2014 VW Golf GTE review
The first plug-in hybrid from Volkswagen, the Golf GTE is one of a stream of Golf models, with other options including petrol, diesel and pure electric vehicles. Pushing the boundaries of cars as we know them, this innovative creation by Volkswagen is to be expected from this German car manufacturers who are renowned for their often pioneering works.
In-town driving
Looking firstly at its performance in town settings, it is clear that this car is built for city driving. With its smooth and relaxed ride, thanks to its motor’s power delivery, the car is comfortable yet nippy, making effortlessly quick manoeuvres in instances of confined space or traffic.
In terms of staying power, the car can travel 31 miles on electric power, making it ideal for running around the city each day. With the charging time taking around 3.5 hours from a three-pin plug, or 2.5 hours from a wallbox at your property, the car’s electric stores can be replenished quickly and easily. For those needing a car for city driving, this is ideal as the vehicle can simply be charged overnight for each day’s trip, and topped up throughout the day if need be at relevant electrics points.
Out of town driving
For longer trips taking you out of town and onto the motorway, this car also offers a great ride. Travelling up to 580 miles on the petrol tank after the electrics reserve has been used up, this hybrid is extremely efficient in energy terms, making for infrequent filling station trips; a beneficial aspect for those wanting to reduce journey times or simply not factor petrol station stops into their routes.
Going from 0-62mph in just 7.6 seconds, this car certainly keeps up on roads with higher speed limits, offering an impressive top speed of 135mph thanks to its 1.4 litre engine and lightweight build.
Appearance
The GTE is an elegant model, not easily distinguishable from the GTI and GTD, but with some differences. Inside, the GTE is much like the standard GTI. However there are several distinctions, starting with the trim flashes. Where, in the GTI, these are red in colour, in the GTE these are blue. The equipment provided within the car is plentiful and state of the art, with a digital radio, Bluetooth and 6.5 inch colour touch screen.
Price
On account of the 35g/km emissions, the price of this car has been significantly improved by the £5000 Government grant, leaving an expected cost of approximately £28,000; only slightly more than its less profound counterpart the e-Golf. As well as this, the road tax is extremely low thanks to these tiny emission levels, and running the car purely off electrics lowers fuel costs considerably.
Drawbacks
Though this car has an abundance of innovative features and money-saving, environmentally-friendly aspects, it compromises on other areas on account of these. The layout of the fuel tank system means there is an extremely small boot space; an impractical feature for those transporting luggage, shopping or simply day-to-day equipment. As well as this, the seats cannot be totally flattened due to the batteries taking up the space beneath the back seats, which could again cause problems for those trying to transport anything in the car.
At Gatwick Car & Van Rental, we are committed to providing only the best models of car to our customers, always keeping up to date on developments within the auto industry. A leading providers of high quality vehicle and van hire in Crawley and the surrounding areas, we are happy to help find the right solution for you and your trip, so don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today.