The Volkswagen e-Golf launched in 2015, combining the Golf’s practicality with all-electric capability. It received a larger battery in 2017 and benefitted from a refresh in 2018. For 2019, it receives no notable updates.

There’s little to separate the e-Golf from the handsome, understated, gasoline-only Golf. Some minor differences include aerodynamic alloy wheels, blue exterior accents, streamlined bumpers, and a slightly different interior console. Inside, there’s room for five occupants and 22.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 52.7 with the split-folding seat folded and the adjustable cargo floor lowered. It offers the same cargo space as the non-electric Golf and more than the similarly sized Kia Soul EV and Nissan Leaf.

The e-Golf benefits from a 100-kilowatt AC motor and a 35.8-kW battery to create 134 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. The e-Golf is front-wheel drive (FWD) and features three driving modes, Normal Eco, and Eco +, along with three levels of regenerative braking. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the e-Golf as having 126 miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) city, 111 highway, and 119 combined, and 125 miles of total range between charges. It takes less than six hours to charge the e-Golf on a standard 240-volt household outlet, while the optional DC fast charging gets the battery up to 80 percent in about an hour. Finally, Volkswagen includes its handy Car-Net smartphone app, with extended features for the e-Golf like the ability to monitor the charge state of the battery and locate the nearest public charging station.

The e-Golf comes in just two trims, SE and SEL Premium. The base SE trim gets 16-inch alloy wheels, LED taillights, LED daytime-running lights, a power parking brake, keyless access and start, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, cloth upholstery, and 6-way partial power front seats. The only option for the SE is DC fast charging. Meanwhile, the SEL Premium trim adds leather upholstery, an LCD instrument cluster, LED headlights, a 9.25-inch infotainment system with navigation, and DC fast charging.

A reversing camera and a full complement of airbags come standard for the SE, while the SEL Premium trim tacks on front and rear parking sensors. The optional Driver Assistance package for the SEL Premium trim includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and a parking assistant. While the e-Golf has not been crash-tested, the traditional Golf earned a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Volkswagen e-Golf is a perfectly competent electric car with nominal range and inherent practicality.