Volkswagen Golf GTE hatchback (2015-2018) - Interior & comfort

The interior of the Golf GTE won’t surprise anyone who’s familiar with the other models in the VW Golf range. The dashboard is smart and ergonomically designed and although the interior isn’t the most exciting, it has a classy look and a robust feel.

Volkswagen Golf GTE dashboard

The Golf GTE features Volkswagen’s clever ‘Active Info Display’, which replaces the conventional instruments with a configurable colour screen on which you can set your own preferred information to appear. This can include a large map, onto which speed and other information is superimposed. The rev counter will also instantly change to a battery power meter, depending on your driving mode.

Rather appropriately, Volkswagen uses a lot of ‘electric blue’ touches in its electric and hybrid cars – the red in the traditional tartan upholstery from the conventional GTI has been replaced by this blue in the GTE, which is a nice touch. The sports seats look good and the optional sat nav is easy to use, too.

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Elsewhere, the Golf GTE is the same as any other Golf, meaning it’s well made, ergonomically excellent and impressively styled.

The extra weight of the GTE compared to a conventionally powered Golf means Volkswagen has had to make the suspension firmer and passengers are likely to feel the difference. The GTE also comes with large 18-inch alloy wheels, which can lead to quite a lot of tyre noise, especially if the car is running solely on electric power.

Equipment

Two versions of the GTE are available: GTE and GTE Advance. The standard car features Active Info Display, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights and Car-Net App-Connect, which features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink connectivity. The latter mirrors much of the layout of your phone on the car’s own screen. Other features include two-zone air-conditioning and heated power-folding door mirrors.

Advance costs around £1,500 more and includes sat nav, a front centre armrest, heat-insulating glass and LED rear lights with a ‘sweeping’ indicator strip. It also features the Winter Pack as standard, bringing heated front seats, heated washer jets and a low washer fluid level warning light.

Options

Much of what is fitted as standard to the Advance model is optional on the GTE, and some options are actually cheaper on the Advance model, so which you should choose isn’t clear-cut.

Key options include an power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, adaptive headlights with a beam that curves around bends and avoids dazzling oncoming drivers, a panoramic sunroof, tow bar, wireless phone charging and keyless entry.