Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. Emerging Tech
  4. Legacy Archives

One more German hatch to drool over: The 2014 Volkswagen Golf Plug-In Hybrid

By
Add as a preferred source on Google
VW Golf Plug-In Hybrid
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re a Volkswagen fan, this is the week  dreams are made of . The German automaker has given us a glimpse into several all-new Golf variants, each more exciting than the last.

Sadly, this onslaught of new German economical cars had to come to a close. Luckily for VW fans, it’s ending on a high note. We proudly present to you: the Golf Plug-In Hybrid.

Recommended Videos

Just like the e-Golf and GTD unveiled earlier this week, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid is based upon the brand-new Golf platform, the Mk 7.

According to an AutoCar report, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid shares the same electric motor as the Audi A3 e-tron, which was also unveiled earlier this week. In addition to its 100 horsepower electric motor, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid includes a 148-horsepower TFSI gasoline engine with a combined torque output of 256 pound-feet. The Euro test cycle estimates put the new VW plug-in hybrid’s fuel economy rating at 188 MPG. This is a bit higher than any EPA MGPe (miles-per-gallon equivalent) ratings we might see in the US, but it’s still very promising.

The Plug-In Hybrid Golf features a special hybrid transmission that mates the electric motor and gas engine together. Drivers can select three drive modes. Depending on the mode, the electric motor or gasoline engine can propel the Golf independently or in unison. The most exciting mode for us horsepower junkies is the “Boosting” drive mode where both powerplants are used to drive the Golf.

Just like the Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid we drove earlier this year, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid features a coasting feature that uses a clutch between the motor and transmission to quickly disconnect the drivetrain from the wheels at highway speeds as soon as the driver lets off the accelerator. This allows the Golf to cruise extremely efficiently as the gas engine shuts off and the vehicle makes use of its forward momentum.

For drivers less interested in power output, the Plug-In Hybrid will travel an adequate 31 miles in electric-only mode, which is on-par with a few plug-in hybrids currently on the market like the Chevy Volt.

Although we don’t yet know if the plug-in hybrid version of the Golf will be headed to the U.S., we’d be awfully surprised if it didn’t. 

Nick Jaynes
Nick Jaynes
Former Automotive Editor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Topics
China’s latest tiny EV costs just $6,735 and somehow squeezes in five doors
The four-seat Bestune Pony joins the cute-car crowd with rear doors and a price that puts its Wuling rival squarely in view
Orange car, front three-quarter

FAW's five-door Bestune Pony has launched in China from 44,900 yuan, roughly $6,735. The tiny EV packs four seats into a cheerful little box just 3.35 meters long.

It looks like something you'd buy in a gift shop, but the layout makes room for everyday chores. There are four passenger doors and a rear hatch, so getting into the back doesn't require folding a front seat out of the way.

Read more
Volkswagen’s smartest EVs are launching in China while the US and Europe wait
China-only models already have the software, charging, and driving technology VW’s Western cars are still waiting to receive
Volkswagen ID UNYX 08

Volkswagen’s newest EVs in China are making its American and European models look unusually conservative.

With Xpeng’s help, VW has introduced 800-volt charging and advanced urban driving assistance. The new VEGA technology package brings its locally developed vehicle platforms and CEA electronic architecture under one umbrella. Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen intends to update VEGA every three months. Western buyers can find pieces of that package, but not the whole thing in a Volkswagen.

Read more
BYD’s $12,000 Qin Plus DM-i shows how much US buyers are overpaying for their cars
A cheap commuter car that could take you from New York to Miami without refueling? Yes, please.
BYD Qin Plus DM-i feature

BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.

What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles. 

Read more