2020 Volkswagen E-Golf

History/Overview

Since 2017, Volkswagen has appealed to battery electric vehicle enthusiasts with the e-Golf, a plug-in version of the company's popular compact hatchback. As part of the first wave of electrics, the e-Golf lags behind class leaders in terms of driving range, with about 200 km available on a full charge of its battery. For 2020, the e-Golf is carried over unchanged from last year.

Available Trims

The Volkswagen e-Golf comes in a single trim that can be augmented with options. A 35.8 kWh battery feeds an electric motor that delivers 134 hp to the front wheels through a single-speed transmission.

Standard Features

All e-Golf models come with cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, passive keyless entry, 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, an eight-speaker sound system, an all-digital gauge cluster, colour multifunction display, satellite radio, adaptive LED headlights with cornering lights, LED signature daytime running lights, LED taillights, 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, heated windshield washer nozzles, a heated windshield, heated front seats with eight-way manual adjustments and lumbar support, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, cooled glove box, LED reading lights and cloth upholstery,

Key Options

A technology package adds parking sensors, wireless smartphone integration, 9.2-inch infotainment display, lighted footwells and ambient lighting.

The technology and driver assistance group includes the above, plus forward collision warning with automatic braking, blind spot monitoring with rear traffic alert and lane assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams.

Fuel Economy

Volkswagen's energy consumption estimates for the e-Golf are 1.9/2.1 Le/100 km (city/highway).

Competition

The VW e-Golf lives at the trailing edge of the EV segment, where its price and 200-km range compare well against the Hyundai Ioniq Electric and a standard-range version of the Tesla Model 3. Tougher competition comes from the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, Kia Soul EV and the Kia Niro EV, all of which promise close to 400 km of range, but for more money.