Photo: Volkswagen
The Volkswagen e-Golf has proven to be surprisingly popular in Europe despite having a relatively short range, even compared to similarly priced cars available there such as the Renault ZOE (which sits one segment lower than the German hatchback).
Volkswagen is currently working on its first dedicated electric models and it's just presented a concept in Frankfurt that previews the first one to enter production: the I.D. Crozz II crossover. The manufacturer promises an entire range of electric vehicles by 2025 with no less than 80 models across all the Volkswagen Group brands, so expect to see a lot more I.D. concepts and products over the coming years.
In the meantime, though, the Wolfsburg carmaker has to do with what it's got. And with the feeble European EV market pretty much secured, it was time for Volkswagen to cross the Atlantic and move into Tesla territory. Not that the German electric hatchback has too many chances of stealing customers from Elon Musk's company.
Despite a bump in battery capacity, the e-Golf's pack still falls just short of 40 kWh, meaning it can't go too far on a single charge. That would be 125 miles, to be more exact, according to the EPA (which is around 200 km). That's probably enough to satisfy most people's daily needs, but not without the dreaded range anxiety hanging over your head.
It all hangs on the price, then. With the 2018 Nissan LEAF just launched with a 150-mile range and a $29,990 base price, the e-Golf has to either undercut it, or come up with something special to stand a chance. Well, the base SE version starts at $30,495, so that leaves the former out of the question. As for the latter, it kind of does, and it kind of doesn't.
If you can put the Dieselgate scandal aside, the e-Golf brings the promises that come with a (cough) respectable German manufacturer. That means high-quality build and reliability. The SE also gets packed with plenty of technology, including an 8-inch touchscreen display, LED lights all-around, and cruise control.
The e-Golf Limited Edition ($33,795) adds DC Fast Charging capabilities, faux leather upholstery, and ParkPilot (parking assistance with enhanced features), among others. The top level trim is called SEL Premium and sells for $36,995. It gets the option to install all the driver assistance features that Volkswagen currently has, plus the VW Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, bundled up in a $1,395 optional package.
We expect most Volkswagen e-Golfs you'll see on American roads to be leased, with people who just don't want to wait for a Model 3 and can't stand the looks of a Chevrolet Bolt behind the wheel. They will probably get one until either Tesla ramps up production and starts to meet the demand in reasonable time, or the other manufacturers catch up in terms of range and charging infrastructure.
In the meantime, though, the Wolfsburg carmaker has to do with what it's got. And with the feeble European EV market pretty much secured, it was time for Volkswagen to cross the Atlantic and move into Tesla territory. Not that the German electric hatchback has too many chances of stealing customers from Elon Musk's company.
Despite a bump in battery capacity, the e-Golf's pack still falls just short of 40 kWh, meaning it can't go too far on a single charge. That would be 125 miles, to be more exact, according to the EPA (which is around 200 km). That's probably enough to satisfy most people's daily needs, but not without the dreaded range anxiety hanging over your head.
It all hangs on the price, then. With the 2018 Nissan LEAF just launched with a 150-mile range and a $29,990 base price, the e-Golf has to either undercut it, or come up with something special to stand a chance. Well, the base SE version starts at $30,495, so that leaves the former out of the question. As for the latter, it kind of does, and it kind of doesn't.
If you can put the Dieselgate scandal aside, the e-Golf brings the promises that come with a (cough) respectable German manufacturer. That means high-quality build and reliability. The SE also gets packed with plenty of technology, including an 8-inch touchscreen display, LED lights all-around, and cruise control.
The e-Golf Limited Edition ($33,795) adds DC Fast Charging capabilities, faux leather upholstery, and ParkPilot (parking assistance with enhanced features), among others. The top level trim is called SEL Premium and sells for $36,995. It gets the option to install all the driver assistance features that Volkswagen currently has, plus the VW Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, bundled up in a $1,395 optional package.
We expect most Volkswagen e-Golfs you'll see on American roads to be leased, with people who just don't want to wait for a Model 3 and can't stand the looks of a Chevrolet Bolt behind the wheel. They will probably get one until either Tesla ramps up production and starts to meet the demand in reasonable time, or the other manufacturers catch up in terms of range and charging infrastructure.
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