Used 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD) Consumer Reviews
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Great Commuter, Must Adapt to EV Lifestyle
Dolore-Golf, 09/29/2021
Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
9 of 9 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., Union City, CA, 10/15/2017
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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2016 Volkswagen e-Golf for sale near you
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Handles corners well, zips over canyons
Canyon hopper, Van Nuys, CA, 07/26/2019
updated 12/02/2024
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. So if I drive it only in the valley and not through the canyons I can easily do errands and not use much mileage at all. Using the heater or A/C uses more energy. But it’s still enormously fun to drive and handles really well. And four people can sit comfortably even if you are 6 feet.
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155 MILE RANGE!
Scot, Sacramento, CA, 10/18/2017
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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Buyer Beware!!!
gmontagne, Atlanta, GA, 09/14/2016
Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
31 of 70 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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