Now in its third year, the e-Golf is Volkswagen’s first and only all-electric vehicle (EV) sold in North America. The e-Golf is similar in look and feel to the regular Golf hatchback, which has been an industry favorite for decades, and it competes against other EVs like the Ford Focus Electric, BMW i3, and Nissan Leaf. Although sales of the e-Golf are still limited, the 2017 model boasts two trims (SE and SEL Premium), updates to the powertrain, and a significantly increased driving range. It’s also built in Germany rather than at VW’s plant in Mexico, where many of its other vehicles (including the regular Golf) are assembled. Pricing for the 2017 e-Golf starts at around $30,000, right in line with both the Focus Electric and the Leaf.
In keeping with its competitors, many of whom now offer a driving range of over 100 miles, the 2017 e-Golf has also gotten a boost in capacity, jumping from 83 to 124 miles on a single charge. A new 35.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack powers an upgraded electric motor, which produces 100 kilowatts (134 hp) and 214 lb-ft of torque to drive the front wheels. The 2017 e-Golf comes standard with a 7.2-kilowatt charger, with an available DC fast-charging port that can charge the batteries to 80-percent capacity in an hour.
Because the e-Golf is largely identical to the standard gasoline Golf, it drives similarly—and most will consider that a good thing. Volkswagen has tweaked the e-Golf’s suspension to compensate for the hefty batteries, and its low center of gravity translates to flat, confident cornering. Electric motors produce their peak torque right off the bat instead of on acceleration, which makes the e-Golf ideal for short spurts of passing in traffic but somewhat disappointing at highway speeds.
The 2017 e-Golf’s exterior features the same new LED headlights, updated bumpers, and front fenders as the European-market Golf. Its interior, however, remains nearly identical to that of the regular U.S.-market Golf. The standard in-dash touchscreen display measures 6.5 inches in the base SE trim and 8.0 in the SEL Premium trim, and it comes equipped with Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. New options for 2017 include a Digital Cockpit system, which adds a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, and a Discover Pro infotainment system with an upgraded 9.2-inch screen. Rear seating is spacious, and the e-Golf offers all the practicality of a standard hatchback—its 17 cubic feet of trunk space, however, do fall short of the Leaf’s 24 cubic feet.
The e-Golf has not been crash tested, but the 2017 Golf earned Top Safety Pick+ status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The e-Golf comes equipped with standard safety features like anti-lock brakes (ABS) and side-curtain airbags. A Driver Assistance package is available for the SEL Premium trim and adds adaptive cruise control, parking assist, blind-spot monitoring, and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection.
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Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 8
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.3 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.7 · Rear brake width: 0.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center with cupholders · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: voice recognition controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.61
Engine
EV battery capacity: 35.8 kWh · EV on-board charger rating: 7.2 kW · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 134 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 100 · Electric Motor Torque: 214 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time (240V): 5.3 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 125
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Electric motor charging time (120V): 35 hours
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: app marketplace integration · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Halogen · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: battery disconnect · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.6 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Car-Net · Smart device app function: vehicle location
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 8
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.3 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.7 · Rear brake width: 0.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: front · Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.61
Engine
EV battery capacity: 35.8 kWh · EV on-board charger rating: 7.2 kW · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 134 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 100 · Electric Motor Torque: 214 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time (240V): 5.3 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 125
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Electric motor charging time (120V): 35 hours
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: app marketplace integration · Infotainment: Apply CarPlay ready · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Halogen · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: manual folding · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leatherette
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.6 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Car-Net · Smart device app function: vehicle location
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Memory card slot auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 8
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Front brake diameter: 11.3 · Front brake width: 1.0 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.7 · Rear brake width: 0.4 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Door trim: leatherette · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: multi-function screen controls · Storage: sunglasses holder · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual adjustments: 6
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 3.61
Engine
EV battery capacity: 35.8 kWh · EV on-board charger rating: 7.2 kW · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 134 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 100 · Electric Motor Torque: 214 · Electric motor charger: DC fast charging · Electric motor charger connector: SAE Combo CCS · Electric motor charging time (240V): 5.3 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 125
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Electric motor charging time (120V): 35 hours
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Google POIs · Infotainment: Apply CarPlay ready · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on/off · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: integrated turn signals
Passenger Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: manual · Manual Adjustments: 6
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front · Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: height · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leatherette
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 13.6 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.8
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: Car-Net · Smart device app function: maintenance status
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: with washer