Review: 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf (with video) - Because I live in California, it seemed fitting that my first taste of the new Golf arri...
Because I live in California, it seemed fitting that my first taste of the new Golf arrived in electrical form: 2015 VW e-Golf. (Why e-Golf? Because "Gulf" just sounded stupid.) Golf is not only the first Volkswagen EV in the US, it is also the first VW built on the new MQB platform that promises reduced weight and development costs. So MQB is a dedicated EV platform as Nissan LEAF, it was designed to support the electrification from the start rather than being converted as the Fiat 500e. While this may seem like a chicane, the difference is notable that the e-Golf feels like a regular VW happens to be electric. The e-Golf also demonstrates how quickly electric vehicles have evolved since the LEAF launched in 2010.
Exterior
Volkswagen has always been a company that prefers understated elegance when it comes to design and the new Golf is no different. While some have described as boring look, I generally appreciate the design evolution more than a design revolution, because it leads to products like the Aztek. The disadvantage of changing the design of VW is that golf does not seem so different from the last Golf, but VW owners tell me that's how they like it. Park next to the latest VW hatch and you will notice a difference. The 2015 model is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor with a longer hood and a front overhang shorter. The result is a trap more adult than ever Schleps also more things than ever before.
For EV duty VW swaps in their first flagship US-related LEDs, and (according to a product announcement released when we got the e-Golf) will exchange them back if you opt for the new start filling the e-Golf comes soon. We also get a bunch of revised DRL LED curving around the front bumper gives the electric version a distinctive look in your rearview mirror. Finishing the transformation are blue accents here and there, EV-specific wheels and unique badging. From a functional standpoint, the electrically heated windshield (ala Volvo and Land Rover) helps reduce power consumption by heating the glass directly instead of heating the air and blow on the glass.
inside
changes to the new interior is as subtle as the outside. It was only after sitting in a 2012 Golf I understood that the parties sharing seems to be somewhere near zero. Although the forms are similar, has been modified to look more cohesive and upscale. The console runs in better climate control, infotainment screen and storage trinket all the way to the armrest. The design of the dashboard is smoother and Audiesque and door panels have improved the fit and finish with little nicer plastics. Keeping in mind that the Golf compete with the Hyundai Elantra GT, Ford Focus, Mazda3, Chevy Sonic and Fiat 500L, this is easily the best within this class.
Regarding the e-Golf things disorder. Like most automakers have a single model EV, the electric Golf is in competition with a competitive package more varied from the Spark EV and 500th in the BMW i3 and Mercedes B-Class Electric. In this competitive environment, the VW is still shining with an interior that is not far from the i3 or B class in real terms. The only oddity here is that the e-Golf does not offer leather in all configurations. The new base model gets cloth seats that are comfortable and attractive, but the top end trim we tested uses leather that is attractive, but does not breathe as well as leather or fabric. Breathability is a leatherette seats of problem Spark also suffer from and is particularly important in an EV you frequently limit AC use to improve range. Kia Soul EV is a stand-out in this area by offering genuine leather and ventilated seats that consume less energy than running the AC.
Infotainment
redesigning the Golf includes an update of the infotainment range of VW. Unfortunately however, this is the one area where the revolution would have been preferable to evolution. The VW infotainment software, even in our level unit with nav, still lags behind the competition. The device functions expanded voice commands, gestures fingers (like scrolling), loosely navigation software and a proximity sensor to clean the interface when your numbers are not close to the screen. Most graphics system has been improved and the multimedia interface is more attractive than ever. Unfortunately, however, the system still lacks the voice control capability of your media library and the screen is notably smaller than the large 8-inch screen in the Kia Soul.
Instead of giving models EV a great disco-dash like most electric vehicles, VW holds the four-quadrant analog cluster and monochromatic multi-information display with some modifications. Instead of a tachometer we get a reasonable power meter showing how to punch you order. Instead of a VW engine temperature gauge gauge falls into a "power available" that tells you how much energy you can draw from the battery. In cold weather, or when the battery is too hot or too cold, the discharge rate will slow down.
I like the group simplistic gauge, it is class disco-dash in the LEAF while showing essentially the same information. However, the rest of the systems of e-Golf lack specific features EV, we have come to expect in electric and hybrid vehicles. The extent of the EV information in the infotainment system is a screen that shows your range. Most of the competition provides an overview of the energy of your vehicle systems consume, how you will get extra range by turning your AC off or how long your battery take to charge on the various sources of energy. In fact, the only way you know how long the e-Golf will take to load is by connecting and reading the screen flashes the charging time briefly. For more information VW directs you to their smartphone app, but those looking for a more integrated solution should look elsewhere.
Training
Powering the e-Golf is a synchronous AC motor capable of delivering 115 HP 199 lb- ft of torque at low revs. That's 55 fewer ponies, but the same amount of torque than the 1.8L turbo engine of the regular Golf. Logically performance is sluggish compared to turbo golf thanks to both the single-speed transmission for the extra weight of the battery of the e-Golf. 60mph arrives in a Prius-like 10.03 seconds, about 2 seconds slower than the TSI. Because MQB platform has been designed with electric and hybrid vehicles in mind, large 24.2 kWh (estimated 21.1 kWh usable) battery is fully under the vehicle without intrusion into the cabin and little compromise in terms of load capacity.
initial reports indicate that VW was going to liquid cool the battery as GM did in their electric vehicles, but production e-Golf uses a battery passive cooling system instead. VW engineers tell us that lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NMC), Panasonic cells are well suited to packets of this nature and it eventually helps to reduce weight and complexity. Like most manufacturers VW guarantee the pack for 8 years and 100,000 miles against the capacity drop more than 30%. This means that your EPA range starts at 83 miles and should fall to about 53 miles in this window for repair or replacement.
The burden is always a concern with electric vehicle buyers to VW dropped in one of the fast chargers available (7.2 kW) which can charge the battery in three hours if you have an EVSE appropriate 240V. If you have access to one of the new fast charging stations SAE DC (also known as CCS name), you can zip 0-80% in less than 30 minutes. However, the search for a CCS station proved a little tricky in the area of SF Bay where competition standard CHAdeMO older is more frequent at least 5: 1. On the high side if you can find a station, it is unlikely to be occupied as there are few vehicles on the road that support the new connector.
player
According to VW, advice e-Golf weighs svelte 3,391 lbs with 701 of those from the battery. For those who matter, which is only 300lbs heavier than carbon fiber and aluminum BMW i3 REx which is much more expensive and actually has a smaller battery and 359lbs heavier than the Golf TSI. I should also mention that golf also high scores in crash tests that EV lightweight BMW. Besides being light for an EV, the weight is distributed more evenly than in the Golf of gasoline. VW did not disclose the exact details, but the pre-production EV Golf was a perfect balance of weight and 50:50 is probably true for e-Golf and 2015.
Although VW puts 205 width low rolling resistance tires on the e-Golf, it actually handles better than the base Golf TSI. Some of this because the STI gets 195s in base form, but the lower weight and improved balance center of gravity play an important role as well. This means that, unlike other EV conversions, the electric Golf is not the boring edge, it ends up actually middle of the pack between the base and top end Golf TSI and TDI trims. The best balance is evident in the neutral handling where EV plows unless the basic Golf. The extra weight has a positive impact on the way that seemed more refined hair that lent an STI dealer for comparison. Management is typical modern VW :. Moderately firm and precise, but devoid of any real feedback
Price on e-Golf initially started and ended at $ 35,445 due to VW strategy trim. If you qualify for the highest available tax incentives (national and local) the price drops to $ 25,445 effective. Only a bit more than a comparable gasoline model (set of features slots e-Golf SEL premium between the STI and STI S SE model), but higher than the most recent electric vehicles on the market mass. To solve this VW announced the arrival of the "Limited Edition" that cuts $ 1.995 to the price tag by de-contenting. cloth seats replace the leather (I actually think this is an upgrade), LED projectors are removed and steel wheels replace the 16-inch alloys. None of these changes are a deal-breaker for me, but unfortunately the last thing on the block is the heat pump. The heat pumps are much more efficient than resistive heating elements so that means reduced range in cold climates.
The e-Golf is less of a compromise that Spark 4 places and a better deal than the i3 4 places. Nissan LEAF provides a bit more passenger and cargo room for less, but the compromise include dull handling, fewer features and a much slower charger. Fiat against 500th-purchases you realize how big the Golf has grown over the years. As expected in this segment evolves rapidly, the toughest competition is in another new model: 2015 Kia Soul EV. Priced at $ 33.700 to 35.700 (before incentives) soul is slightly more expensive than VW but you get much more for your money. The delta is more pronounced in the soul + EV that gets real leather, cooled seats, a heated steering wheel, electrically folding mirrors, an 8-inch touch screen, and about 20% of battery capacity for $ 225. Stressing the skilled hand of Kia to cut the right corners, you will notice that the soul is deprived LED headlamps, the heated windscreen and has a slightly slower charger. As impressive as the curb weight of the E-Golf is the soul EV manages to be lighter hair to 3,289lbs despite the larger battery, this weight reduction and gear allow a deeper soul EV scoot to 60 in one second faster. This leaves me with a split decision, the e-Golf is the best car, but the soul is the best EV with a range longer, EV concentrated infotainment software and subtleties such as cooled seats and heated steering wheel that extend range by reducing your consumption of HVAC. If VW adds a third model sports cooled seats, genuine leather and falls into the power seats golf gases, they would have a solid alternative to the EV soul and even the Mercedes B-Class Just be sure to check with your professional before tax based on these credits and refunds EV.
Volkswagen has provided the vehicle, insurance and a charged battery for this review.
Specifications testing
0-30: 3.44 seconds
0-60: 10.03 seconds
1/4 Mile: 17.2 seconds @ 82 mph
economy average: 4.3 Mi / kWh
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