Volkswagen e-Golf Gives a Glimpse of Company's Electrified Future

We saw the ID. 2all from Volkswagen just recently, a Golf-like electric car from the brand that will retail for less than a headline-grabbing 25,000 euros. This feels like VW finally coming round to playing to its strengths in penetrating the BEV market, which so far has proved elusive with its pricer and niche models.

But did you know that almost ten years ago, VW already had an electrified Golf in the market? That’s the e-Golf that’s based on the Mk7 platform. This early pioneer, we reckon, will give a foretaste of what VW’s electrified future may be like, even more so than the current ID models.

Singapore has one e-Golf (yes, just one), which was brought in as a Research & Development (R&D) vehicle. It did its duty for a couple of years before being registered officially in 2021. Its keeper was VW’s PR Manager, who possibly had the rarest VW in existence locally - until it was recently sold.

We got wind of its impending departure. So before the one and only e-Golf in Singapore goes to its new owner, we secured a last test drive to file some notes on this unique car. The word from VW is that the ID models will start arriving in Singapore this year, and we’ve already previewed them at the Singapore Motorshow. Never been a better time, then.

What are your key takeaways from the drive?
How easy and familiar it is to drive. It feels like a very well-specified Golf 1.4 that happens to have a silent and more powerful engine. The interior works the same, the car looks the same and you even need to turn the ignition key to ‘start’ the car. Acceleration and regeneration feel gentle, very much mirroring a drive in a conventional Golf. It feels efficient and kind to the environment, too, with averaging consumption figures that are close to what’s stated on paper. I consider this all very good things, since the ICE Golf is one of the very best cars to drive daily.

Is the VW ‘spirit’ still intact even in a BEV?
Yes. The keen acceleration with 136 PS and 290 Nm mimics the urgent response from the potent TSI + DSG combination we’ve sampled in various forms, and puts it in between the 1.4s and the GTI. But it doesn’t make one nauseous. It’s ‘just nice’ - for the people in a People’s Car. Power tapers off above 100 km/h, but do you need to go any faster than that?

Because the e-Golf doesn’t have a huge battery, its weight gain is kept minimal - so the car handles virtually indistinguishably from an ICE Golf. Show it a good road and you’d have a surprising amount of fun. There’s also joy from hypermiling, as you would in the fiercely efficient commuter Golfs.

Is the range too low?
Official range is up to 300 km on the NEDC cycle, but in the real world, expect something close to 200 km. If you have a charger at home or at the workplace, it’s not a problem. Most Singaporeans do 50 km or less in a day so it probably won’t bother most. For the rest, good thing that the upcoming ID. 2all will be expected to have at least 450 km of range.

Why would I pick this over an ICE Golf?
Zero emissions, better response than a 1.4, while having no compromises to how it drives. And c’mon, some of you like the fact that it’s a one-of-one. Makes you feel special, doesn’t it?

Should I be waiting in anticipation for the new ID models, then?
If the e-Golf is any indication, we are really looking forward to the VW brand of electrification. All too often, BEVs can be shocking experiences (pun intended) for people who’re used to ICE. The e-Golf seems to hint that VW will make the BEV experience friendly, enjoyable and easy to use.

Photos by Horizon Drivers' Club

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