Page 19 - ElectriCar Magazine

SE: $33,000 SEL: $40,000
Motor: 134 HP
Battery Capacity: 35kwh LithiumIon Curb Weight: 3,375
city/highway, in MPGe, while the 2020 model gets 122/104 MPGe.
A spokesperson confirmed that there is no change for the 2020 eGolf, from the 2019 model and that it comes down to changes in EPA testing procedures. So real-world range between vehicles of the two model years should be identical.
In either case, the current 35.8-kwh eGolf remains a huge improvement with the range offered in early eGolf versions. Through the 2016 model year, the eGolf had a 24.2-kwh battery pack and 83-mile range, with an EPA combined rating at 116 MPGe (29 kwh/100 miles). We ran a long-term version of that car and were able to reproduce that range in fair weather, with some room to spare. The eGolf’s heat-pump system helped reduce
the drop in range in chillier weather as well, and while the low-mounted battery pack added weight, it only seemed to bring out the great ride and handling qualities of the Golf.
At present, the Honda Clarity EV and Fiat 500e are the only two electric vehicles in the U.S. that have lower rated ranges than the eGolf. The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is due to get
a boost for 2020 from its current 124 miles. And the base 40-kwh version of the Nissan Leaf is rated at 150 miles.
The eGolf feels zippy but in testing it delivered a zero-to-60-mph time
of 8.5 seconds, which is slower
than the Chevy Bolt Electric Vehicle by two whole seconds. The Golf family has long included some of
the most competent, fun-to-drive entrants in the compact class, and the eGolf does not stray from that path. It is nimble and responsive with accurate steering and has predictable responses to a driver’s input.
As with most electric vehicles, the eGolf is very efficient, promising more than 110 MPGe in daily driving. For most Electric Vehicle buyers, the overall driving range is as important or more important than efficiency.
With just two trim levels and a few available option packages, there is not much difference in the interior materials between SE and SEL
Premium eGolfs. Faux-leather seats, a self-dimming rearview mirror, and ambient lighting represent some of the only features that come in the upper trim but that are not available on the base one. The eGolf have partial-power seat adjustments in both trim levels, so driver and front passenger can use a switch to adjust their angle of the seatback’s recline but must use manual controls to modify the seat’s height or foreward or back positioning. The eGolf has the same amount of cargo space as its gas-powered counterpart. There is room to fit five carry-on suitcases in the 23 cubic feet that is provided behind the eGolf’s back seat, when in use and maybe sixteen carry-ons with the back seat is folded down.
So, what could be preventing you from buying an Electric Vehicle? Most people have a round trip to work of less than 100 miles, and the Volkswagen eGolf has a battery range of 186 miles. Well . . . Volkswagen does admit that’ll drop to around 125 miles in the real world and that is more than enough charge to keep moving on a commute.
You can charge it through a normal household three-pin plug, which
takes about thirteen hours for a full charge. You could have a dedicated charging point installed at home which would bring charging time down
to about four hours. Chargers are steadily becoming more common in public spaces such as supermarket parking lots. If you have access to the latest quick chargers that are popping up in service stations around the country, you could get a good range boost in just about forty-five minutes, while you make a pit stop
for coffee or an errand or two. The 2020 eGolf remains a huge
improvement with the range offered in early versions. A new version of the car will produce good range. The heat-pump system helps extend range in chillier weather while the low-mounted battery pack adds weight, it only seems to bring out its great ride and handling qualities.
favorite compact Electric Vehicles.
As it offers a fun-to-drive nature that is difficult to match and the Golf’s ever-practical design is just as usable here as it is with a gasoline engine.
Volkswagen has not made
many changes to eGolf for 2020, which is a shame because it really needs to double its driving range to remain competitive. The only notable change is that last year’s Driver Assistance package is now standard on all eGolf models and includes forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
The real-world range of around 125 miles is competitive for this class, although a Renault Zoe will get you even farther between charges.
The official EPA range for the 2020 eGolf falls to 123 miles, from 125 miles. Likewise, efficiency figures for the model change significantly— from 119 MPGe (28 kwh/100 miles) to 113 MPGe (30 kwh/100 miles). Last year’s model was rated 126/111
JUNE 2020
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