Skip advert
Advertisement

Long-term test review: VW Golf GTE

Hybrid hatchback more than exceeds our man's expectations

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Volkswagen Golf
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

I really did fall for the GTE during its six weeks in my hands, as it fitted in so perfectly with my motoring lifestyle. And the most impressive part of all is how smoothly the electric tech is integrated with the car’s conventional drivetrain. The GTE is expensive, but it works a treat.

Advertisement - Article continues below

If you’re a true car enthusiast, the VW Golf GTE can’t help but be intriguing, even if it isn’t the last word in high- performance hot hatch motoring. 

I’ve been running one for the last six weeks now to see if its hybrid personality might fit rather neatly into my life, or turn out to be an overpriced, under-engineered gimmick. And I’ve reached the conclusion that it’s one of the smartest, most relevant hatchbacks money can buy right now.

Yes, the GTE Nav looks expensive at, wince, £35,520 – the standard GTE is £33,755 – but take the £5,000 Government grant into consideration and £30,520 no longer seems quite so painful, especially if you check out how much standard kit the car comes with (adaptive cruise control, air-con and sat-nav with an excellent 5.8-inch touchscreen).

What you’re paying for with this car, though, is its hybrid drivetrain. It features a conventional 148bhp 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, which is supplemented by a 101bhp electric motor to give a claimed output of 201bhp. Does it work? Yes it does, even if the performance of the GTE fails to truly excite. The car feels smooth and rapid, yet doesn’t knock you for six with its acceleration. 

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Kamiq

2023 Skoda

Kamiq

16,454 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £13,200
View Kamiq
Kuga

2019 Ford

Kuga

75,142 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,800
View Kuga
Focus

2020 Ford

Focus

36,476 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £13,400
View Focus
Tucson

2023 Hyundai

Tucson

42,103 milesManualPetrol1.6L

Cash £15,900
View Tucson

It also feels quite heavy and slightly under-damped if you fling it around like a proper GTI. But use it as a mile-muncher and forget the idea of reaching motoring nirvana on B-roads, and the GTE works brilliantly.

The refined six-speed twin-clutch transmission makes the VW an incredibly relaxing car to drive, thanks in no small part to the adaptive cruise. On one occasion when the roads were particularly quiet, I drove from Aston Martin’s HQ in Warwickshire to my place in Hove on the East Sussex coast without having to touch the pedals once.

On journeys home of 100 miles or more, I found I could generate enough range by recharging on the move to drive the car in full E mode everywhere back in Hove. That much is curiously impressive, not to say convenient given that my lifestyle tends to involve either long motorway hauls or short town trips, and not an awful lot in between.

There are four charging points in my home town, all in prime parking locations. Local company Elektromotive runs a free scheme that enables anyone with an electric car to charge up at the points for nothing. Even so, most of them remain available a lot of the time, so it’s not exactly a trend to drive electric there just yet. 

A full charge took four hours at a regular power point – two from a wall charger – but I found that even just 45 minutes at an Elektromotive point would put around 10 miles in the tank, which is enough to get back on to the open road and recharge.

The fuel consumption wasn’t too great while recharging, however – less than 40mpg even with a fairly light foot – while in GTE mode, it would do about 42mpg. VW claims the total range is over 30 miles, but in nearly 1,500 miles of motoring, I never saw more than 25 on the range indicator.

Flat out in E mode, the GTE would hit 80mph at our proving grounds, which is spooky when there’s no noise other than that generated by the wind and the tyres.

Inside, the GTE is pure Golf, meaning it’s one of the most well thought out hatchbacks around, with bags of space in the rear, plus a great pair of seats up front and a fine driving position.

*Insurance quote from AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three penalty points.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,115 off RRP*Used from £14,400
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,200Avg. savings £4,555 off RRP*Used from £14,900
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,391 off RRP*Used from £16,800
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £1,743 off RRP*Used from £18,900
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Electric car drivers won’t ever go back to petrol or diesel
Opinion - VW ID.7 GTX

Electric car drivers won’t ever go back to petrol or diesel

Editor Paul Barker thinks the EV transition is coming whether we like it or not
Opinion
28 May 2025
It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA
Opinion - Jaguar

It's only a matter of time before Jaguar Land Rover builds a factory in the USA

Mike Rutherford thinks Jaguar's 'Reimagine' strategy will result in the company exploring further opportunities in the USA
Opinion
25 May 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Bag the iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI for under £300 a month
Volkswagen Golf GTI - front cornering left 1

Car Deal of the Day: Bag the iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI for under £300 a month

It’s arguably been the daddy for 50 years, and can be snatched for a low price right now. The VW Golf GTI is our Deal of the Day for 27 May
News
27 May 2025
OSZAR »