The Volkswagen Golf plug-in hybrid: an excellent choice among the Golfs?

The saga of the Volkswagen Golf continues to captivate, but this time with an occupant that makes purists cringe: the plug-in hybrid. What led this dinosaur to succumb to the sirens of modern technology? If the word "excellence" is found in the presentation, the question remains: is it really the ultimate choice among the Golf models?

The Hybrid Golf: A Technological Magic Trick

The Golf celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last year. But instead of resting on its laurels, it has dived into the hybrid, thus confusing its four-wheeled clowns with those who remember the times when "answering the call of nature" was synonymous with fuel grids. This Golf has sold 37 million units since 1974, but the enthusiasm for SUVs has melted away some of its audience like an ice cream in the sun. Who would have thought that the T-Roc and Tiguan would devour so many loyal customers?

An Autonomy That Ridicules the Competition

So, let's not mince words: the autonomy of this plug-in hybrid Golf kills off the competition at the outset. Nearly 120 km in all-electric mode is solid — a distance that would let you avoid kids on bikes on the way to school. Okay, the consumption is far from being an economic feat at 18.5 kWh, but in the end, who complains when you can go to the bakery and come back without refueling? With a total autonomy exceeding 800 km, the Golf manages to convince even the biggest skeptics.

Goodbye Lightness?

But beware, all this comes at a price. The hybrid Golf is heavier than its siblings. Imagine a sparrow carrying an elephant on its back. Yes, you feel less agile. Although the DSG gearbox allows for impressive responsiveness, it's hard not to feel this 270 kg overload compared to a standard petrol Golf. We're here for a bit of fun, not for a workout.

A Familiar Yet Confusing Aesthetic

If the design of the Golf respects its roots, some questionable additions disturb the visual harmony. The silhouette that has made this model's success can be found, enhanced by flashy appendages at the front that seem to desperately try to blend in with the SUVs. The interior, however, impresses with its quality, even though the transition to a fully digital layout leaves much to be desired when it comes to ergonomics that defy the laws of common sense.

It feels as though the designers gathered to say, "How can we lose potential customers with incessant noise?" The safety alerts sound like a cacophonic orchestra, and those parking radars that scream with every reverse… A true call to the macabre dance.

The Price of Hybridization

Ah, the price! This delightful topic of conversation. For about 43,990 euros, the plug-in hybrid Golf is quite the desire. One could almost say it's a sacrilege for a model that doesn’t crush the competition in terms of performance. While a Golf 1.5 e-TSi is listed at 35,570 euros, the numbers speak for themselves. For this, one might think of corporate fleets that say, “Let’s green our image” without blowing the budget.

A Future to Define

In summary, the Volkswagen Golf plug-in hybrid is a patchwork of innovations. Its place among the Golfs is more than deserved, but it must soon meet higher expectations if it wishes to embody excellence. With promises of ergonomic corrections in the pipeline, the future could look promising. For now, we must admit that even though it's a bit too heavy, the whole is not a failure — just a bit clumsy.

Source: www.challenges.fr

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