I've said many times that, for the money, the
Volkswagen Golf is the best car in the world. The TDI has always been a
fan favorite for efficiency, while the GTI and Golf R are as fun to
drive as cars costing twice as much. The base Golf is not only as
efficient as ever, thanks to the new 1.8-liter turbo, but the interior
is world-class as well. For 2015, VW is heading into the zero-emissions
market with the all-electric e-Golf. It looks set to be the benchmark in
that segment, too.
Photo 2/17
| 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf - First Drive
2015 VW Golf R Euro-spec - Tested
Stop with the eye rolling. It's really good, and
electric cars have a real place in the market. Even for enthusiasts. As
someone who has spent a fair amount of time talking to electric car
owners while charging a long-term Tesla, I have a pretty good idea of
what people expect from them. They are almost never the person's only
car and seldom the owner's most expensive car. Even in the case of
$90,000 Teslas. They are, however, the owner's daily driver and
sometimes favorite toy.
Driving the e-Golf, the real stand-out feature
is the shortage of anything that stands out. Aside from some energy
readouts in place of a tachometer and the general lack of noise, there
is little about the experience to differentiate it from a gas- or
diesel-powered version.
Photo 6/17
| 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf - First Drive
The single electric motor is only rated at 115
hp, but with 199 lb-ft of torque available from the start, it pulls
better than a TDI. Unlike other compact electrics, it even pulls well at
highway speeds. The Nissan Leaf, for instance, feels downright fast off
the line, but the show's over by 35 mph. The e-Golf keeps pulling long
after.
Acceleration is smooth and quiet, as is highway
cruising. Other electrics suffer from road and wind noise that would
normally have been masked by powertrain sounds. The MQB-based Golf is
quiet to begin with, but it seems as though extra time has been spent
with this battery-powered variant. The whole experience can be relaxing.
And as anyone who has driven a good electric vehicle will tell you,
this is the future of luxury.
Photo 10/17
| 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf - First Drive
Volkswagen says the e-Golf is roughly 360 pounds
heavier than a comparable four-door 1.8T Golf, even carrying around 700
pounds in lithium-ion battery pack. The 24.2 kWh battery is good for 70
to 90 miles of normal driving. Volkswagen is partnering with Charge
Point, a nationwide charging station network, and says the e-Golf can be
charged to 80 percent of capacity in just 30 minutes. Plugging into a
standard 110-volt home socket will take 20 hours for the same charge,
but we can't imagine buying or leasing one of these without having
access to a charger either at home or work, if not both. In the event of
not being able to quite make it to that charging station, VW offers
free roadside assistance.
Even with the extra 360 pounds, the new MQB
still feels nimble and maintains the normal solid-yet-compliant ride.
The steering is great, surprisingly so, with no on-center dead spot.
Resistance builds immediately and consistently as the wheel is turned.
Road feel is on the low side. Some of that can be attributed to the
205/55 all-season tires, and I'm sure some is just tuning for the
audience. Regardless, the handling is better than anything else in the
class. Putting the battery pack in the center tunnel and under the rear
seats has lowered the car's center of gravity and made it more
centralized front to rear, which is always good for dynamics. It would
be interesting to see how a good set of performance tires affects things
in terms of both handling and economy.
Photo 14/17
| 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf - First Drive
The placement of the batteries has also allowed
for the same trunk space as a regular Golf. And the rear seats are
typical MkVII cavernous, with plenty of knee room and headroom, even
when sitting behind a tall driver. The front seats are flat and
certainly not as supportive as those in the GTI, but appropriate for the
application. Maybe we will see the GTE in North America at some point.
Photo 15/17
| 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf - First Drive
The e-Golf hits dealerships in November 2014.
Only the SEL Premium model will be available at launch. It's loaded with
LED headlights and driving lights, touchscreen navigation, keyless
access, front and rear park distance control and a rearview camera.
Pricing is $36,265 with destination and includes the previously
mentioned roadside assistance as well as a 100,000-mile warranty on the
battery pack.
Photo 16/17
| volkswagen-e-golf-wheels
It only has half the range of a Tesla Model
S, but keep in mind it's half the price. Again, this isn't going to be a
household's only car, but it makes an ideal second or third. Like other
cars carrying the Golf name, the e-Golf is a world-class vehicle.
Photo 17/17
| Volkswagen-e-Golf-Front-Three-Quarters-View-Dynamic
Source:
http://www.superstreetonline.com/
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