In-depth reviews

Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2019) running costs

The Volkswagen e-Golf is expensive to buy compared to some key rivals, but classy finish and comprehensive equipment help to make up for it

Overall rating

3.5 out of 5

Running costs rating

4.0 out of 5

Insurance groupWarrantyService intervals
203yrs / 60,000 miles2yrs / 10,000 miles

You can buy a Nissan Leaf or the smaller Renault ZOE for quite a few thousand pounds less, but neither has the badge appeal of the Golf, nor the build quality typically associated with Volkswagen. You can buy a Toyota Prius Plug-In for similar money, or spend quite a few thousand more on a BMW i3. That makes the e-Golf look pretty solid value, as it’s definitely among the class leaders for both usability and desirability.

Once you’ve taken the plunge, it’s time to enjoy the rewards. Thanks to the e-Golf’s relatively small battery, a full charge will take just over five hours and should only set you back a little under seven quid on an energy tariff of 19p per kWh.

Volkswagen e-Golf insurance group

While the e-Golf feels pretty quick off the mark, it’s not as punchy as the similarly priced Golf GTD. That puts the e-Golf into insurance group 20, compared to the GTD’s group 27. The BMW i3 is group 21.

Warranty

Most of the e-Golf is covered by the manufacturer’s standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty, but the battery gets its own eight-year cover.

Servicing

Volkswagen recommends for the e-Golf to get a service once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. 

Road tax

All electric cars are currently exempt from road-tax charges, so of course the e-Golf benefits from this.

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