As with the exterior, much of the Golf GTE’s interior resembles that of the regular Volkswagen Golf. So interior materials have much improved since the last version, but the quality of the soft plastics and the like here is good rather than great.
There are some GTE-exclusive design details, but the biggest boon for the GTE is its increased standard equipment over the basic Golf.
Heated ‘sports comfort’ seats are included as standard. They feature Jacara checked cloth (similar to the GTI) but with a blue and white design rather than the traditional GTI red and black. Other standard equipment includes wireless smartphone charging, four USB ports (two in the front and two in the back), sat-nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Volkswagen’s updated and more powerful 12.9in infotainment display is the centrepiece of the cabin, which a much-improved interface and controls. It partners with the firm’s digital cockpit, which displays a host of different driving functions and data behind the steering wheel.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel features buttons once again, in place of the much-maligned touchpad interface used in the previous Golf. It’s a much more intuitive and usable environment than last time.
There’s also ambient lighting with 30 different colour settings, tri-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera to name a few. Features such as a panoramic sunroof, black exterior styling pack, a head-up display and a 360deg area view camera are available as options.
As with most plug-in hybrid models, some boot space is lost to accommodate the large battery and other associated electronics. As a result, the GTE offers 273 litres of boot space – down from the 381 litres of the non-PHEV Golf.
