What is it?

The new Volkswagen Golf GTE is the latest version of the German brand’s most seminal car in plug-in hybrid form – and with the eighth-generation Golf getting a number of significant updates as part of the model’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the GTE is not left out.

The GTE has always had to earn those first two letters, marketed as effectively a more wallet-friendly version of the all-time signature hot hatch, the GTI. Today the GTE is one of a pair, as VW offers two of what are described as ‘eHybrids’, the Style with a 204hp power rating and the GTE putting out 272 horses – it’s now the most potent plug-in version of the Golf so far produced.

Now until 30th October plug-in hybrids seemed a very good idea for the business motorist wanting to try out going electric, enabling them to enjoy a degree of the benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax advantages that go with EVs, without going the full hog. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are rated for BIK either the same as full EVs or a few points higher depending on how far they can travel on electric power alone, and this has been a definite factor in the recent surge in PHEV registrations.

However… In the first Labour Government Budget since March 2010, Chancellor Rachel Reeves changed the rules in a clear sign she wants everyone in full electric cars – now PHEV BIK rates will continue to rise at the previous rate until the 2028-29 tax year, and then they will leap upwards. In the case of the GTE you’ll be paying 8% in ’27-28 and then 18% in ’28-29. So this is a definite factor to keep in mind when considering this car.

The other thing to bear in mind is Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The new GTE’s list price is £39,420, only just below the Government’s ‘Expensive Car Supplement’ which will lay owners open to paying £600 a year in VED. So if you want to buy this car, look for a discount but also don’t load it up with options, because they count…

So a plethora of bad news, none of it reflecting on the car itself, which is a core Volkswagen Golf and so offering all the quality one expects from this iconic badge, whether in fit, finish or performance.

The mechanics of the latest GTE are a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine (up from the previous 1.4 unit) mated to a 110hp electric motor, which combined produces 272hp (around 25 horses more than its predecessor) and a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds which in the days before electric cars was considered highly potent. It’s joined to a six-speed DSG auto gearbox.

The battery is larger than in the previous GTE, at 19.7 kWh, which helps boost the official electric-only range to 82 miles – in other words more than the average person will drive in a day and half as much again as the old version offered. The charging has been improved too – the previous 3.6 kW AC has been uprated to 11 kW while by plugging into a DC charger the battery can be replenished at up to 40 kW, and will take 26 minutes to go from 5 to 80%.

The updates continue on the inside with the new GTE getting Volkswagen’s latest touchscreen infotainment system measuring just shy of 13 inches. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, heated front seats, tinted rear glass and front fog and cornering lights, along with the three-zone climate control already offered on the Style.

An extensive active safety system is fitted as standard to both cars, including adaptive cruise control, Lane Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist – the latest Golf has been crash-tested by Euro NCAP and achieved a five-star rating.

What do we think of it?

On first glance the Volkswagen Golf GTE looks like, well any other Golf – VW has succeeded over the now half-century history of the model in maintaining a profile that is instantly recognisable and popular among many enthusiastic owners.

The other area of familiarity with the Golf will be its quality – when you step into one you expect a certain level of fit and finish, and you are never disappointed. The interior feels very well put together, the surfaces have a quality feel, and the various controls come easily to hand – in fact even more easily now, because following criticism of the previous iteration, Volkswagen has returned some physical buttons to the cabin including on the steering wheel.

Our brief launch event test drive showed that the GTE can be highly capable, as one might expect, but equally capable of cruising along in a very refined manner. The transition from electric to petrol power is smooth enough if not entirely unnoticeable and the car rides and handles well even when encouraged a bit, while offering excellent levels of ride comfort.

The only time it doesn’t feel quite the potent machine it is pitched as is when you really work the engine, which lets you know when it’s at the upper end of the rev range. Generally this is more fast cruiser than proper hot hatch.

Overall the latest GTE offers a definite upgrade over its predecessor, though will likely remain a selective buy, for those who want lots of get up and go but really need to be waving some kind of green flag, or saving money on tax, and so have to ignore the traditional GTI.