersfield’ wheel option, which adds just over £600 to the Volkswagen Golf GTE’s list price. Be aware that larger wheels will increase fuel consumption, though. Upgraded brakes hide behind the alloys, with a sporty red finish used for the callipers.

More LED lighting is used for the front fog lights, which have a honeycomb pattern, along with rear lights that feature dynamic sequential indicators. The front grille is illuminated for good measure.

Moving inside, the Golf GTE’s main identifying feature is the use of blue ‘Jacara’ tartan-style upholstery for the sports seats. This is similar in design to the red patterned trim used in the GTI, and is a nod to classic Volkswagen hot hatches. The high-backed sports seats have headrests incorporated into them, and come with height and lumbar adjustment.

A sports steering wheel with blue stitching, a black headlining, ‘black metal chrome’ interior details and a GTE-branded gear selector are all part of the package, too.

All Volkswagen Golf GTEs come fitted with three-zone climate control air-con, keyless entry, and side mirrors that fold and dim automatically. The 10.0-inch Innovision multimedia touchscreen is combined with a 10.25-inch digital dashboard, and incorporates satellite navigation and DAB radio.

Volkswagen supplies the Volkswagen Golf GTE with a pair of Type 2 AC charging cables. Both of these are six metres in length, and give the option of using a wallbox or conventional mains socket for charging the car’s batteries.