Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

One more German hatch to drool over: The 2014 Volkswagen Golf Plug-In Hybrid

By
VW Golf Plug-In Hybrid
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re a Volkswagen fan, this is the week  dreams are made of . The German automaker has given us a glimpse into several all-new Golf variants, each more exciting than the last.

Sadly, this onslaught of new German economical cars had to come to a close. Luckily for VW fans, it’s ending on a high note. We proudly present to you: the Golf Plug-In Hybrid.

Recommended Videos

Just like the e-Golf and GTD unveiled earlier this week, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid is based upon the brand-new Golf platform, the Mk 7.

According to an AutoCar report, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid shares the same electric motor as the Audi A3 e-tron, which was also unveiled earlier this week. In addition to its 100 horsepower electric motor, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid includes a 148-horsepower TFSI gasoline engine with a combined torque output of 256 pound-feet. The Euro test cycle estimates put the new VW plug-in hybrid’s fuel economy rating at 188 MPG. This is a bit higher than any EPA MGPe (miles-per-gallon equivalent) ratings we might see in the US, but it’s still very promising.

The Plug-In Hybrid Golf features a special hybrid transmission that mates the electric motor and gas engine together. Drivers can select three drive modes. Depending on the mode, the electric motor or gasoline engine can propel the Golf independently or in unison. The most exciting mode for us horsepower junkies is the “Boosting” drive mode where both powerplants are used to drive the Golf.

Just like the Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid we drove earlier this year, the Golf Plug-In Hybrid features a coasting feature that uses a clutch between the motor and transmission to quickly disconnect the drivetrain from the wheels at highway speeds as soon as the driver lets off the accelerator. This allows the Golf to cruise extremely efficiently as the gas engine shuts off and the vehicle makes use of its forward momentum.

For drivers less interested in power output, the Plug-In Hybrid will travel an adequate 31 miles in electric-only mode, which is on-par with a few plug-in hybrids currently on the market like the Chevy Volt.

Although we don’t yet know if the plug-in hybrid version of the Golf will be headed to the U.S., we’d be awfully surprised if it didn’t. 

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Nick Jaynes
Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more