Hatchback

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF

The GTE plug-in hybrid features more aggressive looks than lesser Golfs, plus it's loaded with standard kit. The list includes adaptive suspension, three-zone climate control,  wireless phone-charging, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and blindspot monitoring.

Over the past 50 years, Volkswagen has sold more than 37 million Golfs, with that success largely down to the model’s classless appeal – its ability to be all things to all people. And perhaps the version that exemplifies this best of all is the VW Golf GTE.

One of two plug-in hybrids (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEVs</a>) in the current Golf&nbsp;line-up, the GTE now features a much bigger battery (up from 10.6kWh to 19.7kWh), which boosts its official pure electric range from 38.5 miles to a whopping 82 miles. That’s not only good for fuel economy, but also makes it a much more tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-company-cars/n22605">company car</a>, because you’ll pay <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-guide/n9352">benefit-in-kind tax</a> on 5% of its value instead of 12%.

True, the other Golf PHEV (badged eHybrid) will cost you even less to run, because it’s also taxed at 5% and has a lower list price. But there’s another significant string to the GTE’s bow: the performance it offers.

You see, the GTE has always been as much a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatch</a> as an economy car, and the latest version is the most powerful&nbsp;yet. But is it as much fun as more traditional&nbsp;hot hatches, including Volkswagen's own <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n149">Golf GTI</a>, and how does it compare overall with the best PHEV <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n27171">family cars</a>? That's what we're going to be looking at in this review.

The GTE is a Golf for people with an eye on the environment, running costs, performance or all three

Volkswagen Golf GTE

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Usefully long electric-only range</li> <li>Exceedingly frugal</li> <li>Cheap company car tax rates</li> <li>Smooth switching between electric and petrol power</li></ul>

If you're not ready to commit to a fully electric vehicle&nbsp;but have the capacity to charge your car at home or at work, a plug-in hybrid could be the perfect compromise. Electric batteries paired with a petrol or diesel&nbsp;engine means you'll never be left short of charge&nbsp;but can capitalise on cheap running costs, thanks to a surprisingly long electric-only range.

There's plenty of choice, too, whether you're after a sporty saloon like the BMW 3 Series, the 330e variant of which providing up to 36 miles of electric-only driving on a full charge, or a large load-lugging large SUV, including the Volvo XC90 T8, which claims an extraordinary&nbsp;113mpg.

Throw in competent handling and driving prowess, despite the added weight of the electric batteries, and a plug-in hybrid&nbsp;makes a compelling case for frugal buyers.&nbsp;

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