Used 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2016 e-Golf, so we've included reviews for other years of the e-Golf since its last redesign.
Fun electric commuter car
John Heyer, 01/19/2017
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
35 of 35 people found this review helpful
I wanted to get a second car for electric commuting to supplement my old Subaru. After looking extensively at the Volt, Soul, Focus, i3, and 500e, I felt the e-Golf was the best option to handle my twisty Highway 17 commute and it was the right decision. The design is solid, the ride is quiet and comfortable, and handling is good, although front tires will spin if the accelerator is hit hard. Range is generally 80 miles, even with mostly highway driving using the A/C. I generally charge at home on a standard outlet and recover the 60 miles used in about 15 hours (fortunately I only drive it every other day). Updated infotainment system on the 2016 models is really nice and does CarPlay, although I was disappointed to realize the base SE has no steering wheel button to activate Siri. The SE also lacks cruise control.
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Great, but know what you're getting into.
Jeff Rut, 08/27/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
34 of 34 people found this review helpful
I own an E-Golf, and generally I love it, but I don't think general discussion touches on two important points. First, my only real negative to the car: the Navigation/Entertainment System is a complete joke. The entertainment/navigation console takes a minute to boot up. So if you're going to use navigation, you have to turn on your car and wait a minute before you can get on your way. Then, the screen is slow, it's small, etc. I do like the little dashboard screen. Overall, Google Maps is incomparably better than VW's navigation. There's also a problem that it doesn't have standard USB power, and they just assume you have an iPhone, so no micro-USB/Android charger is available for their proprietary slot (I got a 3rd party wire off Amazon, but it's crazy slow). Also, it has a weird bluetooth problem where it switches up music sometimes. It's just generally clunky and ugly and problematic. It does allow an SD card full of MP3s, I know that's like 2003 tech but I actually really like it. Also, about the range: I drive with a heavy foot, mostly on freeway, I don't use the annoying auto-brake or evo modes, and I get 85 miles or so. Before I got the car, I thought charging stations were going to be a big deal. But unless you have charging at work, charging stations are really not a large part of the EV experience. Even in the Bay Area, you just can't count on one being available - somebody else is parked there, and will be parked there for at least another hour or two more. Or it's broken. Or a non electric vehicle parked there. You just can't rely on it 100%. Anyway, who wants to wait around an hour to charge up enough to get home? A better way to think about it is, every morning your car starts with a quarter tank of gas. Sure, if there's an EMERGENCY, or you need to BARELY extend your trip past the car's range, something will probably be available. But if you think this will be a regular occurrence for you, buy a gas or diesel car. OK, not to scare off buyers, because yeah I do love this car. If you have a regular daily commute it's incredibly cheap to operate, especially with the lease deals out there. Quality isn't luxury car, but it's very high-end for a low-end car. With the torque and tight turns, it's really fun to drive around town - I feel like I'm driving a go-kart around on city streets. It's not quite as good on the freeway, but it's not bad. I'm six and a half feet tall and my wife isn't all that much shorter, and it's still surprisingly spacious inside, I don't keep the slider all the way back. However, tall people up front does mean that the people in the back row have basically no space at all.
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City Stealthmobile BEV
Randy, 10/17/2015
updated 10/19/2016
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
26 of 26 people found this review helpful
This is a 2nd car for me, for driving around in the city. The car does have limited range, I can get 5.5-5.8 miles per kwh, but I am retired and I do drive at or under the speed limit at all times, with most consumer devices turned off. What I like most about the e-golf is that it is just another Golf. It does not draw attention to itself. It does not say "hey, look at me, I'm a hybrid or electric car". It's low key, it's quiet, it's stealthy, and most importantly, it drives, due to it's heritage, like a german engineered car. Not like a japanese electric or hybrid econobox. It is purposeful, it's a city car, pure and simple. If I need to do a long distance trip, or get out of town and do some major driving, the TDI I have is for long distance trips. It's hard to put into words how a german car drives, compared to a japanese car... but you know it was designed to drive on Autobahns, and in the German, Swiss, and French alps too, in the twisties. And for all the mountains and canyons I drive in, I demand the way a german car drives, and gladly pay the premium for it. Update after 6 months: Still a nice car for the city and short trips. Key is to charge it at home, overnight, where filling up isn't so burdensome, and the cost of electricity is reasonable at $0.16 per kw, instead of using public infrastructure for recharging, which is quite a bit more expensive and time consuming, 2.5 to 3.25 hours each session. Forget about mooching electrons for free if you need a recharge, it's a business model doomed to failure. Provide your own infrastructure to charge, and you'll do fine Update after 1 year of use: Battery life has dropped to about a 7% loss in maximum range. I am averaging 6.0 miles per kwh with careful driving, over the last 2000 miles. My route remains a constant. What was 129 miles of range on a charge when new has dropped off to 120 miles now. Loss first started in the warm weather of May, and continues to drop in the heat of the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, CA. Odometer now reads 7750 on 10/19/16
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Love-Hate Relationship
Jay, 04/27/2020
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
20 of 20 people found this review helpful
I bought (leased) it new, drove it for 3 years and put about 36,000 miles on it. Pros: The car looks, feels, drives and functions amazingly. It has the pluses of the Golf, which include excellent handling, comfortable seating front and back, a great view of the road, and a surprising amount of room for people and cargo. You take for granted how well balanced this car is until you step into almost any other car. The electric charging saved serious $$. It was very reliable. Cons. Range was a little over 80 miles in the summer and under 60 miles in the winter... with heater frequently off! As this was my only car, range was an enormous, life-style altering problem. Fast chargers began popping up in Portland during my ownership, which made life a bit easier. The charge chord melted, and took several days to replace under warranty. And it was annoying having to take the car for maintenance every 10K miles and get charged dealership fees for a simple electric check. About 2 years in, I tried selling it, but the leasing agreement made the process extremely difficult and I gave up. VW Credit was a pain from beginning to end. At the end of the lease, they charged me $350 fee for returning the vehicle!! It felt like they had me by the neck from the time I signed, were going to screw me over and didn't give a damn if I would be a returning customer. I highly recommend the car IF: It is the second car in your household, you avoid VW Credit, you install a Level 2 Charger at your home, and live in an area friendly towards electric vehicles. If you meet these conditions, i think you will LOVE this car!
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Love this car - never buy gas/oil/smog check again
mrmichaelwill, 06/29/2015
updated 06/30/2017
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
I bought this car January 2015 assuming it is going to be our secondary car. Turns out its so much fun to drive that its used as our primary car, and we use the Honday Oddysee only when we need the extended range going on vacation, need more than 5 seats or transport bikes, or when second adult commutes to near by train station. At the rate it is going we are putting about 12k miles per year on the car, so I am glad I did not lease it. Update: May 2016 we replaced our Honda Odyssey with a Tesla Model X, and now the VW eGolf is our secondary car again. Still we put 25,000 miles on the eGolf in the last two and a half years and it is still a lot of fun to drive. Gas cars are still revving up behind me at the light when the immediate electric torque propels me forward continuously accelerating. My only gripe is that Volkswagen sold me the car with three years of remote phone access car-net service included and then two years in their sales people started harassing me Comcast / SiriusXM style to start paying $15/month for it. They are lying and harder to get rid of than toilet paper stuck to your shoe. Since tesla Model 3 comes out this July and has more range and a more honest business model I will probably trade the car in for that.
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Definitely 5 stars overall
Richard Zimmer, 05/20/2018
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
42 of 44 people found this review helpful
A comment about each of the two single-star reviews from other owners: 1. If the software to time the charging is spotty, then simply make it a pattern to check on the car once during the night to ensure it is charging. Make it a routine, just like taking the dog or cat outside. While having to drive the car without heat in 45F is chilly, it is definitely not "freezing". Have you noticed the many electric car reviews (of any make) in the winter, the driver is bundled up? 2. For the owner who moved from California to Georgia: Yes, the dealer should have mentioned that VW dealers in GA cannot service the car, but that should be a negative rating on the dealer and not on the car itself. Anyway, the maintenance on E-Golf is pretty much limited to tire rotations, 12-volt battery check, windshield wash fluid fill, and other things which you or your local mechanic can do, and don't worry about violating warranty. I really think VW dealers' service of E-Golfs are just money makers to pad their own pockets - - there's no oil to change, no spark plugs, no radiator. Brakes last twice as long. And yet they charge more than they would charge for regular Golf maintenance.
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Love This Car
Loves This Car, 02/19/2016
updated 02/22/2018
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
Using the heater will take away from the battery. I will get a good 60 miles with the heater running. When I want to see that i'm doing better on mileage, i turn off the heater. I use regeneration stage 1 and gain some mileage. When i am in traffic and is not accelerating, i use no battery power. The only other things using the high voltage battery are the AC and heater. If i think that i need more time on the battery as i drive around town, i slow down. That's why this car give more miles in the city than on the highway. My only issue at this time is the capacity of the battery. I will buy a car with better battery capacity soon.
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Fantastic solid made in Germany car.
thierry nedellec, 07/28/2017
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
Great value. Comfort, economical, feels very solid. Incredible acceleration. Great visibility. Nice sound system.
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Great car
M, 03/04/2016
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
40 of 43 people found this review helpful
I bought the 2016 SE as a commuter and being my first electric, I was surprised how fast the acceleration was. The interior has a lot of room, XM radio controlled by the wiper control, and the range has been great. I am averaging about 100 miles range. I have only been charging at night with the Level 1 charger and can recharge my 60 mile commute in about 11-12 hrs on a 110v outlet. iPhone app and carnet software has some nice features, but there are some glitches here and there. The lower rate charger on the SE has not been an issue for me as i just charge at night and have a pretty predictable commute. I also have other cars, so if this were my only car, I'd get the higher model with the higher rate charger.
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Time Delayed Charging Feature-Forced to Use CARNET
Marc Hartranft, 11/16/2015
updated 11/17/2018
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
NOVEMBER 2018 UPDATE: I have logged just over 45,000 miles as a daily (75 miles round trip) commuter with the e-Golf. This has been a fantastic car with minimal maintenance requirements and perfect road reliability. Still fun to drive with never having to pump gas in the middle of the night or change oil every few months! The ONLY gripe with this car is VW's insistence that one must use CARNET software interface to enable time delayed charging feature@!! Talk about greedy!! Once the free use period runs out, they will begin to charge to use this web interface. Why would VW set up the car to not be able to support Level II chargers which support time delayed charge start times?? The dealer was "uninformed" or unwilling to disclose the limitation.
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Poor Man's Audi
Jacques, 04/26/2016
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
I have never loved a car until this one. It's quiet, fast off the line, and does not compromise on utility. It's great to charge overnight and skip trips to gas stations.
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Super fun ride! You'll hate gas cars driving this
R. Sturtevant, 05/02/2017
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
VW designed the eGolf to be nearly identical to the gas version of the car. It's not a cheap feeling, light vehicle that drives like a shopping cart as some e-Cars are. 0 to 30 mph it has greater acceleration than the GTI. That seems like an odd benchmark, but when you think of how many times you pull out of an intersection to oncoming traffic that quick burst of power gives you a great sense of driving confidence. Handling is superb. The entertainment system and driver controls are nicely configured. I get over 100 miles on a charge in warm weather going less than highway speeds. In cold weather with lots of highways this can drop considerably to say 70 miles per charge. It works great for me give my commute is less than 50 miles per day. I hear that the 2018 model will add about 30% to the range. That's good, but for me I find that most of my driving is well within the range of this car. Still I think VW will need to compete with other electrics that promise 200+ miles. Overall it's just a really fun car to drive and has given me no problems in 2 years. I'm thinking of buying it when the lease ends next year.
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Great EV -- Extremely Pleased
teconnor, 05/13/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
I Highly recommend this eGolf. An EV with range that feels like a solid, real car. I'm extremely impressed with how it drives and feels. It's sporty, smooth, responsive, and more powerful than expected. It feels comparable to much pricier luxury compacts. Range is solid (100+ achievable under right conditions). The Car-Net (think OnStar by VW) bugs are a nuisance. If you need delayed charging, I'd wait for VW to resolve this (keep an eye on myvwegolf.com). As of May '15, some report success with the VW updates/fixes. My opinion (as a non-delay charger) is that the flawed 'extra' features do not distract from an otherwise solid vehicle and great EV.
Great Commuter, Must Adapt to EV Lifestyle
Dolore-Golf, 09/29/2021
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I bought this car about a year and a half ago and have absolutely fallen in love with it. It handles incredibly well around corners. Acceleration is impressively fast giving tons of confidence making turns on busy roads. We have saved thousands of dollars using this car for all of our local trips. I can honestly say that driving any gas powered car is now a disappointment. A few points: 1) This car is a commuter car, it is not designed to do long journeys. We use it to commute into work every day, to run errands and for weekend fun around town. Think about it like a pair of comfortable everyday shoes: you can wear the same pair everyday, they are comfortable, they do their job, they are stylish, but you might not want to wear them for everything. Let them be your everyday shoes that you love, but don't get mad when you realize they don't work for running marathons or climbing mountains. Read on for more details. 2) You have to get used to the EV lifestyle. You need to get used to plugging in your car pretty much every night (depending on your commute) to make sure you have enough charge to go wherever you need to go. You'll save tons of pain by planning ahead. Know what you're doing the next day so you can map out how far you're going. What is the distance to and from? Does your destination have a charger? Should you throw your charger in the trunk to plug in? Did you plug in the distance into Google maps before heading out? Are there any fast chargers near my destination in case I need a little more juice? Little things like that have saved me a lot of trouble. And stopping for a quick charge really isn't a huge nuisance if you factor in all that time you don't spend at the gas pump anymore. I would say that 90% of my trips I don't even need to think about charging, I can go and come back without even thinking; I can go about 130-150km on a full charge. However, the reality is, once in a while, I'll need to plan ahead if I know I'm going a little further or want to take advantage of charging stations. I'll often pick my parking spots accordingly, or start to learn where I can plug in. Doing a few minutes of research the day before can save you hours. 3) Appreciate the car for what it is: an affordable EV. The biggest complaint I might have is that the range isn't as good as the Teslas or newer EV models coming out. However, this car was a fraction of the price of any other EV, so the minor inconveniences are worth the tens of thousands I might've spent on a more expensive EV. At the time I bought this car, it was about 60% cheaper than the cost of a used Tesla. 4) Make sure you have access to a gas powered car. This one seems backwards, but the reality is that by getting a more affordable EV, you are sacrificing range and the convenience of being able to fill up a gas tank and continue on. If you want to do a road trip, trade with someone (family, friend etc) who has a gas car. Or, if you're a family with more than one car, make sure one is gas powered. My wife has a gas Jetta and while we use the e-Golf as much as possible, once in a while, there will be a scenario where it makes more sense to use the Jetta. Stopping to charge is always an option, but sometimes the gas car can save a lot of time, which is the one thing money can't buy. 5) Car maintenance is next to none. The only things you really need to keep an eye on are: your tires, windshield wiper fluid, wipers, air filter and brakes. All of which are easily done by yourself (except maybe the brakes depending on your skill level, however, they last years longer than regular brakes because you're rarely using them, see section 6). No oil changes, engine troubles, break downs, etc. Again, this car saves you time and money in more ways than most people realize. There are routine inspections that you are supposed to do with a VW dealership every 10,000km, but for $200-300, it's still a fraction compared to the maintenance costs of any gas car (oil changes, brakes, belts, tubes, clips, fluids, anything else that breaks down, etc). 6) Regenerative Braking. While the reality of the regenerative braking system actually charging the battery is quite limited, it feels amazing. Once you get used to what VW calls "B Mode", which is the strongest version of this car's regenerative braking modes, you won't be able to go back. This car can stop/slow down much quicker than most cars which is not only safer, but makes driving a whole new experience. The second you take your foot off the accelerator, the car starts slowing down quite rapidly. I've actually driven a Tesla before and I like the e-golf version better, I find it less aggressive and more smooth. This has saved me from accidents and also just becomes a new, natural, smoother way to drive. No more head bobs from pressing the brake too soft or heavy. The fact that it absorbs the energy and puts it back into the battery is just a bonus. Overall, I love this car.
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Great little car!
Peter C., 10/15/2017
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Drives great. Good handling. Gas saver. Most suitable for driving around town. Only complaint is that during braking, I hear some clicking noise. Not sure if that's normal or not.
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Do NOT Buy This Car
Steve Burnett, 04/29/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
I am a big fan of the electric car, I own a 2002 RAV 4 EV and love it. If possible, I will never buy a gas car again. I bought the e-Golf and regret it. Of the first 64 days I owned it, it was in the shop 19 days. Still less than 3,000 miles and new problems are cropping up (charging issues, won't lock). The dealer promised that delayed charging was possible using the infotainment system, then after I bought it informed me that it was only available through car-net at $199 per year fee. And it doesn't work. They promised a fix in six weeks, then they say it will be another 3 weeks. Avoid headaches, do NOT buy this car.
Gas free diet!
P Adl, 03/12/2016
updated 03/16/2022
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Review update after near 4 yrs. I still really like this car. Has been trouble free (except for the radio volume control issue) and an extremely versatile car for transport and even cargo. The 125 mile range model did not materialize until the 2019 models were released! I checked them out and they are nicer too with more bells and whistles, but decided it was not worth the expense since VW, at least the Norm Reeves dealership, was not interested in making me a deal I would consider acceptable. The Golf (2015 - on models, and generally all of them) are much larger than they look. My daughter got the new 2019 Leaf and comparing the two, the Golf is smaller on the outside, but larger on the inside. The new Leaf is a much better driving car than the previous Leaf model, but the Golf is still a much nicer driving car than even the new Leaf. Where the Golf loses is in the range. 83 miles for the Golf, 150 miles for the new Leaf. My daughter would have bought the Golf, but she drives to 60-70 miles away twice a week for work and the Golf would not make it, but the Leaf does it comfortably. Thankfully I don't need that range and when I do the 60-70 miles, it is usually for the whole weekend so I can get an overnight charge and comfortably make it home. It is an ideal car for around town and a 35 mile work commute range. Still zero maintenance costs! Review update after almost 3 yrs. Really like this car, but the real limitation is the range and it's slow charging. VW should have figured an update to existing 2015/16/17 car and they would be keepers. New ones have 125 m range and faster charge, and that is better, but to be useful for SoCal area, 200 m range is minimum for a successful electric car. Everything else is as previous review below. Range is not that great, but everything else is! I test drove most of the smaller EVs, the Fiat, the Smart car, the Leaf, the BMW, etc. The best handling/driving one was the e-Golf. So I got it and have been driving it now for a year and three months and enjoying it more every day. I work very close to home and one charge can keep me going for around two weeks with a few excursions, i.e. driving to shops and running errands (all close). I did manage just over 105 miles with level 3 regeneration, and max limited power but it was slow going. VW has free charging at their locations and I use them since one is close to my home and if one is on my way, I stop, charge and catch up with emails using their WiFi. I find it to be the most practical of all the smaller lower cost EVs out there because it is roomy, comfortable, reasonable luggage capacity, with all the bells and whistles I could want. The 2017 has better range, 120 Miles is what I was told. That would let me drive to San Diego easily (if I spend the night to recharge)! UPDATE: 14th March 2018 - Now have 6500 miles. Bad news is VW decided to shut down their charging access! Terrible customer relation move if you ask me. They claimed many were fighting over the charge spot, but I almost always found it available when I went. They could have made money charging non customers to use it, but they chose to just shut it down - VERY DISAPPOINTING! Anyway, I still like the car, especially since I work just a couple of miles from work and one charge lasts a couple of weeks. Well, I tried a run to San Diego, and in my earlier review, I lied! It would NOT let me drive to San Diego easily! I just barely made it. It was sniffing electrons to make a 75 mile trip. It told me I had '0' miles for the last 2.8 miles!! After an overnight and half a day charge, I drove home on eco mode (limited to 75 MPH with slower acceleration) with full regeneration settings and made it home with 3 miles to spare. The car still feels very tight, as it should with only 6500 miles on it. Has not needed any service other than a recall software update. Only problem I have has is the radio volume jumps up and down when I try to adjust it. Everything else feels and runs/works great. My 105 mile trip is still my record, but do not want to drive that slowly, for a trip again. After 2+ years, I am very happy with my decision to get this car, fun to drive, performs when I want it to and amazingly economical both for energy usage and maintenance! Update: 16th March 2022 - 6 years later - still very happy with my decision! Now with only16K miles, ate up the original Bridgestone eco tires which I just replaces with Michelin Defender tires - much smoother, more quiet, and actually handles better too! Only issue I had was the fuel cover door release solenoid stopped working and would not open. So I couldn't charge the car. Still had charge though, so drove it to the original dealership thinkin it is still under warranty within 3 years and NOPE, they wanted to charge a LOT! Part was out of stock too. A week later I bought the part, took it to German Car Garage and it was installed in one afternoon and working great for $100. No other issues, NONE! and I'm still really enjoying this very versatile, zippy, fast little hatchback with no gas price worries!
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Almost great except for one thing
Andrei, 02/21/2019
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I had been leasing and driving the 2015 e-Golf for three years. No problems, only joy. It has a real functional dashboard with analog gauges and mechanical tactile controls. No silly dashboard gimmicks, such as spinning /moving balls, no controls that are hidden in touch screens, which are found on most other EV models. The only thing that is supper annoying for the 2015 eGolf model and which VW refuses to address for me at the moment (already contacted VW Customer Care) is that to keep using the delayed/program charging feature an e-Golf 2015 owner is expected to subscribe to the full VW Car-Net service, which currently is $17.99 per month (this feature was free during the first 3-years).
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An great electric car crippled by zombie software
HP, 02/05/2016
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
51 of 73 people found this review helpful
The handling and acceleration of e-Golf is beyond my expectation. It is cute and agile on city road and highways. This is compared to the cars (Mercedes E350 and BMW X5) that I have. The perspective of paying $1.4 dollar for my daily commute of 45 miles is very promising. However, I will not recommend this model year to others because of the following pain points: (1) This car has a 3G module that communicates with VW server. It fails: The CarNet service on desktop browser or mobile App allows you to (a) lock/unlock the car, (b) activate A/C, (c) charging schedule manage. From day-1, the CarNet server is never able to communicate with my car. It renders the CarNet service useless. My e-Golf is completely off the grid. (2) Delay charging failure: If you search for "VW e-golf delay charging issue" on Google, you will find long list of complaints that it doesn't work. Yes, 2015 e-Golf delay charging problem continues to plague 2016 e-Golf. For people living in California, the low electric rate kicks in between 11pm-7am. This is a very fundamental software feature for utilize the discount rate, yet it fails to deliver. For those days that it fails to delay charge, I could wake up in the morning and only find out the battery is not charged. I had to drive my e-Golf with ECO+ mode in one morning commute because battery is low. With ECO+ mode that turns off AC/Heater, I was frozen with inside temperature 45F and thinking what I have trapped myself into. This is a horrible experience for a new car owner.
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E-Golf - Be Ware It is A Newly Introduced Car
het3, 05/22/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
BUYER BEWARE. We recently purchased an e-golf that stopped driving. Car was charged and electrical system worked but it would not drive while in gear. It was towed to dealer (Capital VW in San Jose, CA). Service department reported that diagnostic showed 'power button was pressed', which was not the case, even so it should not stop functioning. After couple days we were told that 'firmware is updated' and that car can be picked up. No explanation of actually what had gone wrong. We were told to open a case with VW service. VW response was that 'car now works and is under warranty, take action outside of VW if you like'. Be ware that this is a newly introduced car with potential bugs.
I'll never have to pull into a gas station again
Craig Heiman, 10/12/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I went from a plugin Prius to the VW E Golf. I could be happier. It's quick its fun and I can fit my sufboard in the car which is 7 10". Most importantly I dont' have to ever stop at a gas station again.
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Handles corners well, zips over canyons
Canyon hopper, 07/26/2019
updated 06/01/2022
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
15 of 26 people found this review helpful
I just bought the car today. For Los Angeles the car might not be the best in terms of gas mileage because when I started 9 miles away it was at 76 on the dashboard and 3 miles into my drive home it’s at 55. That’s 21 miles for the distance of three. Granted I was going up at very large hill And the air conditioner was on. So I’m hoping that by charging every night I will actually be able to make it to work and back which is a total of 18 miles. On the upside it handles beautifully And surprisingly goes over potholes and bumps very easily. Update - have been driving it for a week. I wish I hadn't bought this car. They don't tell you that 126 is nonexistent. I got home from work and it was at 26 miles left after having started at 78 this morning and I drive less than 18 miles. It's been almost two years. I never drive the car. I went to LAX (17 miles away) on a full tank and ran out of charge on the way back. Should have gotten a hybrid. Year 3 - I drive it more now, but of course not very far. Definitely buy the expensive extended warranty. Am going to get my charging mechanism fixed. When evaluating it the mechanic found another issue and part that needs to be replaced bevause when using a Volta (or any charging station) it locks in place and can’t get released. Total nightmare.
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Really like it
sweetwagon, 07/03/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I wanted to try out an EV. After over a month with the car, happy I chose this one. Best interior and looks out of all the budget EVs. So far this car is great. I've got two kids. It's become the primary car for just going around town. Definitely a great experience with my first EV. Can't wait to see the next iteration of EVs.
9 months of ownership and still smiling
Ben, 08/24/2015
updated 03/01/2016
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I was a little nervous purchasing the e-Golf given some of the issues others have reported. I test drove one and was surprised to see the range INCREASE as I drove, and I liked it a lot better than the Leaf, Fiat, or SmartTwo. I can't say I got the best deal but with the incentives, I am driving this for $200/month lease and 8¢/kWh. Basically, it costs me $1.90 to "fill the tank" and go 90-100 miles. And, yes, with mixed driving I realistically achieve that range in warm weather. It's simple math really - the battery provides about 22 kWh of use, and if you can average 4 kWh you'll get 88 miles. I average between 4.5-5 kWh. While I am conscientious of the way in which I drive, I'm moving along with traffic. At 75+mph, you will watch the battery drain quickly. Likewise, as soon as the temps begin to dip, you'll notice range decrease by as much as 20-30%, so be prepared for that change, in part due to the impact of temps on the battery and also for the heating system. I gain about 10% of that differential back through driving in Eco+ mode with the heat off and seat warmer on. The fit, finish, drivability, and sportiness of this car puts it well above the other electrics I looked at. In fact, it looks like a normal car on the road. The only change I would make is that I would've opted now for the regular car with the better headlights, fake leather interior, alloy rims, and better heating system. While the LE is fine, it would've been worth the small amount of extra money for those items. To get the best out of this car, I highly recommend installing a Level 2 charger - it makes a huge difference for those days when you drain the battery and want to recharge and use the car again.
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155 MILE RANGE!
Scot, 10/18/2017
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have been driving my 2017 VW Egolf for a month now and its amazing, I work in the service dept at a major VW dealership, the 17 is a now brainer, 50% plus more range than the 16, amazing pick up and regen. infotainment system is update and perfect
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Recently leased 2015 E-golfs.
george ivanov, 08/11/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
8 of 14 people found this review helpful
Before I begin my review I want to say I am in the Navy and this is the first time I am writing a negative review about anything that I have bought in my life. I recently leased one of those 2015 Golf-e models. It looks great feels great until you get on the freeway. The mile estimate on the sticker is not nearly accurate. I drove only 40 on a fully charged battery and I was almost out of juice. Beware and avoid at all times if you commute on highway to and from work. Unless you want to see your wife crying and deal with all the head aches and range anxiety due to fact that the battery runs out so fast when you don't have the break regenerating. If you how ever like traffic and drive only in traffic by all means get it. The moment there is constant acceleration cross your finger since you will be looking for a charging station in no time. If you are lucky enough you don't have to pay and the charging station actually works. I will post a video on you tube to show the true performance of the Golf-e on a highway. I guess if you drive in town less than 40 miles a day this car is for you. If not I do not recommend taking your chances like I did. Now I am stuck with a vehicle I cannot use for 3 years.
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e-Golf is a fraud.
angel bou, 12/09/2015
updated 12/15/2016
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
13 of 28 people found this review helpful
- Customer service won't help unless your attorney calls. - My e-Golf broke the 4th day and it's been being repaired for a month now. Still waiting. They don't even know what's wrong... - No loaner provided. No compensation. But yeah, I keep paying the lease despite not driving my car for a month - Buy a Volt, a Leaf or a Tesla. Don't even think on a e-Golf. Don't ever consider a Volkswagen.
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Buyer Beware!!!
gmontagne, 09/14/2016
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
31 of 69 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in California and told the dealership that I would be moving to Georgia within the year. They never told me that I would not be able to get the car serviced in Georgia. I paid to have it shipped Georgia, and now that it is time for my 1st maintenance, low and behold there are no dealerships who have been trained on servicing the car. Now I am stuck with a car that can't be serviced by VW, and am told that if I have it serviced by a non-dealership mechanic it could void my warranty. When I called VW to try and see if they could have someone trained in the area, they told me it was MY responsibility to know whether or not they service the vehicle in other states. Who has ever heard of a car made by a major manufacturer that could not be serviced by at least one local dealership? So much for customer service! If you are thinking of buying this car, and think you could ever move to another state during the time that you own this vehicle - then by another vehicle instead.
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e-Golf is an unreliable NIGHTMARE
John Smith, 10/20/2015
updated 10/23/2018
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
11 of 24 people found this review helpful
This car does not charge properly. The range is a complete lie. It might be able to go 50 miles on a charge - nowhere near the range of the lie on the sticker. Acceleration is abysmal. I had a leaf that I traded in and am so sorry I did. VW has been a complete nightmare to deal with. Both the dealership and horrible people at VW customer service. If you want a crappy car that will leave you stranded, from a horrible company, you should immediately get an e-Golf.
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Should have kept my Prius
Debbie R in L.A., 08/17/2019
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
11 of 26 people found this review helpful
I work 9 miles from home and have to charge my car every single night and I’ve only had it for three weeks. Because I drive in bumper to bumper traffic I can watch the 107 mile fully charged battery drop within 10 minutes down to 87 and then down to 55 before I get home. It can take 22 hours to fully charge. So I have to charge it every night for 12 hours and hope that it is fully charged. 9 miles using up 53? Who made this piece of garbage? I was told by sales to “realistically” expect 100 miles per charge, not the 126 advertised. Also, the delay does not work at all. I put it on for the first time and in the AM my car was still at 55. I live driving it but this is a scam.
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Horrible electric charging and support!
Jessica Hildebrandt, 11/26/2018
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
12 of 34 people found this review helpful
When we've got the e-Golf the company promises over 100 miles range full charge, but after the software update it started our nightmare with just 54 miles range and a horrible charger that almost fire up our hause and a bad winter without car heating and/or car pulled over because ran out of battery in the middleof our ride to work or back to home. All attempted to fix the problem failed and the VW Co an Financial office refused to take the lemon car back, instead the charge us $2500 for early return fee.
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Amazing car!
Esther Medeiros, 09/25/2021
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I just bought a 2016 with low miles e-Golf and I’m in love with my car! Driving feels so smooth and quiet. ChargePoint app is a plus to have!
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Amazing car
Anas Ghannam , 10/15/2021
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
It's amazing car which is very stable on the road, and fine design, in addition to suitable price
Should have kept my Prius
Debbie R in L.A., 08/17/2019
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
3 of 19 people found this review helpful
I work 9 miles from home and have to charge my car every single night and I’ve only had it for three weeks. Because I drive in bumper to bumper traffic I can watch the 107 mile fully charged battery drop within 10 minutes down to 87 and then down to 55 before I get home. It can take 22 hours to fully charge. So I have to charge it every night for 12 hours and hope that it is fully charged. 9 miles using up 53? Who made this piece of garbage? I was told by sales to “realistically” expect 100 miles per charge, not the 126 advertised. Also, the delay does not work at all. I put it on for the first time and in the AM my car was still at 55. I live driving it but this is a scam.
One more limitation of VW
Adrenalin*1, 08/21/2015
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
2 of 15 people found this review helpful
Don't get VW e-golf in the USA since they do not offer a free loaner like all the other companies. The beauty of getting electric with a free loaner is that you can truly save money with the free loaner if you want to go somewhere longer than the limitation of the electric vehicle. I do not know why VW is not providing the free loaner every year like Fiat or Ford or even like VW in Europe but that's another limitation to VW e-golf. I am giving a one star since all other electric vehicle purchase programs in USA offer much more.
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Just bought mine used and am very happy
Bobby17, 01/13/2019
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought mine in Los Angeles after driving a friend’s eGolf. I love this car after driving back to Seattle in it. I even slept in it during charging stops during this 1300 mile road trip. This is the best car that I have owned in decades! Love the SEL trim level.
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16 e-golf solved MOST of our primary car needs
irj, 07/30/2021
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
If you are shopping for an e-Golf, you probably already know the different models, years, and benefits of each--there are definitely some model improvements in '17 that we envy but for almost all of our car trips (like, 325 days a year) this car's range and amenities are all we need. It's a blast to drive, there is little to no maintenance cost, and it's easy to charge at home (get a charger on Amazon or etc. for under a grand). The stereo sounds good for a stock radio. Handling is fun around town. On the highway, it's a little odd that this model (SE) doesn't have any kind of cruise control at all, but you probably are not going to log a ton of highway miles anyway. As a second car, it's a no brainer (if you can charge at home). As a primary car, with some work and a few rental cars for longer trips, it's totally fine and INEXPENSIVE. TLDR, we love it.
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My eGolf
Doris Wilson , 06/26/2022
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My husband and I loved it so much we bought it!!!
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Best EV that handles, looks like an ICE car
Robbie , 11/06/2023
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this when my employer offered free level 2 charging at work. I purchased used at a great deal in 2019. Had 10K solar array installed same year so I basically charge at home for free as well. Use it for 50 mile radius from home, never deal with charging stations as they’re either Tesla or not working or being used. For longer trips use our Impreza. Love tr The regenerative braking, basically 1 pedal driving, brakes barely get used. Steering is tight, tracking is excellent even with 235 snow tires. Handling reminds me onf my 2093 GTi. This is my 7th VW. Have had Zero issues with car, other than once it did not charge. Winter I always bundled up and used seat heat and only used cars heater while it was charging, which you program on the e-manager, somI always got into warm car. I use the Normal setting almost exclusively as it so much fun to blow of the stop lights. Real world range is about 110 miles if driven reasonably and maximizing regenerative braking. I have gotten close to 122 miles with 1 slow mile remaing before I got home so planning a max range round trip is essential as non Tesla charging is not locally available in my rural NH area. Do recommend level 2 charger because stock VW charger is slow, I use a Clipper Creek level 2, just plug it in and car charges automatically, no fuzzing with apps or charging screens unless you want to program in time you are leaving for a warm car in the winter.
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No more ICE
Minka vB, 09/06/2016
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf SEL Premium 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
Never go back to internal combustion engine(ICE)!! Electric is here to stay and will get better every year.
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