Episode 101 - 2020 Volkswagen e-Golf All-Electric Review

[@dr-k1667]

You've passed the 100th episode so here's to your next milestone. The E gulf was a great car for when it came out and their sales numbers showcase how beloved it was. I hope whatever comes after it will be just a beloved. Good job VW.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks, I too hope VW steps it up!

[@williammillard687]

Flying from Edinburgh (Scotland) to Spain about 6 years ago, captain came over the tannoy....”need to turn the plane off and on again before we try taking-off” everything went very quiet, the jets powered down, everything then fired back up, (we were parked just off the runway)....needless to say...take-off then went smoothly, the rest of the journey was fine....but I did panic quite a bit. It’s truly amazing what a reset can achieve!

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching and for the the story!

[@Quickicecarreviews123]

My 2 fav EV youtubers getting first drives. I got this brand spanking new and Bjorn got the very first Chinese EV In Norway. Great job!!!!

[@EVRevolution]

Wow, to be lumped in with Mr. Bjorn is a big compliment! Much thanks!

[@rogerwilliams7234]

Great car - I drove a GOLF GTE for three years or more and it remains my favourite VW. I think VW have designed the ID3 to do everything the Golf does but in a ground-up EV. Great review! Thanks Kenneth.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for sharing and thanks for the feedback!

[@vwphred]

Surprized that you did not mention the partnership with Electrify Canada and the free charging that they provide for the 2020 E-golf

[@EVRevolution]

Hello, thanks for watching and darn, that is one thing I forgot. Yes they do provide 2 years of free charging (with limits).

[@JeanPierreWhite]

Agree the yellow is a cool color.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks, it was very easy to see in a parking lot!!

[@jimgalle1371]

nice presentation, smooth and detailed ...

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks James, I always try to better the shows. This is my "new look" show as I'm using different software for the first time to make it look better!

[@jonilynblandy491]

I've loved your balanced, informative reviews, probably for years now -- and your opening music, too! Can you identify the artist for me? It really captures how I feel driving along in my 2019 Leaf!

[@EVRevolution]

Hello and much thanks for watching and for the feedback! Thanks also for joining the "Revolution" with your 2019 Leaf! Nice. The music is DRM free and is called "Lights" - by Sappheiros.

[@jonilynblandy491]

@@EVRevolution Many thanks for your reply and all your work for the Revolution!

[@MartinRubeksen]

Regarding the Lane Assist, if you enable the "Adaptive Lane Assist" option it will stop the ping pong between the lines. That said it will still only go a short distance until it requires user action.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks Martin for watching and for the feedback. I believe I did turn on all the functions available in the menu settings.

[@xchopp]

We have the 2016 e-Golf SE (the stripped-down version, in Pacific Blue). We love ours, even with the small 24 kWh battery (charged mostly on 110v overnight). As you said, excellent build quality, a wonderful car to drive, and surprisingly comfortable for a small car. I often comment on other EV reviewers because they forget to mention handling. I test-drove a 2018 Chevy Bolt Premier and boy was I happy to get back into my e-Golf! Which other EVs come close to e-Golf's handling? You might be one of the few to know (and appreciate this!). I am guessing Tesla Model 3. The BT works just fine, for multiple phones. It used to have a weird echo on the radio audio sometimes but that's gone away. It has a CD player in the globe compartment! (for younger viewers: a "CD", or "Compact Disc" was an optical data storage device in which the data were physically imprinted on a small disc and read by reading the reflections of laser light. You could "burn" music tracks onto 'em from an MP3 or other audio file. Neat, eh?).

[@xchopp]

p.s. 22,000+ miles and no battery degradation yet, used in the "cold" (here in New Jersey that means 25 °F) and in the heat (100 °F). It seems to like the heat and charges/drives faster when it's hot. I'm seriously annoyed that ID.3 is not being sold in the US. Maybe you'll get it in Canada.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks!

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching! Yes for sure the handling is #1 in my book. Yes Model 3 would be similar. Good to read your experience is positive and glad you joined the "Revolution" back in 2016!

[@alexandremartin646]

Hi ! It doesn’t just play CDs. It also plays DVDs .... yes it does, on the central screen. When at a stop you can watch your DVD like at home.Then on the move the screen blackens but the soundtrack or music still plays. And you’re right : this sound system quality is outstanding. It’s just another feature among many that makes this car one of the best money could buy.

[@dzsink]

Great review Ken. I liked your detailed description. Cool music also.

[@EVRevolution]

Thank you kindly! Hope you liked the new graphics look too! Trying out a new Editing Software.

[@dzsink]

@@EVRevolution Yes. Details were more defined definetly.

[@TheJAMF]

Weyhey, your voice is back to normal! ;)

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching and yes it is....I got "exorcised"! :)

[@jamespaul2587]

Thanks for another great review on a relatively unknown and somewhat underappreciated car, Ken. That's quite an honour being the first driver of a new press car. I expect some of the issues you had may have been due to software not being updated. Not sure if the lane tracking and park assist will improve for that vehicle in time, as Tesla Autopilot takes time for the vehicle to calibrate before it can be used. Any chance some vehicles could be "stockpiled" for Canada, as VW apparently did that for some wagons that were being discontinued recently? I think many people appreciate the eGolf because it looks like a regular car, and it's based on a refined and proven chassis, they blend in on the road (other than the yellow ones like your tester!)🍋

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks JP, from what VW told me, whatever dealers have is what they have. A search to the various VW dealers will show the results. I know many went to QC and BC.

[@jamespaul2587]

Thanks Ken, that distribution makes sense as the vehicles are much more affordable with provincial incentives. If we still had our Ontario incentive plus the federal rebate they would be a steal! I've seen some for sale in the southern Ontario region, interesting that some are above MSRP and some are below. Seems like a great vehicle however the price isn't too far below much longer range cars that also charge more quickly, and it's nice to have a range buffer for longer trips and winter conditions. I really like the body style though, a compact sporty hatch that handles well and holds lots of cargo and gear. I find most SUVs and crossovers too bulky, heavy and impractical, and less efficient than this body style, some of the other European hatches are really awesome!

[@tysonb1486]

Great review I'd be nervous owning this in Manitoba with our bitter cold. I'm sure it could do the daily commute but if you had to deviate 50 km or so I'd be concerned.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching. Possibly, in mainly city driving it excels and it does have a battery warmer and heat pump. However, yes one needs to understand the range of this and that in the dead of winter, with -30C temps, you can loose up to 50% of your summer range. If there is access to charging or that daily range is enough, it is a great BEV!

[@TomasGendron]

Yes, I drive in Calgary and will get up to 50% reduction in range on my 2018 eGolf in the bitter cold. Luckily it is still enough for my needs and I use this as a second car for city driving. I have a CRV for longer trips. I actually had to buy mine from a Winnipeg dealer and have it shipped to Calgary, as the wait period was so long. Love the car and hope to drive it 8-10years

[@Yes-vh7lm]

Just got this as my first car yesterday!

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching and congratulations! Appreciate you joining the "Revolution"! You will love it. Funny, I saw one the other day and was thinking how relevant still this BEV can be. It's a great drive and even with lower range than what the "new norm" is today, lower DCFCing and air cooling for the pack, the e-Golf is still a terrific all-electric.

[@davethefab6339]

Great review Ken. Nice vehicle and would love the car. And a sensible pedestrian sound.👍

[@EVRevolution]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks!

[@erebostd]

The eGolf is such a great car 🥰 (PS: the lane assist has 2 settings, you obviously used the lower setting 😉)

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching and I did not know about the settings, or at least I did not see it! Thanks for letting me know. Too bad it's no longer for sale here in North America as yes, it is a great BEV!

[@jamesdubben3687]

Sounds like a great 2nd car for a family. Looking forward to VW 1st car models.

[@EVRevolution]

Yes it is!

[@jillianvanliew]

I own a 2016 egolf & the main thing I'd change would be the battery size to at least 100 miles. 2016 golfs had about 83 miles of range (24.2kW/h battery). But overall, this is the perfect city car for running errands, going to work, picking up kids, etc. Great German quality (my first car was a 1974 VW Beetle), and I plan to own many more no BS German engineered cars.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks @jillianvanliew for watching and for your feedback! The e-Golf did get a slightly larger battery in 2017 where the pack was increased to 35.8kWh with an EPA of 123 miles. So your wish did come true albeit the next model year after you got yours! Nevertheless, I totally agree with your comments that it is a great car for the use case you described and the quality is there. I hope you will consider another BEV when the time comes and since you love VWs, as do I, the ID.4 would be a great candidate. Especially since reads like you have a family as as the kids get older, you will need a bit more room in the vehicle to cart things around (soccer practice, baseball, football, scouts, etc, etc.). Best wishes for the Holiday Season and I hope you and your family stay safe!

[@normt430]

Thanks for including feet and miles for us south of your border!

[@EVRevolution]

You bet!

[@bwoo2828]

Some corrections: Max Level 3 charge rate is 40 kW, not 50 kW. The front camera is for lane keep assist only (the radar beneath the license plate is for adaptive cruise control). I haven't had any glitchy infotainment, but I have the 8" version rather than the top spec 9.2" version.

[@EVRevolution]

Hi thanks for watching and for the clarity.

[@johnnykemenes6992]

Super show number 101 and very nice VW ev car 🚗 👌 😀 👍 😎

[@EVRevolution]

Thank you 👍

[@surooralqamzi6214]

Am really happy with my e golf

[@EVRevolution]

Excellent thanks for watching and love to hear the feedback! It's a great BEV!

[@mtumasz]

Tldr: great buy new and used. I’d be surprised if U guys won’t get the ID.3 in Canada. They only won’t bring it 2 US for sure

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching. The ID.3 is only for Europe. VW North America is thinking of a derivate of it for us in a few years, maybe.

[@cfldriven]

The e-Golf started with a smaller battery pack and upgraded it in 2017. Why does every reviewer compare this to the Tesla? In the world of ICE do you compare every compact to a super charged Porsche? A fair comparison would be something like Hyundai IONIQ, Nissan Leaf and BMW i3. Wish you would have shown more video of the actual car vs the VW handout. This car is software driven even for the radio. I know this because one day the radio just keep turning itself on. No matter what I did it would not stay off. Just before going to the dealer I pulled the radio fuse, BTW fuses are not labeled, and upon reinserting the fuse the radio worked normally. In essence pulling the fuse allowed the radio software to reboot. I disagree with your thoughts on the battery capacity, for what this car is intended for a commuter urban vehicle the battery capacity is plenty. I avg 124 to 160 miles on full charge, and have no range anxiety as there are plenty of charging stations in my area. The passive battery cooling system, basically the car is the heat sink, has not been an issue as VW designed it to work this way. I have driven this in the heat of southern California to the freezing temps of North Carolina and while either extreme with diminish range there have been zero battery issues. I noticed your Canadian version is a one noisy car at low speeds. My 2017 US ver generates some noise, as required by law, but not as loud. I do agree this is one smartly built vehicle which unfortunately VW did a poor job marketing to the Americas. Some have called it a compliance EV and perhaps that is true as VW focused more on EU sales. The 2017 model arrived to dealers in the US almost as the year was ending and stock was very limited. Still it is a wonderful, well equipped even in the SE version and worth the hunt if you are looking for a car that looks normal inside and out with all the high tech hidden under the skin.

[@EVRevolution]

Hello and thanks for watching. Appreciate you sharing your experiences and the feedback. For limited time and a one-man-band that I am, I do what I can as far as pulling video and shooting my own b-rolls. So stock video is really helpful in saving some time for me. I do not compare everything to a Tesla, I only mentioned the off the line speeds. The e-Golf is similar to Leaf, Bolt, Ionic, etc. clan. If you have watched other reviews that I have done or my channel, you will know that I don't place too much interest in 0-60 times, as pretty well all current BEVs have more than enough get-up-and-go to function just fine. Glad to read about your range, that is very good. Here in Canada, southern Ontario, it's not uncommon in the dead of winter to loose up to 50% of range capacity, so hence at 200kms to 250kms, taking a longer than normal drive in winter in the e-Golf takes some planning. As with many BEVs today, however the new-norm is in excess of 200-miles now, so that is what I meant about range lacking in comparison. Yes I too have heard that this vehicle handles the cooling fine, however again it's the longer-term issues and degradation which can crop up in a passive-managed versus active-managed set up that needs to be though of. Again, I agree with you and too feel this is a great BEV. Yes, very under marketed and for sure a compliance car - no question on that.

[@HappieHowie]

I agree! All cars should have front and rear proximity sensors! Thanks for a nice video. :)

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching, appreciate the feedback!

[@Andi_mit_E]

Thanks for the great video. The Golf (Mk7) might be the best Golf ever (even better than the Mk8 which is not available as an eGolf). The next "Golf" is the ID.3 which (as I know) will be available only in Europe soon. We almost bought one of those cars (for my wife) as a family car, when I bought my first BEV. But my wife decided to get one with a combustion engine (#rangeanxiety). Now (after driving a BEV for a while (MY BEV!!! (not hers!!!)) her decision would be different (as I told her before). ;-)

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for sharing! Next time you can get into a BEV - it is important for all parties concerned to be in agreement with regards to an all-electric vehicle!

[@Andi_mit_E]

@@EVRevolution Sorry. I think I couldn't express what I wanted to say... English ist not my native language. I am driving a Seat Mii electric (BEV) and my wife drives a combustion car. But meanwhile she found out that driving a BEV ist better so her next car will be a BEV, too. 😉

[@dennislyon5412]

Ken - a nice review, and yellow looks good on that car. It’s a pretty good package - too bad they won’t keep it going for US and Canada, which won’t get ID3. In the freeway segment - as opposed to “ping ponging” - it appears as if the car would move to the right (in the lane) when another car approached from the rear in the next lane to the left - an interesting twist to safety? Otherwise it drove straight when hugging the “centerline”? That pedestrian noisemaker cracked me up! At what speed does it turn off?

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching Dennis and for the feedback! Yes the ping-ponging was not that bad, but hugging the lane markers on either side made me nervous. Too close for my comfort. Maybe safety as you say, not sure. I believe the pedestrian warning sound turns off over 20kph

[@alexandremartin646]

It turns off if you turn off the switch or when you reach 30 km/h.

[@nevco8774]

Nice show! I wonder how was your fast charging CCS experience in your new reviewed VW Egolf? Thanks.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching. I did not get a chance to try a DCFC since it is not more than 50kW capable. Most owners report decent charging speeds in mid to high 40's then tapers down to the 30's. Even after successive multiple rapids.

[@nevco8774]

@@EVRevolution Thank you. I found dedicated videos on charging VW Golf E in comparison with other EV on Tesla Bjorn KZbin

[@barryw9473]

EV Revolution Show, I have never seen better than 39 kW. Pack tops out at 360 V and it seems current max is 108 amps in my experience.

[@mohamedfouad9050]

Thanks for the review. Can you give an estimation of the battery degradation.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching. From what I've seen, its not too bad since VW is pretty good about watching the thermal heating of this pack. I really don't have any more details to add but suggest you Google owner forums for more feedback.

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

As used cars in the $25k CAD range these are among the best EV deals available at the moment. For $15k and under I'd pick the Spark EV. What would you rate as the best EV deal in the $30-35k bracket Kenneth?

[@EVRevolution]

Hello and thanks for watching. That is a tough one...if you can find a good Bolt, that would be at the top because of it's range. Even a used Model 3 at that price point would be good. $30-35K CAD in the used market can buy you a lot of BEV.

[@barryw9473]

I own a 2017 e-Golf. I agree it drives well and is built well, but I wish it had the 50 Ah cells and liquid pack cooling for long trips (I have on several occasions seen rapidgate), but it was significantly cheaper than other BEVs when I got it and I knew this before buying. No issues with phone pairing. I get around 10 kWh/100 km for local driving. Thanks for review. Will Canada get the ID.3?

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks Barry for watching and for sharing your experiences! Also for joining the "Revolution"! Great to read and I was not aware of "rapid gate' potentials with the e-Golf since I was informed it seems to maintain a consistent rapid charging speed. With regards to ID.3, no for Canada but maybe a variant of it in a few years.

[@barryw9473]

Ken, thanks for response! Maybe not many people take the e-Golf on road trips so don’t see rapid gate? On my yearly 240 mile one way road trip, I need to DCFC in ~95 F ambient temps so the car cuts the amps to reduce pack joule heating, as does Leaf. How is your Leaf battery pack holding up?

[@V10PDTDI]

I think that car had a exhaust leak at the end of the video you should tell them to check that before somebody else review this car . No seriously you did not asked them what is going to be the direct replacement for this car ? And when.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching! Yes I thought the low-rumble engine sound was quite good for the pedestrian warning. As far as replacement, I did mention the ID.3 and ID.4 (with more ID's to come) as the way forward for VW.

[@dancar02]

I am considering buying one used. 2019 SE. What things should I look for in a used electric car?

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching! Beyond normal car stuff (body dings, rust, scratches, etc, I would get a VW dealer to check the SOH (State Of Health) of the Battery Pack. That's the most critical, see what capacity the battery holds at this time. Rest is usual checking brakes, suspension, safety stuff, etc. Hope this helps and email me at [e-mail] if you have more questions.

[@groszmartoncsaba4025]

hm are you originaly from Hungary?!very smooth presentation

[@EVRevolution]

Hello, yes my family is but I was born in Canada. They came over in '56-57. I don't speak it, but I do love to eat Hungarian food! Nagyon szépen köszönjük!

[@thomaskerkhoff579]

Any possibility of the ID 3 coming to N. America in the future?

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching Thomas. VW Canada has told me no, however a variant of it could. Not sure what that means, but they know that Canada and N.A. is a good market for 4-door hatchbacks. If they do, won't be for at least 3-4 years.

[@BroManz37]

someone crashed into me in my 2019 egolf ... it got totaled from a rear end crash

[@trapsarentgay4195]

My 2012 Leaf was totaled earlier in February too🥺 only had it for a year

[@chi5holm]

Ouch. Hope you were okay!

[@BroManz37]

i couldn't be happier they hit me from behind i was ok

[@EVRevolution]

@BroManz So sorry to read that and I hope you are ok from the accident. Hopefully the car held up enough for occupant protection.

[@EVRevolution]

@Traps, hope you are ok as well. There are some not-so-good drivers out there.

[@1963TOMB]

Still making them until towards the end of the year and still available in Europe.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching and also for the info!

[@151289andrey]

How the hell did you get the figure of 651 liters for the trunk with the seats up?! It's around half of that!

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching. Easy now....we all make mistakes. I realized after I "aired" this that I did state with the seats up. Meant with them down. Now, take a deep breath, lower your blood pressure and have a nice day! :)

[@stefanweilhartner4415]

the inside around the dash board looks really good. i love the nice buttons for climate controls etc. and the touch display is really well integrated and does not look like a cheap chinese tablet from toys 'r us that has been hot glued to the dash board. the "modern" EVs are just cheap and horrible regarding the user interface. this one is still nice. in 10 years you could upgrade with modern batteries, then you have 60kWh the new ID3 is cheap - not only regarding the price but also the interieur. i hope that in the facelift version in 3 years they come closer to that high quality, higher class feeling, like the e-golf has instead of that 70s plasticy star wars shit.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching Stefan!

[@sidn8946]

Let’s be honest in today’s time whether we like it or not somewhere down the line there will be range comparison with tesla if it’s costly or cheaper... range anxiety..... here in India we have TATA NEXON EV WHICH IS FANTASTIC CAR , global nCAP is 5 starts and suv stance , and Indian ARAI certified range is 312 km and battery is 29.4 KWH.... but people are still shying away because of its range ... and price also very cheap 19k to 22k US$ central and state government subsidies depends on where it is bought somewhere from 2000 to 6000$, so range should be atleast 400 km + to start hitting big number sales .. I also booked Tata but later in cancelled because In real world it’s not 312 km it’s somewhere around 250 to 270 so I am waiting for at least 350+ Km real world range ... and there’s rumour that OTA update will be coming and then will see to buy now or later next year with new battery pack...

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks Sid for watching and for sharing your local marketplace insights. While yes range is still a key for many so is pricing. Seems you have some great pricing options in India to look at so my next point would be of education. Simply put, the average consumer has no information to make a knowledgable choice regarding EVs, especially BEVs. To me, education and cost-parity are the two keys now to accelerate EV adoption. More choice is coming yearly and the 200-mile + club is filling up rapidly.

[@vladsaghin7644]

This car gives me the biggest headache! I really really really want one, even though it's not the most advanced model in terms of its EV credentials (like the ID3 for example). The biggest factor is price and from what we've seen with the German prices, the ID3 is still more expensive than the E-Golf (even though not by much). The standard battery (with a more-than-enough-330km-range) should bridge de gap though. Thing is, it seems that it's nowhere near the quality of the current E-Golf, even though its driving dynamics are supposedly excellent and its looks are a bit too "minivan" for my taste... The BIGGEST problem however is that it's still not confirmed for Canada yet... The upcoming ID4 will surely be excellent as well but it'll be a lot more expensive and I personally hate SUVs. Anyway, it feels like I would miss my opportunity to buy a new E-Golf if I wait too much. But then again, maybe I should since they say the ID4 will be the same price as the Tiguan? Add to that the 13k incentive in Québec and maybe it won't be too bad?

[@EVRevolution]

Hello Vlad thanks for watching and for your comments. The ID.3 will NOT be sold in Canada. A variant of it MAY come to North America and if it does, may not be for a few years. So I would not wait for the ID.3 variant. It's not a sure thing. The ID.3 is for Europe-only. The ID.4 will be for North America and other markets and will originally be made in Germany and shipped, then N.A. production will commence a year or two later out of Chattanooga Tennessee. But again, not till probably 2023 or later. So, if you can find an e-Golf, grab it now before they are all gone for good. With the QC Incentive and the Federal Incentive - you can stack them - you can walk out the door with an e-Golf for a song. It is a great BEV and if you can live with the range it provides, you will love love it!!

[@vladsaghin7644]

@@EVRevolution The Golf is a gem! I currently drive a fully loaded 2018 highline with all the bells and whistles and it's by far the best car I've had between a Tiguan, a CC, a Kia Forte and a Subaru Legacy. With the incentive, it would be cheaper than my current one (not even taking in account the gas spending). Its size is just perfect, comfortable yet sporty, refined, feels like a vault, smooth like butter when turning... I've tried the E-Golf a few times and it's the same experience but better, since the engine sound on the TSI isn't particularly interesting, nor are the shifts from the transmission. Either way, we don't have any inventory problems in QC for the 2020 model (compared to previous years) since the majority of the Canadian units ended up here since the high demand lol. Still, I'm just a tiny bit concerned that my commute will likely change in the future and that the limited winter range might be a problem. That and the possibility that the ID4 will actually have a decent price, which would plummet the E-Golf's used car value. If it gets anywhere close to the Tesla Model 3's hype, the ID4 should retain its value quite well, making it a great buy as well...

[@acelmedic9722]

23 cubic feet of boot space? It's not a Touareg...

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching!

[@MatteoTortello_com]

♻️🔋👏💪🔝❤️

[@EVRevolution]

Thank for watching!

[@ontopoftheroof]

The last hurrah? Rather, the last meh, I'd say.

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching. Well, I beg to differ and most who have at least driven one will agree.

[@edparrera4455]

No your blind as a bat ! Don’t attack German engineering brother

[@EVRevolution]

Thanks for watching! You will have to be specific if you are going to give me heck! I love German engineering and have owned VW before!