Volkswagen Golf GTE hatchback (2015-2018) - MPG, running costs & CO2

Although there’s a pure electric version of the Volkswagen Golf called the e-Golf, the Golf GTE is intended for those who want a sportier car that has green credentials, but does away with worries about running out of battery charge. It’s a hybrid, combining a 101bhp electric motor with a conventional 148bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

The Golf GTE starts at just over £33,000, but a £2,500 government grant is currently available to buyers of ultra-low-emissions vehicles (ULEVs), which helps to take the sting out of the high list price.

Volkswagen Golf GTE MPG & CO2

Claimed fuel economy stands at 156.9mpg, with CO2 emissions of just 40g/km. This means the Golf GTE sits in the 7% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) bracket for company-car tax. It’s also exempt from the London Congestion Charge, should you use the car in the capital.

Volkswagen says the car can do 20 miles purely on battery power when fully charged, so it’s theoretically possible to complete the average UK commute without using a drop of petrol.

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The problem, as is often the case with hybrids, is that the headline figures are difficult to achieve in real-word driving. Unless you charge the car every day and always drive with efficiency in mind, you won’t get close to the claimed 156.9mpg. Plus, all-electric range is affected by the way you drive, traffic conditions and possibly even the weather. Despite these limitations, though, the Golf GTE should still be markedly cheaper to run than the average hatchback.

Insurance

Volkswagen Golf GTE insurance groups are 25 and 26 for the standard car and Advance trim respectively. This is about on par with other sporting Golfs in the range, including the Volkswagen Golf GTD, but significantly less than the group 33 rating the Audi A3 e-tron enjoys.

Warranty

Like all other VWs, the Golf GTE has a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. This comprises two years’ manufacturer cover while the third year is a retailer warranty. There’s also a 12-year body protection warranty covering rust and a three-year paintwork warranty.

Servicing

Two service plans are available to Golf owners. The Fixed Service plan is aimed at drivers covering less than 10,000 miles a year in mainly urban environments, driving up steep hills frequently, towing or for those with an uneconomical driving style that involves heavy acceleration and braking. A fixed-price service plan is available to you if this suits your circumstances.

A Flexible Service is available for those driving more than 25 miles a day and mainly for longer periods at a constant speed, such as on motorways or A-roads. Here, intervals can be anywhere between every 10,000 miles/12 months and 20,000 miles/24 months.