2019 Volkswagen e-Golf

 VW goes Electric!

By Charles Donaldson

With gas prices on the rise again we might be pondering if our next vehicle should be electric. There are various points to be considered with the gas vs. electric decision. For example, how far is your daily commute, or do you have a secondary vehicle for those longer road trips, or do you have the ability to charge your electric car overnight? Some apartment dwellers might not. I once was stuck at a charging station for three hours to generate enough energy to get home since my hotel fell flat with their promise of allowing me to plug into their building. Luckily, we are seeing the range of electric vehicles continue to grow. VW claims the 2019 e-Golf has a battery range of 186 miles, but the reality is much closer to 125 miles, so plan carefully!

Pricing and Trims
The 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf comes in two versions: SE ($31,895) and the SEL Premium ($38,895). My test vehicle was the SE with the Driver Assistance Package ($850).

What’s new for 2019?
The 2019 e-Golf is now available with the two trims: SE and SEL Premium. The new SE trim is a standard DC Fast Charger, enabling the battery to be charged to approximately 80 percent within an hour at a DC fast charging station. A Driver Assistance Package is available, with additional safety features what I would recommend. It includes Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist), Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The SEL Premium trim now offers an even greater selection of standard driver-assistance safety features including Front Assist, Active Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, ACC, Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Park Assist and High Beam Control (Light Assist).

Interior Highpoints
The 2019 e-Golf interior is very similar to its gasoline-brother with only minor graphic changes indicating the state of charge, battery range and some detailing in blue to remind you are the electric version. The seats are comfortable, and the front offer a wide range of adjustment. The back seat has adequate head space due to the boxy design of the Golf. I did find a disappointing lack of USB outlets (only 1) in the SE model. Otherwise, the dash was nicely laid out and the touchscreen auto/navigation/information center operated with ease and offers multiple ways to integrate your smartphone. The overall fit and finish are clean.

Exterior Highlights
The exterior styling is handsome with a few blue markings to show that it is electrified. The e-Golf/Golf is designed with clean simple lines in a hatchback package that offers decent cargo storage and some hidden space as well. One thing missing compared to its gasoline version are the rear exhaust tips not needed with an electric car. Since the e-Golf is a compact car sitting at 168.1 inches in length, the wheels are pushed as far forward and backwards as possible to help improve the ride. Because of its size the front windshield quickly rakes upward to the roof line that remains straight, providing better headroom and cargo space over a sloping roofline.

Performance Specs
The e-Golf’s power spawns from a 100-kilowatt, AC motor and a 35.8-kW battery to release 134 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque which is an improvement over the original 2015 e-Golf. The e-Golf is front-wheel drive featuring three driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Eco+. When operating in the Eco+ mode the A/C will not operate. There are also three levels of regenerative braking. There are two drive modes – D and B. I found that the “B” mode increases the brake charging when letting off the gas pedal. The e-Golf’s handling felt well-balanced through corners.

Cool Features:

·         DC fast charger now standard on the SE trim

Safety & Integrity
The 2019 VW e-Golf includes a number of safety driver aids - some standard and others optional depending on the trim level. The rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are standard. Other safety features available beyond the standard airbags, include forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane assist, parking steering assistance, and rear cross-traffic alert system.

In Summary – The 2019 e-Golf is a great electric vehicle choice especially if you are looking for a nondescript electrified model. There are other electric vehicles with a longer battery driving range, so make sure to calculate your driving habits into your decision. Typically, the longer the driving range translates into a higher price tag. One of the strengths of the VW e-Golf is its clean styling and attractive interior. 

Specifications

2019 Volkswagen e-Golf SE

Base price:	$31,895 as driven: $33,440 (including destination & optional features)
Engine:	100-kilowatt AC motor and a 35.8-kW battery
Horsepower:	134 horsepower
Torque:	214 pound-feet of torque
EPA Class:	Compact
Drive:	Front-Wheel Drive
Seating:	5-passenger
Cargo space:	22.8 to 52.7 cubic feet
Curb weight:	3,459 pounds
EPA mileage:	City 126/Hwy 111/Combined 119 MPGe
Range:	125 miles
Wheelbase:	103.5 inches
Warranty:	3 years/36,000-miles
Also consider:	Fiat 500e, Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Ioniq EV, Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius Prime