2017 Volkswagen E-Golf Electric

It looks similar to the gasoline powered Golf except for the front grill which is now almost covered, since the e-Golf does not require much air flow. The e-Golf is far behind its rivals in cost and range but manages to stop in 122 ft. which is all due to its lighter body and configuration.

There are two trim options for the e-Golf namely SE and SEL ranging from $ 30,495 to $ 36,995. Both trims are similar in mechanical configuration but SEL Premium has first in class LED front lights and interior ambient lighting. The additional features in SEL trim are for $ 6000 which is quite a hefty amount.

Trims	SE	SEL Premium
Price	$30,495	$36,995
Features	LED taillights Composition media touchscreen sound system  Standard rearview camera.	LED headlights Discover touchscreen navigation  Interior ambient lighting.

Our Recommendation

The SEL Premium trim is $6,000 costlier than the SE trim which is not fair for a navigation system and some ambient interior lighting. The e-Golf is already $10,000 more than the gasoline-powered Golf. If you want to go for an EV, opt the SE over SEL which has the same mechanical specifications.

"Sure, it's not going to win any drag races. But the e-Golf still handles, steers and brakes with the same deftness of any other Golf. And its EV powertrain eliminates any gripes we had with the regular Golf's automatic transmission."- Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The 2017 VW e-Golf is equipped with a 100-kW synchronous A.C. motor which generates 134 hp and an instant torque of 214 lb.-ft. It has three modes provided which are normal, eco and eco+. e-Golf is capable of going 93 mph in normal mode, the eco and eco+ modes restrict the performance and the cooling system but help increase the range of the car. The eco mode reduces the top speed to 72 mph and in eco+ mode, the car will only go to max. 53 mph.

Models	Volkswagen e-Golf SE	Nissan Leaf S	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Kia Soul EV
MSRP	$30,495	$29,990	$37,495	$33,950
Motor Type	100 kW AC synchronous electric motor	110kW AC Synchronous Motor	150kw Electric Motor	109HP AC Electric Motor
Transmission	Single Speed Automatic	Single Speed Automatic	Automatic Single Speed	Single Speed Automatic
Power	134 hp	147 hp	200hp	109 hp
Torque	214 lb-ft	236 lb-ft	266 lb-ft	210 lb-ft

The e-Golf is competing with the Nissan Leaf S, Chevy Bolt LT and the Kia Soul EV. All of them are using single speed automatic gearbox.

The VW e-Golf SE is almost equal in price to the Nissan Leaf S but is far behind in power output. The Chevy Bolt is using the most powerful motor in the list and produces an enormous 200 horsepower thanks to its 150-kW motor. The Kia Soul EV has the lowest power output amongst all.

Acceleration

The VW e-Golf is not great in terms of acceleration as it only beats the Kia Soul which is less powerful. The VW e-Golf takes 8.5 secs to hit 60 mph from standstill and 16.5 secs to cover quarter mile which is ok for an average electric vehicle.

Models	Volkswagen e-Golf SE	Nissan Leaf S	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Kia Soul EV
0-60 MPH	8.5 sec	7.5 sec	6.5 sec	9.7 sec
Quarter mile	16.5 sec	15.8 sec	14.9 sec	17.4 sec

The e-Golf is behind the Nissan and the Chevy as they are using more powerful motors. Being the fastest car, the Bolt takes only 6.5 seconds to reach 60 MPH and 14.9 seconds for the quarter-mile run.

Ride and Handling

Like the gasoline-powered Golf, it is fun to drive an e-Golf, thanks to its softer tuned shockers and precise steering. The Shockers are same as that of the Golf but were tuned for the electric version, also there can are no settings available for the suspension except factory settings which is pretty good in the city. The e-Golf handles so well and it sticks to the ground as the petrol version of this car.

The car does not go above 93 mph, the suspension system manages the handling characteristics extremely well at this speed. It is pretty much easier to take a turn at high speeds with its precise and accurate steering than in Nissan and Chevy which slightly tends to understeer. But the e-Golf rolls more than its last year model due to its softer suspension but it gives smooth ride and more comfort.

Braking

The braking of the VW e-Golf is good against its rivals as it stops from 60 MPH in just 122 feet. The e-Golf is doing this with even smaller discs because of the lesser curb weight. E-Golf’s 4-mode regenerative braking allows you to recover energy from the wheels while stopping.

Model	VW e-Golf SE	Nissan Leaf S	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Kia Soul EV
Brake Front(in)	11.3	11.1	11.0	11.8
Brake Rear(in)	10.7	11.5	10.0	11.1
Curb weight(lbs.)	2455	3433	3580	3289
60-0 MPH (ft.)	122	129	132	140

The Nissan Leaf stops at 129 feet followed by the Chevy bolt under 132 ft. and the last is Kia Soul with a braking distance of 140 ft.

In case of an electric vehicle, fuel economy refers to the battery range i.e. how much distance the car can go after a full battery charge. The VW e-Golf is not the most powerful car in the list but still, the battery range remains a challenge as it goes only 125 miles.

Model	Volkswagen e-Golf SE	Nissan Leaf S	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Kia Soul EV
eMPG (city)	126	125	128	124
eMPG (Highway)	111	100	110	93
eMPG (Combined)	119	112	119	108
Battery Range (Miles)	125	151	238	110

The Chevrolet Bolt is more powerful and faster than the e-Golf but still has double the range that e-Golf offers. But you have to pay $7,000 more for the Chevy Bolt and this is not much for double battery range. The e-Golf is also behind the Nissan Leaf S.

"The VW Golf for 2017 continues a tradition of having an upscale look to its interior, using high-quality materials, soft-touch surfaces and, on higher trims, piano-black accents."- KelleyBlueBook

Seating and Comfort

Talking about the comfort, the e-Golf has the softer suspension and an adequate ride height that assures a much comfortable ride against the rivals. For the driver comfort and room, e-Golf stays in between the competition and that's enough for a hatchback. The leg room for back seat passengers is more than the Nissan by 2 inches which is enough. The car has the least headroom for the driver which could be a problem for tall drivers.

Model	Volkswagen e-Golf SE	Nissan Leaf S	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Kia Soul EV
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Passenger Volume (ft cube)	93.5	92.4	95	97.1
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.4/55.9/41.2	41.2/54.3/42.1	39.7/54.6/41.6	39.6/55.5/40.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.1/53.9/35.6	37.3/52.5/33.5	37.9/52.8/36.5	39.5/54.7/36.0

The Kia Soul EV offers the best head and shoulder room for both front and rear passengers. The cabin space is good in the Soul and if you are claustrophobic, Soul EV will impress you with its passenger volume.

Cargo Space

A good car having a decent cargo capacity is like icing on the cake and Volkswagen has built the e-Golf keeping travel needs of a family in mind. 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf has a cargo volume of 22.8 cubic-feet which is pretty good for a hatch.

Model	Volkswagen e-Golf SE	Nissan Leaf S	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Kia Soul EV
Cargo volume with rear seats in use (ft. cube)	22.8	23.6	16.9	18.8
Cargo Volume with rear seats folded (ft. cube)	52.7	30	NA	49.5

Though, when the rear seats are in use Nissan leaf has a bigger boot than the e-Golf but the real picture comes out when you fold the rear seats. The e-Golf outclasses every rival with 52.7 cubic feet of space with rear seats down.

Infotainment System

The basic SE trim comes with standard composition media touchscreen sound system. The system is pretty basic and lacks a number of features the navigation is not available for SE trim. But SEL Premium trim is equipped with Discover Touchscreen Navigation which is very much advanced and includes 3-D navigation. The infotainment system is compatible with most of the smartphones.

The biggest disappointment is that there is no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay available.

"It remains the same conservatively styled, crisp-edged five-door hatchback that Golfs have been for 40 years now, all the way back to the first Golf/Rabbit in the mid-1970s."- TheCarConnection

Dimensions and Weight

The e-Golf simply looks stunning from the outside with its no-nonsense design. It is the lightest hatchback in the competition. The car is neither the longest nor the widest and surely not the tallest but it has good overall proportions and you will not feel suffocated once you enter inside too.

Model	Volkswagen e-Golf SE	Nissan Leaf S	Chevrolet Bolt LT	Kia Soul EV
Curb weight(lbs)	2455	3433	3563	3289
Length(in)	168.1	176.4	164.0	163.0
Width(in)	70.8	70.5	69.5	70.9
Height(in)	57.2	61.4	62.8	63.0
Ground clearance(in)	6.9	5.9	6.0	5.9
Wheelbase(in)	103.5	106.3	102.4	101.2
Track width(in) F/R	60.8/59.5	60.6/61.2	59.1/59.1	62.0/62.4

Nissan Leaf S is the longest vehicle in this segment which adds up to its wheelbase. e-Golf has an edge over its rivals with a ground clearance of 6.9-inches.

 

IIHS and NHSTA are yet to crash test the 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf car, but not to forget that its gas-powered sibling has been rated 4+ stars by the NHTSA. The ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) system provide superior handling qualities and the engine braking assist improves brake effectiveness.

The Anti-lock Braking System with EBD takes control during hard braking in corners and the automatic emergency braking respond quickly to emergency conditions. For collisions, the car consists of well-engineered crumple zones at front and rear and for passengers, the front seat belts are equipped with pre-tensioner and load-limiters.

Safety Features:

• Electronic Stability Control (Esc), Anti-Slip Regulation (Asr), Electronic Differential Lock (Edl), And Engine Braking Assist (Eba)
• Anti-Lock Braking System (Abs), Electronic Brake-Pressure Distribution (EBD), And Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
• Intelligent Crash Response System (Icrs)
• Automatic Emergency Braking With Pedestrian Detection
• Vehicle Dynamic Control (Vdc) With Traction Control System (TCS)
• 3-Point Air/Elr Passenger Seat Belt System(Elr For Driver)
• Front Seat Belts With Pretensioners And Load Limiters
• Latch System (Lower Anchors And Tethers For Children)
• Zone Body Construction With Front And Rear Crumple Zones
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (Tpms) With Easy-Fill Tire Alert

 

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf vs 2017 Nissan Leaf S

Except for the looks, the Nissan Leaf S is better than e-Golf in many ways like top speed, acceleration, battery range, price and most importantly the infotainment system which has Nissan connect with navigation featuring Apple car play and Android auto, which is pretty advanced. If you do not care about looks, you should go for the Nissan.

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf vs 2017 Chevrolet Bolt LT

The new Chevy Bolt LT is the fastest, the quickest and has almost double battery range than the e-Golf. Moreover, the Bolt LT is the most stylish electric vehicle in the list. Coming to safety, it is equipped with 10 air-bags and has a high strength steel frame, but all this comes with some additional cost. If you can pay more for these features, the Chevrolet Bolt LT is your option.

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf vs 2017 Kia Soul EV

It is costlier than the e-Golf, slower, same in passenger room and is last in looks. If you are willing to buy an electric vehicle having Kia tag then opt for Kia Soul.

 

The VW e-golf is a car that has a lot to offer. It is eco-friendly, fast, and has got looks but the low battery range still remains a challenge for the Volkswagen. Some rivals offer better specifications and features than the golf but with e-Golf, you get the Volkswagen reliability. If you are looking like to buy an electric vehicle go for none other than the one with a Volkswagen badge.