VW’s petrol-electric, plug-in hybrid GTE could go some way to repairing the brand’s image given its diesel emissions cheating woes.

Launched well before the crisis hit, the car, a BusinessCar 2015 Green Development Techie Award winner, has been billed as GTI fun with some electric capability thrown in, and it sits in the VW range alongside the solely petrol-powered GTI and diesel GTD; the ‘E’ standing for ‘electric’.  

First impressions are good, but in an understated way. Unlike my previous BMW i3 range extender long-termer, the GTE doesn’t turn heads, as it’s a familiar design. But closer inspection reveals smart tweaks to reflect its greener credentials, mainly involving the colour blue replacing normally red GTI accents around the front grille and lights [1] and also, rather nattily, woven into the classic tartan check seat upholstery [2].

Open the doors, which provide typically great access, and the dashboard and controls are firmly within familiar Golf territory [3], aside perhaps from the Discover Navigation Pro system with voice activation and some smartphone functionality such as ‘pinch and swipe’ to expand, contract and move maps. At £1765 it’s expensive, but a option.

The other extras (see ‘Options’, above) bring the total to just under £3000, but all are of marginal use from this driver’s perspective, especially the £150 Park Assist, which aims to help you park, but involves sensors bleeping endlessly when nothing of concern is remotely nearby (and when you’re not trying to park). Paying £260 for non-metallic ‘Pure White’ paint also seems a bit of a liberty. What’s the alternative, I wonder? ‘Impure White’? The only free paint colour, by the way, is non-metallic black.

Of course, the car’s USP is its plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a 150hp 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with a 102hp electric motor, able to offer a max 204hp, dispatch 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds, emit an official 39g/km of CO2 (equating to a tax-busting 5% BIK) and claim 166mpg.

That final figure will rest heavily on our ability to use electric power as much as possible, something we got used to out of necessity with our i3, but a lifestyle that was tricky due to London’s electric charging infrastructure problems. However, as the GTE doesn’t rely on electric to survive, day-to-day transport should be refreshingly easy.