Lights and wipers won’t make any difference to range, But the heating will. Try and pre-heat the car when it’s plugged in next time. If you leave home with the cabin up to temperature you won’t wast loads of battery heating the cabin. I use an ev for work and this is what I do. Ps great video as always 😎
Interesting review, thank you. I ran a Mk 7 GTE for 4 years and over 90k miles, it was a fantastic servant and never missed a beat. My next car was an e-Golf, which was a far better electric car than the GTE, as you’d expect, but didn’t have the GTE party trick. I’m now running an ID.3, which I’m really enjoying, but I was really close to going for a new GTE with its bigger battery that would cover most of my daily commuting, but didn’t want the additional complexity. Reading some of the other comments, it’s clear that car manufacturers still have some way to go to convince people that electric is the future of passenger cars, but the GTE is as good an introduction to electric propulsion as anything. I see the old chestnut of electric cars only being as green as the electricity you use to charge them has come up, but of course as our grid gets cleaner (as it is) then so do all the EVs using it. We should remember also that electricity (and cobalt) is also used to refine petrol, the only green motoring is no motoring at all, sadly. I enjoyed the look round the car though, and your thoughts on it, keep them coming! 👍🙂
We just ordered one, clicked for heated seats, HUD, reverse camera and the 18" wheels - while i tend to agree with you mostly, you came to the wrong conclusion in my opinion - and i know that's partially VWs fault. We don't see the GTE as a "hybrid GTI" (that's how VW is marketing it). It's not, and you can tell that already visually due to it not being lowered, and having smaller/narrower wheels. What it is, is a decently put together runabout that can do 90% of our journeys electrically, while having the juice to overtake quickly if necessary (we live rural, loads of slow lorries and farming machinery), or just have some fun. I especially found it weird that you criticised the GTE for not being as sharp as the GTI (unsurprisingly giving the tyre choice and added weight, while not being as low/stiff), but then argued that the ID3 is the better choice. We test drove both, and the ID3 started understeering in basically every roundabout we drove through with a bit more gousto (again not surprising considering even narrower wheels, and 25% MORE weight). The very end of the argument came when we test drove the ID3 and "experienced" the interior though. It's just plain awful, like a dentists waiting room, as opposed to the Golf that might arguably be cheaper made than the 7.5, but is still worlds above the sterility of an ID3. Now, you could argue that we should've gone just for a eTSI then, and, well, yeah. That would've been the smart choice, but more power is more power, and price wise there wasn't much between them after bringing a Style eTSI to GTE spec with IQ Lights (which i do want) etc. The GTE is more comfortable than an ID3 too, btw, both in suspension tuning and more importantly, the seats. Don't get me wrong, the ID3 is a genuinely good car, but the comparison was nonsense from the get go. The GTE is a hybrid, and if in winter (around freezing point) i have to drive my wife to the hospital (due to health conditions) that's 120 miles away, we won't have any issues in the GTE. An ID3 will not make that journey without an hours charge somewhere in between, since the range drops to less than 150 miles with a few commodities running in the cold. It's comfortable, well(ish) equipped, quiet, very "Golf" - the only issue with it is that it's being marketed as a GTI alternative, which it's not. Btw, on our (extended) test drive we drove 90ish miles and averaged 170 mpg, with some charge left - mostly A road and motorway. While having the option to go 350 more if necessary (tradeoff being reduced economy in that case, of course). Don't see it as a hybrid GTI, see it for what it actually is: a considerably better equipped, and more powerful Golf eTSI. Then it makes much more sense.
You must have a heavy left foot or have the heater on high . On my 7.5 in winter I get 19-20 miles in Winter and 27-30 in summer that includes motorway. It’s not twice the range for the 8 if it only gets a few miles more than the 7.5. Preheat and turn heater off is the key and freewheel and anticipate.
I don't understand your review the gte is not a gti but you reviewed it as a gti and it didn't match up to your expectations well of course it didn't its a GTE so why not instead of hoonin it round b roads complaining its not a gti review what the gte is actually good at ,shorter journeys on electric power hybrid power for motorways and such, using the electric to stretch out how much fuel you use, is that not the point of the GTE, if ya want a gti don't buy a gte buy a damn gti and charge points appearing everywhere these days like at workplaces and such you can end up using less and less fuel. Imagine only having to put petrol in your GTE every few months ££££££
The VW Website literally says "A true performance plug-in hybrid now with GTI power." - If they did not want people to compare it to the GTI they should not have mentioned it at all.
In many countries, a GTI is more expensive than the GTE due to the CO2 tax and most people do not have their own charging point and charging an ID3 along the highway is no longer cheap and often just as expensive as gasoline. I think the ID3 is a nice car to see, but too much plastic inside and the range on the highway is disappointing in cold weather with the heating on and around 120km/h. The GTE is therefore a good car for short electric trips in the city where charging points are also cheaper than along the highway and on the highway you can just fill up with petrol, which is almost as expensive as fast charging. With the GTE you can drive 1100km with 1 stopover of 5 minutes, with an ID3 you have to charge 4X45 minutes to drive 1.100km. Therefore I'd rather go for the GTE . It is also nice to see that the GTE in real life is only 0.1 second slower from 0 to 100 km/h than the GTI.
Excuse me, could you please explain a bit more about that 1100km range with a GTE? You mean refueling only one time (Thats 2 full petrol tanks ) you can drive 1100km? 😨
Use the petrol engine to accelerate up to 70 mph when joining the motorway. Keep the engine on until it has warmed up in case it’s needed later in the journey then switch to electric only.
The GTE electric motor is limited to 50% power in GTE mode; remapped cars are now producing over 300 bhp & crush the GTI - search YT for the flying dutchman.
As a company car it makes sense, the BIK is very low, to just say its not a GTI makes no sense, we know its not and if your expecting GTI performance then buy a GTI or better still the Club Sport.
Great video Andrew as always, bought one off your calendars to help support your great channel. Been a vw enthusiast for 30 years know just something about them. Owned a mk2 golf 1.8 gl and my present 2001 mk4 golf gti for 17years. Merry Christmas and happy New year Andrew.
I’m considering the GTE or Cupra Leon Hybrid for my next car. Only thing that puts me off is the electric range. Possibly may go for the GTD as looking for a more economical daily. I’m currently daily in a 2019 Cupra 290. I love it but economy isn’t its strong point 😃. I love VW group cars.Great review as always.
You can adjust the instrument colour so green is only one of the colours I think many have 30 colours and the golf life has 10 and you can change colour top and bottom
@@V6R32 Agree entirely. The R does look good (more like a 7/7.5 for some reason) but the rest of them are ghastly. Compared to that TCR this GTE looks so bad it’s a joke.
I am unsure what OCD has to do with the aesthetics of a car? OCD can be for some people, a seriously debilitating illness. However, I do appreciate you probably didn’t mean any offence.
I feel that the GTE is essentially a compromise on many levels. I would agree with the many comments of people in not liking the aesthetics. The brake callipers should be blue and those wheels are not pleasing. I think with diesel-gate VW has taken a serious hit to their budget and they are having to make adjustments to balance the books. I am glad that the Golf R still looks really great in Mk8 form. The GTi also looks good, although I still want the Mk7.5 TCR.
Notice to all. VW Golf 8 GTE bought in February 2023 and has been in the workshop for a month with noise problems in the gearbox. If you are interested in a model like this one, think very well before buying it, you will avoid a lot of problems.
Great review Andrew! I really like the 8, but still really happy with my 7 GTE! I think 245 hp really makes it that much better than the previous 204, but hey.. more is always better😋😋
VW, why didn't you add a backlight to the touch bar for the temperature/volume below the center screen? You can't see the bar at night. Another cost-cutting?
Hi Andrew, great video as always. Have you thought about potentially upgrading your microphone for future videos? It might be worth investing in a Rode wireless mic or a similar type, I know a couple of other 'car youtubers' that use them and the mics seem to do a really good job especially with filtering out background / wind noise.
Good review but even im not sold on it.,like you said wheels are awful, big plastic scooped honeycomb grill and lots of cheap plastic parts.. Expensive bit of kit but lost its looks.. Stick with the 7.5 golf thanks
According to Auto Trader, Mk8 GTE has a 13kwh battery with 10.4 usable. I pay average price of 16p per kwh for electricity, so 16x10.5 (just for ease) = £1.68p for his commute. Say he uses only 3 litres of petrol (gasoline) for his commute, my local average super unleaded is av.£1.31p, so that's £3.93p per commute! If he can charge either end, that's £7.86p on petrol or £3.36p on electric! Saving £4.50p a day/£22.50p a week/£1,112.50p a year! My commute is only half his and so spend about £900 a year on diesel (including long trips on holiday etc), so I would only spend £300 a year on petrol - I can charge at my local supermarket (Tesco) for nothing!
Great review Andrew. Trying to decide between a mark 8 1.5 eTSI auto or manual, or a GTE. I’m wondering what the auto lag at junctions/roundabouts is like with these two? The same, different?
Nowhere near as nice to drive, heavier with all the electric stuff. Might maybe feel as quick but chassis is the problem. GTE is fine but not a replacement for an Ed30
I think the charge port is on the correct side for uk Market. If you haven't a drive and have to park on road to charge you are pointing the correct way on the road.
Ha! Bit unfair putting these half hearted mk8s against the pinnacle of 7.5 GTI but fact is you can buy a nearly new TCR for less right now. TCR vs Clubsport will be a fairer challenge - one for next month 👍
Im a British Expat living in South Australia. Electric Cars don't do well here. It's the worlds most expensive place for electricity. Combine this with petrol cost - its half the price of the UK.
Moreover the biggest drawback of e-cars is that they require lengthy and frequent fillings up as compared to the petrol cars. The main reason why electric cars have not caught up even now.
The 7.5 GTD was really underrated, forget this Mark 8 blunder, all 7/ 7.5 sporty golfs except for the estates, and R variants are going to be future classics in coming years
This GTE is good then gti this car have 250h and 400 nm It is also a very economical car In this car you have many options in one car I bought before 3 months so nice good then gti
I understand your argument about the GTE not doing what an ID3 can do, but for me the Golf is far better looking. There's no comparison for me. I wish VW had put the batteries from the ID3 into the E-golf. I'm certain they would have sold more EV's. I had an E-Golf but only for 6 months, because the real world range was just not good enough, but as a driver, I loved it. I've now gone back to a 2020 7.5 R line 150 evo and I really like the look of it and drive, it suits me and does everything I need it to.
Cool video thanks volkswizard ! I must say i don't agree with you though : the idea of the GTE is that you get 90% of the GTI thrill but with 30% of the running costs and pollution. Of course the GTi would be better on a track or for a very sporty driver but for 99% of us we're not using the gti full potential it's a no brainer. You get 3.2l / 100km of fuel consumption and a much better efficiency overall, it's a very compelling proposition much more fun than a japanese hybrid.
Thanks Ryan. There's no way that's 90% of the GTI dynamically. As for 30% of the running costs, that's if you run on pure electricity which nobody will do. Pollution is a can of worms and in many cases the Co2 produced in making the electricity that EVs run on is greater than the 95g/km fleet average that the manufacturers have to meet as so little is green energy in urban areas - Harry Metcalfe's video on this is an eye opener. However it's academic with the GTE as it's target market just want to reduce company car tax and will probably never plug them in and run much on electricity anyway, hence why the government no longer subsidies them.
@@volkswizard I totally get your point here but as an Mk7 GTE owner (and former GTi too) i use it 90% of the time in EV mode which is very nice around town and i plug it every night in the driveway : if you can't recharge at home there's no point in it, i agree with you. But if you can, fuel bills shrink so massively that i don't care about the 10 or 20% loss of dynamics because it's just a better overall deal : you lose a bit on one side, and gain a lot on the other. Also, you can remap the GTE to 285hp but that's another story and i don't recommend it but that would reduce the gap with the GTi if you really care about every decimal in your 0-60 :) Request : as you tried the mk8, i would be interested in your opinion in it versus the mk7 / 7.5 as a lot of car journalists talk about costcutting measures and the lower quality, would be a nice video IMO. Cheers
@@volkswizard A study in England showed that almost 80% of plugin owners charge their cars several times a week and that they drive urban trips in EV mode because you can now charge anywhere, which was not possible in the past. I always charge my plugin.
I reckon 1.4 is cheaper than 1.5 and emissions are less important as it’s not tested on its own so no need for the complexity of the 1.5. Problem is when you drive on petrol it feels like a throwback engine
@@eponymous7910 I have the 1.4 TSI and it’s been very reliable, so great news if it’s bulletproof. The older 1.4 TSI in the Mk6 Golf was plagued with issues
Any news on part two of preparing the R Estate? I don't think any Mark 8 is the perfect Golf. Much better with an end of the line 7.5 or even a lovely used 7. Quite astonishing that this vehicle is pretty much incapable of even a short journey on EV power. As noted below it's a strange mix of blue, green, and red. Do like the smaller silver wheels. Lack of spare wheel well kills it unless you fill your boot with a space saver. This would be okay on an estate less so on the hatchback. Overall this car feels like a part bin special as the investment has now moved on to the ID models. In short if you want a GTI then buy a GTI!
R Estate update will come soon, been too busy with Xmas, ill elderly parents and proper paid work. Generally I tend to catch up on stuff between Xmas and New Year (today Sunday 27/12) is my first day to do nothing in long time but I'll get bored soon so hope to crack that vid and a garage update vid before 1/1
For the exhaust pipes I understand there is a ‘Black’ option (see extract from Product Guide - Ireland) Black Style surface appearance on wing mirrors, black strip in grille (replacing GTI red strip, GTD grey strip and GTE blue strip in grille) and black exhaust tips on GTE only.
@@volkswizard do you think that the DCC is a must have option for this generation of performance Golfs, moreso than the previous gen? On the previous gen DCC was nice to have especially with the 19" wheels. I get the impression that so much of the driving dynamics of this generation is down to electronic control that the DCC will play a major part in ensuring the cars drive as the factory intended. E.g. doesn't feel right to option a GTI/GTI CS/R without DCC.
If VW UK will loan me an ID.3 I will happily put it to the test by doing 50 fast miles per day. I'm gonna need a charging point though, something I've put off as I plan to move house soon.
Great review as always Volks and hope you had a good Christmas. These electric cars tho......they just seem pointless right now with the piss poor battery life. “Sorry mate, I can’t come and see you after work cos I probs won’t make it home the 3 extra miles”....ridiculous.
My commute nowadays is only a few miles so something like this would suit me. Electricity for work and back and pottering about but the petrol for when I'm caught out and or longer journeys. The combination of both looks like you can have a bit of fun for the odd blast and it has enough power to get you out of trouble should you need it. It's a shame though that it isn't self charging.
Good vid but if your a gti die hard then just stick with the gti. If your a gti fan but want to save money on petrol and have a car similar to the gti then the GTE is for you. But comparing does not make sense. Also doesn’t matter what car your in if you throw it into a bend too fast on a B road with low psv you’ll loose it..!
Hi, I do 15 mile commute to work round trip ,don't do long journeys?I'm stuck between A250e a class mercedes and the GTE 😫i test drive Id3 nice car but interior bit bland ?I have my cars through salary sacrifice scheme at work 👍I'm test driving the gte tomorrow 💥I currently drive a 1ltr titanium x focus ,it goes bac November so need to choose new car end may 😫
Get it to work on electric and push it the last 100 yards 👍 Comedy small wheels might catch on - those optional 18s look really good though. Like you, really looking forward to the Cupra ElBorn
32 its kinda insane though. my kommute is half of that, so if you're able to charge the car at home or at work. you'd potentially only fill up for gas once a month
Very true - problem is the compromise of having 2 drivetrains in one car and all that weight, neither of which are that great - it's no GTI (or GTD) to drive
Another interesting video - I can see the appeal of a GTE, but (& this is shallow, I know🤣) but no space for the upgraded hifi option (same as the 7.5 GTE)! Given the softer nature of the GTE, I wonder why VW haven't done an estate version? More space for batteries, for a start
I've got a 28mile drive to work each day. About half of it's wee back roads where you're up and down the gears. I've always wondered what kind of range an EV would do on back roads.
Multiple pointless comparisons to the Gti. We know it’s not as quick or agile as the Gti, it’s not meant to be it’s a different car for a different market. If your requirement is for small frequent journeys then it’s the ideal car and very cheap to run and also real good fun to drive and very refined compared to the Mk7 version.
Curious what the charge was in the battery when you were testing out the GTE mode? The mk7.5 doesn’t perform nearly as well (0-60) if the battery is nearly flat.
It was low or on zero but there always seemed to some residual electricity. I had zero issues with the acceleration of the car, it felt good for the figures.
Finding them interesting is all I can ask for so thanks! I will do GTD if there is interest in it. My angle on it will be that GTE doesn't work for me as a cheaper to run GTI as electric mode doesn't make up for the disappointing driving experience. Can the GTD offer 90% of the GTI dynamics but with 30% less fuel cost? Does that sound interesting?
I can see the appeal of the 7.5 GTI still but if you do the mileage Mk8 GTI is signficantly better on fuel and if you can push the car hard, it's much better in the corners
Personally I'd stay with the GTD. I've got a 7.5 DGS GTI and get around 40 mpg driven at 80mph (indicated) on the motorway....... my wife's 7 1.6tdi would get about 60 mpg at the same speed. Years ago I had, for a trip around France a loan mk6 GTD it was amazingly economical and so fast, 60mpg and driven fast. My next will be a GTD, to get the added range of diesel economy and performance........I like 500 mile range from full ups....i hate fuel stations. The age of the deisel is far from over IMO....especially with the dpf filters and adblue for emissions.
I use my 2018 7.5 GTE circa 80% all electric and it does 25 miles with air con off 21 air on (makes 4 mile difference) - for me I save £60 month over a GTD I also had....I like the GTE assisted mode where it also adds to battery on light throttle. Neither GTD or GTE are a GTI equivalent. 8 is only 5-10 miles extra from what I have heard over a 7.5 in real world eg 31-35 as Andrew said. To get the full range put gearbox in B regen and no Aircon 🤗
Another brilliant review, Andrew. I'm not too keen on the nearside position of the charging point. I can just about get my car in my garage and would not be able to reach to plug in, I certainly would not be keen in leaving a charging cable doing its job outside in all weathers.... A GTD review would certainly be interesting but are Inchcape going to lend you an R?? I would be very interested in that!! Hope you've had a good Christmas. Best wishes as usual!👍🏼
This whole exterior is a dissapointment,i have the 7.5 gte love the looks.hyundai exterior looks much better these days.Comon vw buy the design team some glasses.
It’s a shame they don’t have the technology to charge the battery from the engine when you are running in petrol mode. Seems a shame to have to plug in just to do a few miles in electric mode. Interesting review though. Don’t see the appeal myself but I’ve always fancied an e-up as they seem to get good reviews.
It will charge up in petrol mode but might just be the brakes doing that. Probably not efficient to convert petrol into electricity though appreciate other hybrids may do this
You can also charge the battery while in pretrol mode when you are not breaking. Just go to the battery settings and hit the up arrow until its higher than your current battery level, it then says "charge battery". Obviously not very efficient.
Brilliant video Andrew of a very nice car if it meets your criteria for not much more coin than a GTI however I know which one I would prefer and it’s three very important letters TCR 😋
Lights and wipers won’t make any difference to range, But the heating will.
Try and pre-heat the car when it’s plugged in next time. If you leave home with the cabin up to temperature you won’t wast loads of battery heating the cabin.
I use an ev for work and this is what I do.
Ps great video as always 😎
This car makes sense in Denmark. It costs the same as an MK8 1.5 TSI style due to it being a hybrid
Wow that's great!
@@pastorofmuppets8834 Yes, our green taxes as well as registration tax is normally 150%, but is less for hybrids / electric cars.
Also in the Netherlands the mk 8 gte is nice car for a nice price
Interesting review, thank you. I ran a Mk 7 GTE for 4 years and over 90k miles, it was a fantastic servant and never missed a beat. My next car was an e-Golf, which was a far better electric car than the GTE, as you’d expect, but didn’t have the GTE party trick. I’m now running an ID.3, which I’m really enjoying, but I was really close to going for a new GTE with its bigger battery that would cover most of my daily commuting, but didn’t want the additional complexity. Reading some of the other comments, it’s clear that car manufacturers still have some way to go to convince people that electric is the future of passenger cars, but the GTE is as good an introduction to electric propulsion as anything. I see the old chestnut of electric cars only being as green as the electricity you use to charge them has come up, but of course as our grid gets cleaner (as it is) then so do all the EVs using it. We should remember also that electricity (and cobalt) is also used to refine petrol, the only green motoring is no motoring at all, sadly. I enjoyed the look round the car though, and your thoughts on it, keep them coming! 👍🙂
We just ordered one, clicked for heated seats, HUD, reverse camera and the 18" wheels - while i tend to agree with you mostly, you came to the wrong conclusion in my opinion - and i know that's partially VWs fault. We don't see the GTE as a "hybrid GTI" (that's how VW is marketing it). It's not, and you can tell that already visually due to it not being lowered, and having smaller/narrower wheels. What it is, is a decently put together runabout that can do 90% of our journeys electrically, while having the juice to overtake quickly if necessary (we live rural, loads of slow lorries and farming machinery), or just have some fun. I especially found it weird that you criticised the GTE for not being as sharp as the GTI (unsurprisingly giving the tyre choice and added weight, while not being as low/stiff), but then argued that the ID3 is the better choice. We test drove both, and the ID3 started understeering in basically every roundabout we drove through with a bit more gousto (again not surprising considering even narrower wheels, and 25% MORE weight). The very end of the argument came when we test drove the ID3 and "experienced" the interior though. It's just plain awful, like a dentists waiting room, as opposed to the Golf that might arguably be cheaper made than the 7.5, but is still worlds above the sterility of an ID3. Now, you could argue that we should've gone just for a eTSI then, and, well, yeah. That would've been the smart choice, but more power is more power, and price wise there wasn't much between them after bringing a Style eTSI to GTE spec with IQ Lights (which i do want) etc. The GTE is more comfortable than an ID3 too, btw, both in suspension tuning and more importantly, the seats. Don't get me wrong, the ID3 is a genuinely good car, but the comparison was nonsense from the get go. The GTE is a hybrid, and if in winter (around freezing point) i have to drive my wife to the hospital (due to health conditions) that's 120 miles away, we won't have any issues in the GTE. An ID3 will not make that journey without an hours charge somewhere in between, since the range drops to less than 150 miles with a few commodities running in the cold. It's comfortable, well(ish) equipped, quiet, very "Golf" - the only issue with it is that it's being marketed as a GTI alternative, which it's not. Btw, on our (extended) test drive we drove 90ish miles and averaged 170 mpg, with some charge left - mostly A road and motorway. While having the option to go 350 more if necessary (tradeoff being reduced economy in that case, of course). Don't see it as a hybrid GTI, see it for what it actually is: a considerably better equipped, and more powerful Golf eTSI. Then it makes much more sense.
You must have a heavy left foot or have the heater on high . On my 7.5 in winter I get 19-20 miles in Winter and 27-30 in summer that includes motorway. It’s not twice the range for the 8 if it only gets a few miles more than the 7.5. Preheat and turn heater off is the key and freewheel and anticipate.
Crikey, I'm lucky to get 14 out of mine in the winter, never got close to 30!
I don't understand your review the gte is not a gti but you reviewed it as a gti and it didn't match up to your expectations well of course it didn't its a GTE so why not instead of hoonin it round b roads complaining its not a gti review what the gte is actually good at ,shorter journeys on electric power hybrid power for motorways and such, using the electric to stretch out how much fuel you use, is that not the point of the GTE, if ya want a gti don't buy a gte buy a damn gti and charge points appearing everywhere these days like at workplaces and such you can end up using less and less fuel.
Imagine only having to put petrol in your GTE every few months ££££££
The VW Website literally says "A true performance plug-in hybrid now with GTI power." - If they did not want people to compare it to the GTI they should not have mentioned it at all.
In many countries, a GTI is more expensive than the GTE due to the CO2 tax and most people do not have their own charging point and charging an ID3 along the highway is no longer cheap and often just as expensive as gasoline. I think the ID3 is a nice car to see, but too much plastic inside and the range on the highway is disappointing in cold weather with the heating on and around 120km/h. The GTE is therefore a good car for short electric trips in the city where charging points are also cheaper than along the highway and on the highway you can just fill up with petrol, which is almost as expensive as fast charging. With the GTE you can drive 1100km with 1 stopover of 5 minutes, with an ID3 you have to charge 4X45 minutes to drive 1.100km. Therefore I'd rather go for the GTE . It is also nice to see that the GTE in real life is only 0.1 second slower from 0 to 100 km/h than the GTI.
Excuse me, could you please explain a bit more about that 1100km range with a GTE? You mean refueling only one time (Thats 2 full petrol tanks ) you can drive 1100km? 😨
@@andytaylor4138 I think they meant that they had a 5 min stop, not refueling. 1100km non stop would be a bloody long trip!
Use the petrol engine to accelerate up to 70 mph when joining the motorway. Keep the engine on until it has warmed up in case it’s needed later in the journey then switch to electric only.
The new golf's looks are growing on me🎄😎
Same didn’t like it when it came out but it’s starting to grown one me aswell
Couldn’t agree more, I’ve been won over by the looks.
Red brake callipers with an intrinsic blue GTE theme doesn't make any sense.... something must have gone wrong on the production line!
Ok go tell that too all the people that paint their calipers red to all kinds of different cars. Maybe you should go work in the fashion business.
It looks wrong
They're definitely blue on my mk7.5 GTE
The GTE electric motor is limited to 50% power in GTE mode; remapped cars are now producing over 300 bhp & crush the GTI - search YT for the flying dutchman.
Them wheels make a huge difference in looks , they so need to be diamond cut...
However don't think I'm an electric fan yet
As a company car it makes sense, the BIK is very low, to just say its not a GTI makes no sense, we know its not and if your expecting GTI performance then buy a GTI or better still the Club Sport.
Great video Andrew as always, bought one off your calendars to help support your great channel. Been a vw enthusiast for 30 years know just something about them. Owned a mk2 golf 1.8 gl and my present 2001 mk4 golf gti for 17years. Merry Christmas and happy New year Andrew.
I’m considering the GTE or Cupra Leon Hybrid for my next car. Only thing that puts me off is the electric range. Possibly may go for the GTD as looking for a more economical daily. I’m currently daily in a 2019 Cupra 290. I love it but economy isn’t its strong point 😃. I love VW group cars.Great review as always.
If you are getting it as a company car, the GTE is a no brainer really because of the BIK tax
The 1.4 tsi is 'optimised ' for the hybrid use hence why they don't use the 1.5.I work for Audi and attended a training session at Milton Keynes.
Interesting, thanks
My OCD wouldn’t be able to cope with the blue accents, Green lighting & Red calipers. VW why 🤷♂️
Same here. VW are all over the place design wise as are Audi currently.
You can adjust the instrument colour so green is only one of the colours I think many have 30 colours and the golf life has 10 and you can change colour top and bottom
the dash should be Blue.
@@V6R32 Agree entirely. The R does look good (more like a 7/7.5 for some reason) but the rest of them are ghastly. Compared to that TCR this GTE looks so bad it’s a joke.
I am unsure what OCD has to do with the aesthetics of a car? OCD can be for some people, a seriously debilitating illness. However, I do appreciate you probably didn’t mean any offence.
I feel that the GTE is essentially a compromise on many levels. I would agree with the many comments of people in not liking the aesthetics. The brake callipers should be blue and those wheels are not pleasing. I think with diesel-gate VW has taken a serious hit to their budget and they are having to make adjustments to balance the books. I am glad that the Golf R still looks really great in Mk8 form. The GTi also looks good, although I still want the Mk7.5 TCR.
Notice to all. VW Golf 8 GTE bought in February 2023 and has been in the workshop for a month with noise problems in the gearbox. If you are interested in a model like this one, think very well before buying it, you will avoid a lot of problems.
Love my Mk 7.5 GTE, it has been chipped and the speed is mindblowing... got the best of both worlds, even lowered it as it was like driving a bus...
Great review Andrew!
I really like the 8, but still really happy with my 7 GTE!
I think 245 hp really makes it that much better than the previous 204, but hey.. more is always better😋😋
it's main problem are those wheels 🤢
Ugly as usual from VW these days. Nice tyres though.
Definitely a hint of Swastika in there too
prefer the 7.5 GTE for looks etc
So by etc you mean less power and less range, ya i know right, but the look on the 7.5 is so amazing and different...
@@vroomgc less power and range doesn't bother me but the looks of a car do
VW, why didn't you add a backlight to the touch bar for the temperature/volume below the center screen? You can't see the bar at night. Another cost-cutting?
I think it’s cause the hand gesture sensor is built in there. Poor excuse though I think it should’ve been lit up n
Hi Andrew, great video as always. Have you thought about potentially upgrading your microphone for future videos? It might be worth investing in a Rode wireless mic or a similar type, I know a couple of other 'car youtubers' that use them and the mics seem to do a really good job especially with filtering out background / wind noise.
Is this a review of the GTI or GTE ??
Good review but even im not sold on it.,like you said wheels are awful, big plastic scooped honeycomb grill and lots of cheap plastic parts.. Expensive bit of kit but lost its looks.. Stick with the 7.5 golf thanks
As per the last GTE far to much space in the wheel arches with that wheel & tyre combo in my opinion
You can get aftermarket 19" rims and get lowering springs. I will do that too when i receive mine.
On the intro I noticed quite a wind there, keep in mind a headwind will dramatically drain the power.
Question is how much does it cost in electric per week to commute to and from work compared to an equivalent petrol car?
According to Auto Trader, Mk8 GTE has a 13kwh battery with 10.4 usable. I pay average price of 16p per kwh for electricity, so 16x10.5 (just for ease) = £1.68p for his commute.
Say he uses only 3 litres of petrol (gasoline) for his commute, my local average super unleaded is av.£1.31p, so that's £3.93p per commute!
If he can charge either end, that's £7.86p on petrol or £3.36p on electric! Saving £4.50p a day/£22.50p a week/£1,112.50p a year!
My commute is only half his and so spend about £900 a year on diesel (including long trips on holiday etc), so I would only spend £300 a year on petrol - I can charge at my local supermarket (Tesco) for nothing!
@@computerbob06 furthermore you can take advantage of many EV focussed energy tariffs that allow you to charge up over night for 4-6p kWh.
Great review Andrew. Trying to decide between a mark 8 1.5 eTSI auto or manual, or a GTE. I’m wondering what the auto lag at junctions/roundabouts is like with these two? The same, different?
What would this be like against a golf gti edition 30 07 am thinking of moving over is it as powerful
Nowhere near as nice to drive, heavier with all the electric stuff. Might maybe feel as quick but chassis is the problem. GTE is fine but not a replacement for an Ed30
I think the charge port is on the correct side for uk Market. If you haven't a drive and have to park on road to charge you are pointing the correct way on the road.
That shot with the TCR and GTE... the TCR is significantly nicer!
Ha! Bit unfair putting these half hearted mk8s against the pinnacle of 7.5 GTI but fact is you can buy a nearly new TCR for less right now. TCR vs Clubsport will be a fairer challenge - one for next month 👍
@@volkswizard looking forward to that comparison!
Im a British Expat living in South Australia. Electric Cars don't do well here. It's the worlds most expensive place for electricity. Combine this with petrol cost - its half the price of the UK.
Wonder if Aus has its own petroleum reserves?
@@kamrankhan-lj1ng they don’t tax it like they do in the UK. It will kill off remote areas if they did.
Moreover the biggest drawback of e-cars is that they require lengthy and frequent fillings up as compared to the petrol cars. The main reason why electric cars have not caught up even now.
put some photovoltaics on your roof and charge it for free.
The 7.5 GTD was really underrated, forget this Mark 8 blunder, all 7/ 7.5 sporty golfs except for the estates, and R variants are going to be future classics in coming years
Whats the MPG on mixed driving (50-100 miles) for flip sakes... 21 year old would have done a better job
This GTE is good then gti this car have 250h and 400 nm It is also a very economical car In this car you have many options in one car I bought before 3 months so nice good then gti
How do you get that screen with driving data in the middle?
Mine won't do that !
I understand your argument about the GTE not doing what an ID3 can do, but for me the Golf is far better looking. There's no comparison for me. I wish VW had put the batteries from the ID3 into the E-golf. I'm certain they would have sold more EV's. I had an E-Golf but only for 6 months, because the real world range was just not good enough, but as a driver, I loved it. I've now gone back to a 2020 7.5 R line 150 evo and I really like the look of it and drive, it suits me and does everything I need it to.
So if you want 245hp you have to drive it in GTE mode... so 10l consumption?
Does it heat the cabin well under electric power only ?
Yep
Cool video thanks volkswizard !
I must say i don't agree with you though : the idea of the GTE is that you get 90% of the GTI thrill but with 30% of the running costs and pollution.
Of course the GTi would be better on a track or for a very sporty driver but for 99% of us we're not using the gti full potential it's a no brainer.
You get 3.2l / 100km of fuel consumption and a much better efficiency overall, it's a very compelling proposition much more fun than a japanese hybrid.
Thanks Ryan. There's no way that's 90% of the GTI dynamically. As for 30% of the running costs, that's if you run on pure electricity which nobody will do. Pollution is a can of worms and in many cases the Co2 produced in making the electricity that EVs run on is greater than the 95g/km fleet average that the manufacturers have to meet as so little is green energy in urban areas - Harry Metcalfe's video on this is an eye opener. However it's academic with the GTE as it's target market just want to reduce company car tax and will probably never plug them in and run much on electricity anyway, hence why the government no longer subsidies them.
@@volkswizard I totally get your point here but as an Mk7 GTE owner (and former GTi too) i use it 90% of the time in EV mode which is very nice around town and i plug it every night in the driveway : if you can't recharge at home there's no point in it, i agree with you.
But if you can, fuel bills shrink so massively that i don't care about the 10 or 20% loss of dynamics because it's just a better overall deal : you lose a bit on one side, and gain a lot on the other.
Also, you can remap the GTE to 285hp but that's another story and i don't recommend it but that would reduce the gap with the GTi if you really care about every decimal in your 0-60 :)
Request : as you tried the mk8, i would be interested in your opinion in it versus the mk7 / 7.5 as a lot of car journalists talk about costcutting measures and the lower quality, would be a nice video IMO.
Cheers
@@volkswizard A study in England showed that almost 80% of plugin owners charge their cars several times a week and that they drive urban trips in EV mode because you can now charge anywhere, which was not possible in the past.
I always charge my plugin.
I really thought they'd slot the new 1.5 engine in the Mk8, think I'd opt for the Skoda instead
I reckon 1.4 is cheaper than 1.5 and emissions are less important as it’s not tested on its own so no need for the complexity of the 1.5. Problem is when you drive on petrol it feels like a throwback engine
The 1.4 is bulletproof, a rarity these days in vag world. Their most reliable engine since the ol' 1.9 tdi
@@eponymous7910 I have the 1.4 TSI and it’s been very reliable, so great news if it’s bulletproof. The older 1.4 TSI in the Mk6 Golf was plagued with issues
@@eponymous7910 which year models is the 1.4 reliable
@@wakaflockaproject anything from 2013 onward that's belt driven
Any news on part two of preparing the R Estate? I don't think any Mark 8 is the perfect Golf. Much better with an end of the line 7.5 or even a lovely used 7. Quite astonishing that this vehicle is pretty much incapable of even a short journey on EV power. As noted below it's a strange mix of blue, green, and red. Do like the smaller silver wheels. Lack of spare wheel well kills it unless you fill your boot with a space saver. This would be okay on an estate less so on the hatchback. Overall this car feels like a part bin special as the investment has now moved on to the ID models. In short if you want a GTI then buy a GTI!
R Estate update will come soon, been too busy with Xmas, ill elderly parents and proper paid work. Generally I tend to catch up on stuff between Xmas and New Year (today Sunday 27/12) is my first day to do nothing in long time but I'll get bored soon so hope to crack that vid and a garage update vid before 1/1
For the exhaust pipes I understand there is a ‘Black’ option (see extract from Product Guide - Ireland)
Black Style surface appearance on wing mirrors, black strip in grille (replacing GTI red strip, GTD grey strip and GTE blue strip in grille) and black exhaust tips on GTE only.
Im thinking to buy one. Was gonna go for the GTI but here in Ireland I can shave off 4k from the total for buying a plugin hybrid
It is probably better to compare it with GTD when it comes to fuel consumption. but still a decent in driving pleasure?
The car you tested probably didn’t have DCC?
No DCC
@@volkswizard do you think that the DCC is a must have option for this generation of performance Golfs, moreso than the previous gen? On the previous gen DCC was nice to have especially with the 19" wheels. I get the impression that so much of the driving dynamics of this generation is down to electronic control that the DCC will play a major part in ensuring the cars drive as the factory intended. E.g. doesn't feel right to option a GTI/GTI CS/R without DCC.
Great review. A question i have wanted to know is - if you run out of electricity while on a journey do you then loose the full 245bhp?
Yes you will only get the maximum power of the petrol engine
@@stephenbagwell8275 and do you have any idea what the 0-100 km/h is without the electric motor?
@@bastianm5478 it’s hard to say because the electric would be used every time you accelerate hard
Prefer the 7.5 GTE. I have a Lexus and the rain makes a noticeable difference to fuel consumption due to rolling resistance.
I really wish the GTE would come to Australia.
Warm weather would help range 👍
The performance section of the review had no battery charge. So you probably didn't see its full potential
Thanks for the interesting video Andrew. Are you planning a long term review of the ID3 in 2021?
If VW UK will loan me an ID.3 I will happily put it to the test by doing 50 fast miles per day. I'm gonna need a charging point though, something I've put off as I plan to move house soon.
Those wheels are awful looks like an old GL 😩
Is it just cost saving when they don’t have the usual blue brake calipers ?
mine are red
Great review as always Volks and hope you had a good Christmas. These electric cars tho......they just seem pointless right now with the piss poor battery life. “Sorry mate, I can’t come and see you after work cos I probs won’t make it home the 3 extra miles”....ridiculous.
Thats why it has a gas engine... These cars make sense to people who are doing short trips around town .. but thanks for talking on everyone's behalf.
@@vroomgc Gas....oh, petrol you mean.
My commute nowadays is only a few miles so something like this would suit me. Electricity for work and back and pottering about but the petrol for when I'm caught out and or longer journeys. The combination of both looks like you can have a bit of fun for the odd blast and it has enough power to get you out of trouble should you need it. It's a shame though that it isn't self charging.
How can I turn off start and stop function on the gte
Good vid but if your a gti die hard then just stick with the gti. If your a gti fan but want to save money on petrol and have a car similar to the gti then the GTE is for you. But comparing does not make sense. Also doesn’t matter what car your in if you throw it into a bend too fast on a B road with low psv you’ll loose it..!
What's a B road and what's low psv
Is it just me or does the badge (GTE) look off centre?
Enjoyed the review and told me everything I wanted to know .👍👍
Mised an opertunity should have made it awd electric back gas front
Hi,
I do 15 mile commute to work round trip ,don't do long journeys?I'm stuck between A250e a class mercedes and the GTE 😫i test drive Id3 nice car but interior bit bland ?I have my cars through salary sacrifice scheme at work 👍I'm test driving the gte tomorrow 💥I currently drive a 1ltr titanium x focus ,it goes bac November so need to choose new car end may 😫
The whole point of this plug-in hybrid is fuel efficiency, and you didnt touch on that point once except for range on EV mode only WTF
Seems like somebody decided to put the wheels wrong way around.
I'm very reluctant to embrace electric cars, but I can't wait for this review!
Great review as always mate. Think I’ll hold out for the GTD.
Get it to work on electric and push it the last 100 yards 👍
Comedy small wheels might catch on - those optional 18s look really good though.
Like you, really looking forward to the Cupra ElBorn
I just can't get over that front grille.
32 its kinda insane though. my kommute is half of that, so if you're able to charge the car at home or at work. you'd potentially only fill up for gas once a month
Very true - problem is the compromise of having 2 drivetrains in one car and all that weight, neither of which are that great - it's no GTI (or GTD) to drive
@@volkswizard yeah but the average joe does not care much about those things. he only sees that gas is cheaper which makes his wife happier
Another interesting video - I can see the appeal of a GTE, but (& this is shallow, I know🤣) but no space for the upgraded hifi option (same as the 7.5 GTE)!
Given the softer nature of the GTE, I wonder why VW haven't done an estate version? More space for batteries, for a start
Looking forward to your Cupra Born review, it’s first electric car that I like the look of.
I've got a 28mile drive to work each day. About half of it's wee back roads where you're up and down the gears. I've always wondered what kind of range an EV would do on back roads.
I think these will be everywhere in Germany. The leasing deals were just too good (because of the government grant)
Multiple pointless comparisons to the Gti. We know it’s not as quick or agile as the Gti, it’s not meant to be it’s a different car for a different market. If your requirement is for small frequent journeys then it’s the ideal car and very cheap to run and also real good fun to drive and very refined compared to the Mk7 version.
Do you own one?
This is the way we’re heading. Would be ideal for my commute but nowhere to charge living in a mid terrace . An estate version would be nice
You can charge at Tesco FOC via a pod point charger but there will be limits on time. Passat GTE Estate might be the one for you then Greg?
@@volkswizard yeah that’s a good one 👍🏻
Great review as usual. Do those touch sensitive temperature controls below the sat nav illuminate ?.
They don’t Steve no sadly only the power button for the infotainment
Many thanks.
That’s a very poor design, and dangerous
Curious what the charge was in the battery when you were testing out the GTE mode? The mk7.5 doesn’t perform nearly as well (0-60) if the battery is nearly flat.
It was low or on zero but there always seemed to some residual electricity. I had zero issues with the acceleration of the car, it felt good for the figures.
Although I have zero interest in upgrading to a MK8, I still find these vids interesting, is the MK8 GTD video coming at some point? 👀👍
Finding them interesting is all I can ask for so thanks! I will do GTD if there is interest in it. My angle on it will be that GTE doesn't work for me as a cheaper to run GTI as electric mode doesn't make up for the disappointing driving experience. Can the GTD offer 90% of the GTI dynamics but with 30% less fuel cost? Does that sound interesting?
Yea I’d be interested in a gtd video
@@cliveweir me too
Never seen the GTD yet
Won't be moving on from my 7.5 GTI any time soon
I can see the appeal of the 7.5 GTI still but if you do the mileage Mk8 GTI is signficantly better on fuel and if you can push the car hard, it's much better in the corners
Disappointing that it doesn’t even have those dagger style badges on the wings
So summoned up 36k gets you lots of plastic stupid small wheels blue badges and Red Brake Calipers ?.
2 drivetrains means compromises 🤷🏼♂️😆
What’s the excuse for all the plastic on the Gti then .
@@wayneofwolves2807 Cost cutting
@@wayneofwolves2807 imagine being mad about plastic interior in the generation where 95% of cars are full plastic interiors
Fantastic video as always, giving Mat Watson a run for his money! ID.3 for me over the GTE hopefully VW have a GTI version in the works :)
Turned this off as soon as I seen him doing 65mph on a motorway
i like those rims
my current car is on lease i've got mk7.5 gtd got a year left on lease . was thinking about getting gte is it really that bad ?
I think it will handle noticeably less well and unless you charge religiously it will cost you more to run
Personally I'd stay with the GTD.
I've got a 7.5 DGS GTI and get around 40 mpg driven at 80mph (indicated) on the motorway....... my wife's 7 1.6tdi would get about 60 mpg at the same speed.
Years ago I had, for a trip around France a loan mk6 GTD it was amazingly economical and so fast, 60mpg and driven fast.
My next will be a GTD, to get the added range of diesel economy and performance........I like 500 mile range from full ups....i hate fuel stations.
The age of the deisel is far from over IMO....especially with the dpf filters and adblue for emissions.
@@volkswizard thanks for your feedbank as your the man in the know
@@grahamatsea3575 getting around 50mpg-60mpg town mixed driving styles in my mk7.5 gtd
I use my 2018 7.5 GTE circa 80% all electric and it does 25 miles with air con off 21 air on (makes 4 mile difference) - for me I save £60 month over a GTD I also had....I like the GTE assisted mode where it also adds to battery on light throttle. Neither GTD or GTE are a GTI equivalent. 8 is only 5-10 miles extra from what I have heard over a 7.5 in real world eg 31-35 as Andrew said. To get the full range put gearbox in B regen and no Aircon 🤗
Excellent video Andrew well done again interesting to see the difference between the petrol and petrol hybrid golf 8
Im confused what just came on?
The engine
probably doable on a warmer day
Another brilliant review, Andrew. I'm not too keen on the nearside position of the charging point. I can just about get my car in my garage and would not be able to reach to plug in, I certainly would not be keen in leaving a charging cable doing its job outside in all weathers.... A GTD review would certainly be interesting but are Inchcape going to lend you an R?? I would be very interested in that!! Hope you've had a good Christmas. Best wishes as usual!👍🏼
This whole exterior is a dissapointment,i have the 7.5 gte love the looks.hyundai exterior looks much better these days.Comon vw buy the design team some glasses.
It’s a shame they don’t have the technology to charge the battery from the engine when you are running in petrol mode. Seems a shame to have to plug in just to do a few miles in electric mode. Interesting review though. Don’t see the appeal myself but I’ve always fancied an e-up as they seem to get good reviews.
It will charge up in petrol mode but might just be the brakes doing that. Probably not efficient to convert petrol into electricity though appreciate other hybrids may do this
You can also charge the battery while in pretrol mode when you are not breaking. Just go to the battery settings and hit the up arrow until its higher than your current battery level, it then says "charge battery". Obviously not very efficient.
Brilliant video Andrew of a very nice car if it meets your criteria for not much more coin than a GTI however I know which one I would prefer and it’s three very important letters TCR 😋
TCR & ID.3 would be a nice two car garage 👍
Anyone know if there will be estate version
Enjoyable review Sir. Great content as always.
Thanks Darren, much appreciated as ever 👍
Brilliant honest real world review. Thanks.
Thanks J :)
Hohoho happy Christmas
I don't mind hybrids like these which have a decent amount of power like these unlike a Prius. Still not convinced on the mk8 design
Great review again Andrew thank you 👍