If your bedroom is anywhere near the front of the house, you’ve probably been woken up – especially early on cold mornings – by clattery old diesels chugging into life, or indeed older petrol engines that seem reluctant to start without a fight.
All of which makes the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE a pleasure to set sail in by comparison. Press the starter button, slot the gearlever into drive and the car always moves off in electric mode – it keeps a little bit of charge in reserve for silent starting – and letting your neighbours get a more winks in the process. Thoughtful and stealthy.
