2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Priced—At Nearly Twice The Cost Of Gas Version
Would you pay twice as much for your vehicle, initially, to go electric?
Volkswagen just announced pricing for its 2015 e-Golf, and at $36,265 it’s in a completely different pricing league than the base 2015 Volkswagen Golf, which costs as little as $18,815.
Of course, you should keep in mind that a federal tax credit of $7,500 will apply to the e-Golf, lowering its effective price (provided you qualify for the credit) to $28,765. Additional federal or state money could reduce that amount even further. And in lieu of getting that credit yourself, Volkswagen could be offering some attractive lease deals.
That two-door Golf Launch Edition isn’t just a stripped-down price leader, either; it does include the 170-horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, power accessories, air conditioning, Bluetooth, and a touch-screen audio system with satellite radio and iPod integration.
READ: Ford Is Developing A New Line Of Hybrids To Take On The Toyota Prius
e-Golf only arrives loaded with features—and a premium price
The e-Golf, on the other hand, is loaded, in creme de la creme SEL Premium guise, including 16-inch alloy wheels, LED dynamic headlamps (the first of VW’s lineup to get LED headlamps standard), automatic dual-zone climate control, cruise control, VW Car-Net connected services, front and rear Park Distance Control, a heated windshield, heated mirrors, and heated washer nozzles, among many other features.
Fast-charge capability is also included in all U.S. e-Golf models. That allows this model to be charged to 80 percent in less than a half an hour. VW hasn’t yet revealed an official EPA driving range for this model, but since its battery capacity, of 24.2 kWh, is about the same as that of the Nissan Leaf, we expect the official numbers to land around 80 miles or higher.