It is not easy to discover the news on the upgraded e-Golf that arrived last year. The most significant changes are under the shell. More power, better battery capacity and increased range.
What's new
In the front, the blue line under the grill now curves around the outer corners of the lights. Previously, the line was flat under the headlights. The plastic piece under the rear bumper is new. It looks like exhaust pipes routed through the diffuser. Tough. Inside, it is possible to order digital instruments and a large infotainment screen. Automatic emergency stop for pedestrians and obstacles within 30 km/h is standard.
Charging – a small sigh of relief
When I collected the car, it had been charging all night, but the wall charger at Møller had probably taken the evening. 181 km is only 60% of the car's theoretical range of 300 km. I have the mate charger in my own garage. Occasionally I have to cut the power to the course to reset the software inside the box. Just like when the PC hangs. This is what I hate about electric cars. If the charging has not worked overnight, you could be without electricity on a day when you really need the car. But the childhood diseases lie in the charging box - not in the e-Golf.
Increased range
The first e-Golf had a range that was just right not stopped to pick up someone at Oslo Hovedflyplass from Oslo city. In the new e-Golf, the batteries reach Gardermoen round trip with a good margin. If the weather and road conditions are good, they can reach the cabin on Hafjell as well. Then I tested the e-Golf a couple of years ago, the range was the only thing I could put my finger on. Is the new e-Golf perfect?
A walk along the coast
We took the e-Golfen on a trip down the coast along the west side of the Oslofjord. I took pictures in idyllic surroundings. Lovely Southern idyll with white houses, piers and sea air. In several places you can park and walk along marked coastal paths. A trip to Hurumlandet can be combined with a car ferry between Verket and Svelvik, or the Oslofjord Tunnel for a maritime lunch in Drøbak, - although right now the tunnel was closed for maintenance.
Measured consumption
New e-Golfs do not need to be charged every day. Specified range adapts to previous driving patterns. I have never had any really negative surprises, but the range meter in the e-Golf can occasionally be experienced as less predictable than in, for example, the BMW i3. It may seem that it is affected too much by how you are driving at the moment. When I accelerated west onto RV23 going downhill outside Sætre, I experienced that the range meter suddenly dropped 20 km. Fortunately, they gradually returned after the speed had stabilized.
After the trip, the range meter showed that I had driven 50 km, while in reality I had driven 88 km. Measuring expected range is not an exact science. It is therefore reassuring to see that it is actually possible to follow the stated range on a nice summer day. The calculated range can never be completely precise, but works in daily use.
Driving pleasure
When I drive an electric car, I find a kind of bizarre joy in driving as economically as possible without obstructing traffic and without the passengers noticing anything. One can of course debate whether this is driving pleasure, but it is actually about an interaction between man and machine, - and the nature of the road.
Sundbyveien between Slemmestad and Båtstø is a slightly hilly and winding country road. With the e-Golf's fine torque, I only need to push the gas towards the bottom of the hill and let it up just a little bit. The batteries are charged before we reach the top of the hill and are strengthened as I release the gas further up towards the bend and down the next hill. I have no doubt. This is driving pleasure!
Driving in "Eco" mode often puts a damper on driving pleasure. In the e-Golf, I don't think it matters much whether I drive in normal mode or Eco mode, as long as I'm in a calm traffic pattern. Regular Eco mode works fine for me. Eco+, on the other hand, means that you have to step much harder on the gas. It reduces the top speed to 95 km/h and shuts down climate functions. This kills the driving pleasure in a nice car. Should only be used in emergencies.
On the road
I have said that the previous e-Golf was suitably motorized. Still, I like that it has been given more horses. 136 HP and torque of 290 Nm from standstill is exactly as it should be. Without stress, you can pull the car up to 60 km/h before the driver in the car next to you has had time to release the clutch. The only thing you have to watch out for is not to be too hard on the gas when you take off.
The artificial engine brake can be set in three stages. The engine brake works well and gives the batteries a charge. In the weakest step, you can charge the batteries just by easing off the gas a couple of millimeters without affecting the flow of traffic. The feature is brilliant for maximizing range.
The e-Golf is good in the bends. It is slightly heavier than the standard Golf. With the batteries placed between the axles, the weight distribution is favourable. Sharp and quick movements with the steering wheel feel unproblematic. The car feels rock solid. Still, I've never had the desire to put it to the test. It's not because the e-Golf isn't capable of it, - but you don't drive rough with an electric car?!
Comfort
Since the e-Golf is a Golf, the comfort is basically the same as you get in the Golf. There is little to complain about. That is why I focus on what is special for e-Golf.
I don't know if there are more people than me who do it, but when I drive an electric car, I adjust the interior temperature to save electricity. No reason to drive with the fridge at full blast, as it were. It provides a self-selected reduction in comfort without me having measured exactly how much electricity I save.
The sound level in the upgraded e-Golf is the same as in its predecessor. While driving, only tire noise is heard. It's basically the same sound image no matter what speed you keep. In the long run, it can feel a bit monotonous and sleep-inducing. It is therefore important to have pleasant company or find a good radio station.
Conclusion
A lot has happened on the electric car front, - and more is to come. The uncertainty is so great that I would be skeptical about putting too much money into an electric car. I recommend the very most expensive electric cars, such as Tesla lease rather than owning. The e-Golf is also a rather expensive electric car. With equipment, it should be well done to get below 350. The competitor Nissan Leaf Tekna is at 000 and the Hyundai Ioniq EV is available for 304 with the Teknikk equipment package.
Both the Volkswagen e-Golf and the Nissan Leaf have proven to be durable and good cars over several years. They are perhaps the safest electric car purchases you can make today in terms of finances. The increase in engine power and range means that the e-Golf can work well as car number 1 for many, given that you can charge at home or at work and do not need a station wagon. The new e-Golf is a perfect electric car. Fortunately, it still feels like a Golf.
Facts about e-Golf
Length / width / height in cm: 427 / 180 / 147
Wheelbase in cm: 263
Luggage volume in litres: 341 (39 less than the standard Golf)
... with seats folded down: 1231
Net weight in kg: 1540
Trailer not possible.
PERFORMANCES
Horsepower / KW: 136 / 100
Torque in Nm: 290 (constant)
Acceleration 0-100 in seconds: 9,6
CHARGING
Standard plug: 17 hours
AC 3,6 KW: 10 hours 50 minutes
AC 7,2 KW: 5 hours 20 minutes
DC 30 KW Quick charging: From 45 min under ideal conditions
Price: NOK 327
Metallic paint: 4
Technology package + LED light: 8 full price - promotional price NOK 800 (You must have this!)
Keyless: 6
Active Display digital instruments: 4 (This is a must have!)
USB and phone charging: 3 (Recommended)
Good sound: 5 (Recommended)
Rear parking sensor: 1 (Recommended)
Ambient lighting (step lights, etc.): 1
Nissan Leaf Tekna: 304
Hundai Ioniq EV: 247
...with equipment package Technology: 272
Annet
The car is rented through the car sharing app HIRE.
Source: www.volkswagen.no
PHOTOS
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See
Look-and-feel
Driving pleasure
You can drive in three programs - "Normal", "Eco" and "Eco+". In "Normal" you get 115 horsepower, torque like a diesel and a top speed of 140 km/h. That's more than enough. The extra weight that electric operation entails is not a deterrent. The E-Golf weighs the same as the Golf Alltrack station wagon. It seems that Volkswagen has found a favorable weight distribution, because the e-Golf sits well in the corners, - even when I make a lane change in the middle. It also feels like the car is somewhat lowered compared to the standard Golf.
I have not been able to find out how much the artificial engine brake was able to add in increased energy. I drove a stretch of exactly 8 miles from Oslo over Sollihøgda to Hole, and from there down the Lierdalen to Kjellstad and home via the Lierbakkene. In a temperature of 14-15 degrees and a dry road surface, the car's range indicator matched surprisingly well. It told me before departure that the range was 153 kilometers on departure and 71 on arrival. For a long time I was very well connected, but on the way up the Lierbakkene at a brisk speed, 20 kilometers "disappeared" without a trace.
