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Used 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf Consumer Reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
27 reviews

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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 e-Golf, so we've included reviews for other years of the e-Golf since its last redesign.

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

Great car

M, 03/04/2016
2016 Volkswagen e-Golf SE 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
41 of 44 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.

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

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.

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

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.

Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Great Commuter, Must Adapt to EV Lifestyle

Dolore-Golf, 09/29/2021
2016 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.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

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.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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