First Review of VW Golf GTE: a Well Built GTI Science Lesson

That first thing the review clarifies is the perceived build quality, which was a concern for us. The blue tartan inserts for the seats look much better in person than they do in press photos, while the 18-inch wheels that are similar to those on a Passat leave a lasting impression.

Quality is a very important issue because we think that with options, the Volkswagen Golf GTE will cost you about €40,000. That seems like a ridiculously high sum to pay for a normal hatchback, but it isn't. Autogefuhl's test editor say the GTE is really well made and impresses you everywhere you look, from the rewarding "thunk" of the door to the blue painted brake calipers.

Every day, we gobble up information from Mercedes about its premium compact cars. But the CLA-Class or the A-Class aren't in the same league as an E-Class when it comes to build quality, even though they're quite expensive. For €38,500, Mercedes can sell you a CLA 220 CDI diesel, its 2.1-liter engine delivering 170 hp. Not only is the Golf GTE faster to 100 km/h (7.6 seconds versus 8.2 for the Merc), it's also more economical. And ask yourself what you want to hear for the next few years, a silent hybrid with occasional 1.4 turbo pops or a rattly diesel?

Most reviews gloss over the finer details to give you the big picture, but we always thought this is awful if you're looking to buy a car. The basic technical details can easily be found on the internet, along with interesting photos and videos. It takes more than that to answer the big question: should I buy it?