Why Is Volkswagen Raising The Price On the e-Golf?

Jan. 23, 2019 10:51 AM ET by Jared Rosenholtz Pricing / 5 Comments

There's no additional range, so what gives?

With the introduction of affordable long-range electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia eNiro, many people have forgotten about Volkswagen's EV option, the e-Golf. With a range of just 125 miles on a charge, the e-Golf is greatly outclassed by its more advanced rivals. VW is hard at work to double the range of its EVs, though the results of these efforts are still a few years away.

For now, VW continues to sell the e-Golf with its lackluster range and 134 horsepower electric motor. According to CarsDirect, the e-Golf will sport some minor adjustments for the 2019 model year, though we doubt these changes will do much to increase sales.

For starters, the base SE model now starts at $32,790 including an $895 destination charge, which is $1,400 more than last year's starting price of $31,390. The SEL Premium trim has an even larger price increase of $1,550 to $39,790 compared to $38,240 in 2018. So what are you getting for your extra $1,400 to $1,550? It isn't increased range because that figure still sits at just 125 miles.

The main source for the price increase is the addition of DC Fast Charging capability, allowing the car to charge 80% of its battery in just one hour. This used to be an optional extra for $995 but now comes as standard. Hopefully, you have access to a DC Fast Charging station to take advantage of this feature.

The Driver Assistance Package is now optional on the SE model for $650 and was previously available only on the higher SEL Premium trim. Opting for this package includes automatic emergency braking, a blind spot monitor, and adaptive cruise control. The SEL Premium will get its own Drive Assistance Package with all of the features mentioned above plus a parking assistance feature and automatic high beams. These features previously added $1,075 to the SEL Premium's price. Technically, the price increase is worth it, though we doubt too many people will choose the e-Golf over its longer range rivals.

Why Is Volkswagen Raising The Price On the e-Golf?

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Why Is Volkswagen Raising The Price On the e-Golf?

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