Volkswagen has introduced its first full-hybrid Golf, a petrol-engined system designed to cut fuel use and emissions in town rather than to chase headline economy figures on motorways. The car sits between the existing eTSI mild hybrid and the eHybrid plug-in model, and is positioned against rivals such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
The new Golf Hybrid combines Volkswagen's 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a small electric traction motor, a 48V starter-generator and a 1.6kWh battery mounted under the rear seat. It is offered in all trim levels and with either 134bhp or 168bhp; the more powerful version was the one tested. Volkswagen prices the Hybrid at around £1,200 more than the equivalent eTSI. The same powertrain will also be offered in the T-Roc crossover, and the MQB platform's flexibility means it could later appear in other Volkswagen Group models.
The system works in several ways. The electric motor drives the front wheels alone at speeds up to 37mph, after which a clutch closes and the engine connects to the wheels through a single-ratio gearbox, which Volkswagen says is roughly equivalent to sixth gear in a conventional automatic. The engine can drive the wheels directly at a cruise, act as a generator to top up the battery, or work alongside the electric motor to deliver full power. There is no traditional gearbox, and the driver cannot manually choose the power source, although the Sport mode favours series-hybrid operation for sharper acceleration and stronger regenerative braking. Technically the design resembles Honda's e:HEV system more than Nissan's e-Power.
Volkswagen's figures suggest the Hybrid uses up to 11 per cent less petrol than the eHybrid in urban driving. In WLTP testing the electric motor drove the car for 66 per cent of the time, while the company's own public-road tests around Wolfsburg returned a 59 per cent electric share, which it considers the more realistic figure. Official tax and benefit-in-kind figures have yet to be published, but the company expects lower Vehicle Excise Duty and company car tax than the plug-in model.
On the road, the Hybrid accelerates predictably and comfortably, though the lower-powered version's 8.8-second 0-62mph time may feel laboured. Gentle use of the accelerator can keep the engine off for extended periods, and the car drives much like an electric vehicle, albeit a slightly underpowered one. The engine starts quietly to charge the battery and does not disturb the driving experience. Under harder demand, such as a quick overtake or a steep hill, the engine becomes more prominent, producing a noticeable drone. Because the system behaves like a continuously variable transmission, engine speed does not always match road speed, producing the elastic-band sensation often criticised in such systems.
During a hilly 40-mile route around the suburbs of Nice and into Monaco, the reviewer averaged 56.5mpg without trying hard to economise. That is broadly in line with what the reviewer has achieved in the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla on UK roads. Volkswagen's engineers estimated the mild-hybrid Golf would have managed nearer 50mpg in the same conditions. The Hybrid's touring efficiency cannot yet be compared directly with the eTSI's previously recorded 60mpg touring figure, because the test was short and urban-focused. Volkswagen lists the Golf Hybrid R-Line at an estimated £35,200 with 61mpg and 107g/km of CO₂ on the official cycle.