Used Volkswagen Golf GTE 2015-2019 review

Proof that the Volkswagen Golf comes in all shapes and sizes to appeal to all is to be found in the Volkswagen Golf GTE.

This is the 2015 to 2019 plug-in hybrid version of the seventh-generation (Mk7) Golf, which means it mates a conventional petrol engine with an electric motor and has the capability to run on electric-only power for up to a claimed 31 miles. Thus the GTE can take advantage of all that’s good about electric-only motoring for short journeys, while its entirely conventional petrol engine means you can motor normally once the batteries have run out of juice - in other words, there are no range anxiety issues.

It sits, as the name suggests, somewhere between the all-out sporting Volkswagen Golf GTI and the all-electric 2015-2019 Volkswagen e-Golf, with a hint of sportiness in its styling and make-up. That the GTE appears lower and leaner than a standard Mk7 Golf is an advantage of the sports suspension that lowers it by around 10mm.

Engines: Underneath, however, the two cars are virtually indistinguishable. The GTE gets the 148bhp 1.4 TSI petrol engine, which drives the front wheels in conjunction with a 101bhp electric motor built into the same housing as that used by the bespoke six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Trims & equipment: It comes with an appropriate amount of kit for its (original) price, including climate control, LED headlights, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control and parking sensors to the front and the rear. In fact, it comes with the same kit that's found on a GT Golf. You’ll also get an e-remote mobile service subscription, efficient driving software, unique 17in alloy wheels and numerous sporty touches.

Paying a bit more, used, gets you the GTE Advance, with its sat-nav, heated front seats, rear tinted windows, 18in wheels and an exterior sound generator designed to let the public know you are there when the car is in electric mode.

Ride & handling: On the road, the GTE is smooth, refined and decently quick. Indeed its 0 to 62mph acceleration time is nearly as quick as the GTI’s, at 7.6sec. It’s rapid and, in electric-only running, pleasingly quiet, but it doesn’t have the sharpness to it that the GTI has, and it isn’t quite so much fun to drive.

Of course, its real forte is economy. You can run the Golf GTE in one of four modes: pure electric, hybrid, GTE and ‘battery charge’. In pure electric mode it behaves much like the fully electric e-Golf, so the petrol engine stays switched off and there's a silent stream of power the instant you push the accelerator pedal.

With a fully topped-up battery (which takes 3-4 hours from a domestic three-pin socket) expect to get about 20 miles down the road before the batteries run out of juice, rather than the claimed 31 miles. In cold weather, you won’t even get that far.

Most of the time it's easier to run in hybrid mode, with the 1.4-litre petrol engine being assisted by an electric motor to improve performance and help deliver good fuel economy. As in all the best plug-in hybrids, there’s a seamless transition between petrol and electric power, so you can barely detect which is doing the bulk of the work.

Interior & practicality: Inside, there are figure-hugging tartan seats and a sporty-looking steering wheel, in a nod to the GTI. The driving position is excellent, being multi-adjustable, and the visibility good. The dashboard is logically laid out and easy to use, and the quality is high, with plenty of nice-looking plastics and a good choice of materials.

There’s plenty of space, too, especially up front. A couple of six-footers will be comfortable in the rear, although the boot is noticeably smaller than a regular Golf’s, at 272 litres, in order to make room for the petrol tank and batteries, and the rear seats don’t fold totally flat.

If you're interested in finding a used Volkswagen Golf GTE, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for the GTE start off at around £10,000, this buying you a 2015 car with an average mileage. Expect to pay between £11,000 and £17,000 to secure a 2016 or 2017 car that satisfies the same criteria, and £15,000 to £20,000 for a 2018 or 2019 model.

MPG

The claimed average fuel consumption figure for the GTE, according to the old NEDC method of measurement, is an impressive 166.2mpg, corresponding to a very low CO2 emissions output of 38g/km.

However, as with most plug-in hybrids, you’re unlikely to see this figure in the real world, unless all your journeys are short, and you have access to charging points at either end. Our real-world figures, which include that time you’ll be motoring on just the petrol engine alone after the battery range has dried up, are substantially lower, although still on a par with some conventionally powered Golfs.

The claimed battery range is 31 miles, but again, in real-world use, we seldom saw more than around 20 miles before the petrol engine cut in.

Road tax

Road tax is based on CO2 emissions on cars registered before April 2017, so GTEs of this period score well there with no tax payable. Alas, those registered after that date will pay the standard rate applicable for hybrids, currently £180 a year.

Insurance & servicing

Insurance groups are relatively low and stand at 25 for the standard car and 26 for the higher-spec Advance model.

Volkswagen doesn’t offer fixed price servicing for the GTE and it doesn’t publish any fixed price costs either, so it’ll be worth contacting a few Volkswagen dealers to find out which one works out to be the least expensive. There will be plenty of independent garages that will be more than used to working on the Golf and will take on the GTE, often for cheaper hourly rates than the franchised dealers.

Reliability

The 2013-2020 Volkswagen Golf has received varied feedback on reliability and dealer service, as highlighted by our annual What Car? Reliability Survey. Owners commend the car's engine reliability, noting fewer major issues compared to other brands. However, electrical problems, especially with infotainment systems and warning lights, have led to multiple dealer visits for some.

While some owners praise the prompt and courteous service from dealerships, others report high repair costs and lengthy service times. Additionally, a few owners have expressed dissatisfaction with how warranty issues were managed, impacting their trust in the brand. Despite the car's general reliability, inconsistent dealership experiences have caused frustration among some owners.

Discover more about used Volkswagen Golf reliability and common problems on our dedicated reliability page.

You get a choice of two GTEs, the standard one and the Advance version. This adds larger alloy wheels and a little more kit, and its CO2 emissions are slightly higher and its fuel economy slightly down on the standard car. We’d seek out the standard car for that reason, despite the Advance getting sat-nav included.

Our favourite Volkswagen Golf GTE: 1.4 TSI GTE

The Hyundai Ioniq can be bought as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or a pure electric-only car. The plug-in hybrid version equates to the GTE, and it comes with a good-quality interior, low running costs and a reassuringly normal driving experience.

The 2016-2022 Kia Niro PHEV is a good bet, too. It's well made, practical, reliable and good value used. In plug-in hybrid form it's potentially cheap to run, too, with the official figures showing it can run for up to 38 miles on electric-power alone before the engine kicks in.

Or you could go for an electric car with much more radical styling in the BMW i3. It’s also made from carbonfibre, which makes it much lighter than most electric cars and pays dividends in terms of outright acceleration. The older and now no longer on sale range-extender version has a small petrol engine on board that acts as a generator, meaning range anxiety issues are lessened.

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If you're interested in finding a used Golf, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.