Volkswagen E-Golf (2015)

Test Drive Notes Library

Pros
This is an all-electric version of VW’s Golf.  So it starts out as a very nice car, and adds battery power.
It’s a very practical, versatile design, with four doors, comfortable seating for four, and a hatchback for cargo.  
It’s got an upscale interior, and a solid, quality feel.  
It handles well, rides comfortably, and is quiet.  Really a pleasure to drive.  Like a VW Golf, but quieter. 
Like most electric cars, it feels very peppy when you hit the accelerator.   Because electric motors deliver all of their torque right away, there’s no sluggishness at all off the mark. 
The price is right.  Our loaded test model listed for about $36,000, before state or ($7,500) federal rebates.  And its MPG equivalent (MPGe) is 116. 
You’re helping to save the planet.  If you drive less than, say, 80 miles a day, and you have another family car you can use for long trips, you’ll never have to visit a gas station again.  Except perhaps to use the bathroom, and to sneak your extension cord into the bathroom outlet and charge up for a while.  
The range information (miles before you run out of juice and have to call Uber to get you home) seems pretty accurate.  It goes up and down, depending on how you’re driving.  So, for instance, after a full charge, the dashboard reading might say you have 85 miles.  If you’re driving gently, around town, the range might go up to 95 miles—meaning if you keep driving like that, you can go farther.  Likewise, if you get on a highway, and floor it, and climb up a grade at 65 mph, it’s going to drop very quickly.   But we found that overall, it averages out pretty well and the projected range was pretty accurate.

Cons
Range anxiety is a real thing.  When cars like this can go 250 miles on a charge, it’ll be a whole ‘nother ballgame. 
While it feels plenty peppy and powerful when you take off from a stop light, it feels a little underpowered when you’re get into middle speeds, say during acceleration onto a highway.  Overall 0-60 acceleration is in the 10-second range, which is certainly adequate, but may not be what you’re used to these days.  
While it’s a good handling car, it drives like it’s a little heavier than the standard Golf, and you can feel that in the body lean on turns.  
The navigation system takes forever to boot up.  Infotainment system needs more horsepower.  Due to be upgraded in 2016.  Worth waiting for.
A lighted outlet would be nice for charging up the car at night.  You get home after dark, you grab the charging plug, and you keep pushing it into the filler outlet by braille, until you finally get it lined up right.  Having it lit up by an LED when the “fuel” door is open would be a nice touch.