SECTOR: Lower-medium   PRICE: €34,900   RANGE: 190km   CO2: 0g/km 

It seems manufacturers have two approaches to plug-in vehicles. Some choose to package the technology in a futuristic bodyshell, while others opt to normalise it, fitting it to an existing car. The Volkswagen e-Golf sits firmly in the latter group.

Whether that’s good or bad depends on personal taste. This isn’t a glaring billboard for a company’s environmental credentials, but the e-Golf takes an unfamiliar technology and slots it into a familiar car. It’s just another drivetrain choice for the ubiquitous German hatchback.

So it’s unlikely to have passers-by craning their necks. The e-Golf shares its blue pinstriped aerodynamic grille with the Bluemotion, though the bookends here are a pair of energy-efficient all-LED headlights, and the smoother front bumper is unique, lit with C-shaped daytime running lights.

Equipment levels vary between markets but the e-Golf is based on the mid-spec trim level, but with an upgraded EV-specific satellite navigation system, automatic air conditioning and parking sensors added in. While the e-up!, which carries a large price premium, subsidies mean the e-Golf isn’t far off the price of a close equivalent DSG-equipped 1.6 TDI SE.

The drivetrain comprises a 115hp electric motor and 24.2kWh battery, which adds just under 200kg to the diesel’s kerb weight. It chimes into life with a twist of the key and operates like a conventional automatic – just slot it into D, and it pulls away silently with that familiar feeling of Golf solidity and firm, yet comfortable, ride quality.

Squeeze the throttle harder and the motor delivers a typically urgent surge of electric acceleration, the sensitivity of which can be altered through Eco and Eco+ driving modes, which also limit power output, top speed and air conditioning. Unusually, there’s no regenerative braking until the battery dips under around 90% charge.

Beyond this, there are a number of ways to vary the driving experience. From the default D mode, nudging the gear lever to the left or right offers three levels of regenerative braking or the option to switch it off for a smoother drive. Pull the lever back and B mode means it’s possible to drive without touching the brake pedal; just lift off the throttle and it’ll scrub speed off so quickly that the brake lights automatically switch on.

Volkswagen is claiming a range of up to 190km depending on the weather, topography and road type, and the

e-Golf can coast at low loads without using any energy at all. A full charge takes 13 hours using the supplied domestic cable, eight hours from a wallbox or dedicated charging post, and 80% of the range can be recovered in half an hour using a rapid charger.

Rapid charging capability is optional in some markets, but allows the car to connect to the European standard connector now being rolled out at sites along major routes. It doesn’t make this a perfect long-distance car, but the ability to undertake longer journeys when needed removes a barrier to ownership.

Verdict:

An easy route into electromobility, which shouldn't be overlooked in favour of the 204hp Golf GTE plug-in hybrid due next year.