Volkswagen Golf GTE running costs
While it will make the most sense for company-car users, the VW Golf GTE will be pricier than some other models in the range for private buyers
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | 2020/21 company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 3yrs / 60,000 miles | 1yr / 10,000 miles | From £718 / £1,436 |
Running costs for plug-in hybrid models such as the Golf GTE can be a little higher than their purely petrol or diesel-powered equivalents; there's a little more to go wrong, insurance premiums are steeper and they usually cost more to buy, with higher monthly PCP payments.
However, if you're a company-car user, you'll be more concerned with Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates. The GTE's low CO2 emissions put it in the 10% band, which equates to a yearly tax bill of £718 or £1,436 for 20% or 40% earners respectively. That's not unreasonable for a car with such a good spread of abilities and performance.
Volkswagen Golf GTE insurance group
The sole variant of the Golf GTE available right now falls into insurance group 27; for comparison, the 1.5-litre eTSI mild-hybrid petrol version of the car starts in group 20 and climbs to group 21.
Warranty
Like all Volkswagens, the Golf comes as standard with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, coverage that's more or less standard for the industry but is beaten by the likes of Hyundai (five years/unlimited miles) and Kia (seven years/100,000 miles). The GTE's battery is covered for eight years or exactly 99,360 miles (that's 160,000 kilometres) for all material or manufacturing defects.
Servicing
Volkswagen offers a fairly flexible approach to servicing, with intervals and schedules dependent on how the car is used. Its 'Fixed Service' is suitable for cars that cover less than 10,000 miles a year and mostly in urban driving with regular cold starts – the most likely scenario for a plug-in hybrid like the GTE. A 'Flexible Service' plan is available for cars that travel more than 25 miles a day on longer, faster journeys.
Road tax
As it qualifies as an 'alternative-fuel vehicle', the Golf GTE will be £10 a year cheaper to tax than an equivalent non-electrified model, with a yearly bill of £140. You'll pay more if you go mad with the options and push the price over £40,000, however: a surcharge of £325 applies in years two to six of ownership, bringing your total yearly bill over that period to £465.
