Volkswagen revealed a new hybrid version of the Golf, making the already thrifty hatchback even more fuel-efficient.The new Golf Hybrid mates a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a pair of electric motors. Unfortunately, as Volkswagen pulled the standard Golf from our shores after the 2021 model year, we won’t be getting this new Golf Hybrid.
Volkswagen is looking to improve its long game, so it’s adding a new hybrid to its bag. The German automaker just revealed a new Golf Hybrid alongside a hybrid T-Roc SUV, both of which use a system similar in format to Honda’s hybrid powertrains.
Volkswagen
The new Golf Hybrid pairs a TSI evo2 5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, one serving as a drive motor and the other as a generator. Much like Honda’s hybrid system, the Golf Hybrid can switch between series and parallel hybrid modes.
At low speeds, the front electric motor serves as the sole driving force. Under some conditions (such as hard acceleration), the front electric motor continues to serve as the drive motor, while the decoupled four-cylinder generates energy through the generator. At higher sustained speeds—think highway driving— the combustion engine serves as the primary driving force, with the primary electric motor joining in when extra power is needed. The system uses a 1.6 kWh (gross) battery pack stored under the floor in the rear of the Golf. Unfortunately, the automaker hasn’t given us any information on exact power figures or how much the new system improves fuel economy.
It’s easy to see the appeal for Volkswagen in launching the Golf Hybrid. Much like how hybrid golf clubs rose in popularity because they’re easier to consistently hit with than long irons, hybrid vehicles make it easier for automakers to improve on fuel-economy figures. That’s especially important for small hatchbacks such as the Golf, especially in Europe, where the arrival of the new Euro 7 emissions standards looms later this year.
Unfortunately, we almost certainly won’t be getting the Golf Hybrid on our shores. Volkswagen pulled the standard Golf from the American market after the 2021 model year, though thankfully, the automaker did leave us the performance variants in the Golf GTI and the Golf R.
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Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.