For the performance-minded company car driver, the Volkswagen Golf GTE seems like an ideal solution – a version of the iconic Golf GTI with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Along with the rest of the Golf range, the GTE received a mid-life update last year, and we’ve now had the chance to sample it.
From a fleet point of view, the most significant update to the GTE is the fitting of a larger 19.7kWh hybrid battery. This means that, along with the regular Golf eHybrid (and other Volkswagen PHEVs such as the Tiguan and Passat), the GTE now has an official EV-only range of more than 70 miles on the WLTP cycle, meaning it incurs only 5% BIK company car tax payments. In addition, a public DC charging rate of up to 40kW is impressively fast for a PHEV – though perhaps of questionable value given the relatively high cost of public charging.
Performance and drive
A bigger battery isn’t the only powertrain update to the GTE. A new, 1.5-litre petrol engine replaces the previous 1.4-litre unit, and combines with the 110hp electric motor for a total system output of 272hp, up by 27hp compared with the pre-facelift car. This delivers proper hot hatch performance, with 0-62mph acceleration possible in 6.6 seconds – and it feels every bit as quick as that from behind the wheel. The only let down, when tackling an interesting road, is that as a hybrid the petrol engine often switches off when you head into a corner, and then needs to be woken up again when you accelerate out the other side.
That is perhaps the only dynamic aspect of the GTE that disappoints, since for a plug-in hybrid the drive is superb, with direct steering, and a chassis that changes direction flatly and responsively. Like the GTI, the GTE benefits from an electronic differential, and you can feel it working in longer corners to pull the car round.
The brakes, also, are very impressive, and you needn’t worry about needing to pay for the handling prowess with a bone-shaking ride – in fact we wouldn’t even describe it as especially firm (we should note our test car was fitted with optional adaptive chassis control with variable suspension settings).
Design and interior
As well as chassis tech, the GTE also resembles the GTI in terms of its styling. We’re big fans of the body kit – though not so keen on the door-mounted GTE badges.
Inside, as with the rest of the updated Golf range, the GTE features VW’s latest MIB4 infotainment system. This runs on a 12.9in screen, which sits alongside a 10.2in Digital Cockpit Pro screen. The infotainment screen also allows access to climate controls – so you don’t have to use VW’s controversial sliders, although these are now illuminated.
Despite the GTE’s performance trappings, this is still a family car, and rear seat passengers benefit from dedicated climate controls and USB ports, good headroom and decent legroom. However, one compromise associated with the need to accommodate the plug-in hybrid battery is a small boot. At 273 litres the GTE’s is frankly poor for a lower-medium hatch – and down by more than 100 litres compared with ICE-powered Golfs, including the GTI.
For company car drivers who don’t want a performance model, the regular eHybrid is the obvious Golf to choose – with the Match equipment grade it’s over £4,000 cheaper on P11D than the GTE, and it has a slightly longer EV range (plus with 204hp it’s not exactly slow). However, for keen drivers, and given the equivalence in BIK bands, we’d expect the GTE to be a highly appealing option – and it’s certainly a more convincing one than the various ‘sporty’ PHEV SUVs that are now on the market. Of course, the petrol GTI, being more than 200kg lighter, will always have a dynamic edge, but as a fleet-friendly interpretation the GTE is a pretty convincing package.
Positive: Minimal BIK payments, impressive performance and handling
Negative: Small boot, hybrid engine shut-downs can niggle
Standard equipment: 17in alloy wheels, automatic matrix LED headlights, LED tail lights, front fog lights and cornering light, remote electrically foldable door mirrors, three-zone climate control, heated front sports seats, 12.9in infotainment display, sat-nav, four USB-C ports, wireless smartphone charging, Digital Cockpit Pro, wireless App-Connect, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, advanced driver attention and drowsiness monitor, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, lane assist.
Engines: Plug-in hybrid: 272hp
Equipment grades: GTE
Transmissions: Six-speed automatic
| Model | Volkswagen Golf GTE 1.5-litre TSI 272 PS 6spd DSG |
| P11D | £40,275 |
| Residual value | 49.5% |
| Depreciation | £20,358 |
| Fuel | £4,761 |
| Service, maintenance and repair | £2,531 |
| Cost per mile | 46.08p |
| Fuel consumption | 796mpg |
| CO2 (BIK%) | 8g/km (5%) |
| BIK 20/40% a month | £34/£67 |
| Luggage capacity | 273 litres |
| Engine size/power | 1,498cc + electric motor/272hp |
| Score | 8/10 |
