Still hoping for EPA/CARB TDI certifications. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Mar. 1, 2015 2016 VW e-Golf - $29,815 to start while offering owners 83 miles all-electric range (AER). Like the SEL, the e-Golf Limited Edition is built upon the same Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform as the rest of the Golf family. It is also powered by the same 115 hp and 199 lb-ft. electric motor with energy storage provided by the same 24.2 kWh Li-Ion traction battery. Changes compared with the SEL Premium include 16-inch steel wheels in place of the alloys, halogen headlamps instead of Hi/Low beam LEDs, cloth in place of leatherette seat, and the high tech heat-pump system has been removed. The rest of the SEL including the following remains the same. DC Fast Charging with the Combined Charging System (CCS) that allows up to 80 percent charge from flat in 30 minutes Standard 7.2kW onboard charger 22.8 cu. ft. of cargo volume behind the rear seats and 52.7 cu. ft. with them folded “Normal”, “Eco”, and “Eco+” driving profiles plus three driver-selectable regeneration modes Proximity key with push-button start Navigation system LED DRLs Dual-zone auto climate Electronic parking brake Electrically heated windshield Automatic headlamps and wipers Rearview camera Front and rear Park Distance Control The e-Golf Limited Edition achieves the same EPA (MPGe) of 126 city, 105 highway, and 116 combined and 83 miles on a single charge. Charging solutions from Bosch and Chargepoint, along with a new Roadside Assistance program and the VW Car-Net e-Golf app are designed to make owning the e-Golf as easy as owning anything else. VW February 2016 Sales Overview Volkswagen reported sales of 22,321 vehicles in February, down 13.2 percent below the 25,710 vehicles sold in February of 2015. Year to date, the company has sold 42,400 vehicles, down 13.8 percent from the 49,214 sold through the same period of 2015. VW February 2016 Sales Highlights The e-Golf was purchased by 198 new owners, up 52.3 percent over the 130 sold in February of 2015. Year to date, 526 e-Golf’s have been purchased, up 69.1 percent over the 311 sold through the same period of 2015. In February GM and especially Chrysler picked up significant market share while Kia's rise is coming out of Hyundai's hide. U.S. February 2016 Sales vs. February 2015 Sales Ranks and Results for the top 14 Automobile Manufacturers GM February 2016 Sales Down 1.5% with 227,825 Vehicles Sold Ford February 2016 Sales Up 20.1% with 209,153 Vehicles Sold Toyota February 2016 Sales Up 4.1% with 187,954 Vehicles Sold FCA February 2016 Sales Up 11.8% with 182,879 Vehicles Sold Nissan February 20165 Sales Up 10.5% with 130,911 Vehicles Sold Honda February 2016 Sales Up 12.8% with 118,985 Vehicles Sold Hyundai February 2016 Sales Up 1.0% with 53,009 Vehicles Sold Kia February 2016 Sales Up 13.0% with 49,737 Vehicles Sold Subaru February 2016 Sales Up 1.6% with 42,011 Vehicles Sold Mercedes-Benz February 2016 Sales Down 0.5% with 25,632 Vehicles Sold BMW February 2016 Sales Down 12.4% with 25,337 Vehicles Sold VW February 2016 Sales Down 13.2% with 22,321 Vehicles Sold Mazda February 2016 Sales Down 16.0% with 21,544 Vehicles Sold Audi February 2016 Sales Up 2.3% with 11,718 Vehicles Sold In February, notice how Nissan is increasing the sales gap over Honda and Kia not only overtook Subaru but is quickly coming up on Hyundai’s heels. The seasonally adjusted annual selling rate (SAAR) for light vehicles in February was 17.7 million vehicles.
At least for me it is difficult to get too excited about the E-Golf. Limited range, outdated looks. If VW had a real desire for an electric car they would simply take a VW Jetta Sportwagen, or Passat Sportwagen, and place the batteries like Tesla on the floor area and now have real range , probably upwards of 300 miles or so. VW is just trying to show its green side after Dieselgate...
I think the Golf looks great. And this car came out before Dieselgate. I kinda like it , but would like more range (PHEV).
The e-Golf is the best EV to drive efficiently, bar none. I hope that more car makers can learn from the way that VW has designed the drive modes, and the regen. I hope that VW learns a bit from Nissan: 3 options on locking the charging port, and add a light there. Having ALL the seats heated (not just the front) and a heated steering wheel are also important features that Nissan has that VW lacks. The HVAC resetting to 72F after 20 minutes is also a poor design choice, in my opinion.
Hi Neil: I thought so too. Wish it had double the range for the same price too but that could take a while. I think you brought up the point about the heat pump disappearing on the new lower cost base model for 2016 too, right? Wayne
Yes, the lower cost model lost the heatpump, and the aero alloy wheels, and the (awesome!) LED headlights.
This seems to be the standard rate of return on the electrics sans the Tesla. I agree that I wish it had more range. It is the reason that I let go of the idea of owning a Leaf. My commute already starts out at roughly 24 miles one way. Add to that when I have to do a site visit and I would then be in extreme range anxiety. To top it all off, I live in base housing which would limit me to 110.
I don't understand why the heat pump is such a costly item to include. In crude terms, it's little more than an air conditioner with a little extra plumbing and some valves. I loved it in the '13 Leaf.
Any way to cut costs. It seems to be the way a lot of car companies go. It reminds of those companies that do not include split folding seats on their base model.