Used Volkswagen e-Golf for sale: everything you need to know

Volkswagen was among the first mainstream manufacturers to offer a proper electric car when it launched the e-Golf in 2014. The model was revised in 2017 and then disappeared in 2020, making way for both a new generation of Volkswagen Golf, and the electric-only Volkswagen ID.3.

The e-Golf no longer matches newer electric family cars for range and features thanks to its age, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. The seventh-generation Golf was already a great car and it made an excellent EV too, and if you can live with a real-world range of around 120-130 miles, it’s well worth considering.

The Golf’s contemporaries included cars like the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq Electric, while the later VW ID.3 may be worth a look if you’re shopping at the upper end of e-Golf prices. If you aren’t quite ready for a full EV yet, the plug-in hybrid Volkswagen Golf GTE is another option.

Should you buy a Volkswagen e-Golf?

In some ways, the e-Golf being one of the first serious electric cars on the market means it’s been left behind by more recent models, particularly when it comes to range. But another way of looking at it is that the e-Golf is great value as a used buy, and that it’s the electric version of one of the best mainstream cars that Volkswagen has ever made.

Much of what makes the e-Golf worth a look is already there in the regular petrol and diesel Golfs. It’s handsome, well-built, has a spacious interior that highlights the usability flaws of both the latest Golf and the Volkswagen ID.3, and it still drives as well as this generation Golf always did.

The e-Golf isn’t as brisk as some petrol or diesel models but it still steps off the mark quickly, rides and handles nearly as well, and electric power only enhances the seventh-generation Golf’s excellent refinement levels. It’s easy to drive too and Volkswagen provided variable regenerative braking, so you can tailor deceleration to your tastes.

A WLTP range of 144 miles is no longer that spectacular and charging speeds also lag behind the latest EVs, but then a used e-Golf is a lot cheaper to buy than many of those later cars. There are no notable e-Golf reliability issues either, so it should be dependable too.

The Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq Electric were the e-Golf’s two closest competitors at the time, and both are similarly affordable today. Depending on your budget, you could consider newer EVs like the Volkswagen ID.3 and MG4, which both go further on a charge, though their more space-age styling may not appeal if you’re a fan of the Golf’s more low-key looks.

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What’s the best used Volkswagen e-Golf model to buy?

Concentrate your search on post-2017 models. This is when the Golf range was updated (popularly referred to by VW enthusiasts as the ‘Mk7.5’) and at the same time, the e-Golf got both a bigger battery and a more powerful electric motor. Later models are also slightly better equipped, and there’s simply a wider choice of post-2017 models too.

Used Volkswagen e-Golf range and performance

• Volkswagen e-Golf: From 2017 the e-Golf got a 136PS electric motor and a 35.8kWh battery pack, giving the car a 0-62mph time of 9.6 seconds, and an NEDC range of 186 miles and 144 miles WLTP. Volkswagen claimed at the time the e-Golf had a realistic real-world range of 124 miles.

What used Volkswagen e-Golf trim levels are available?

The e-Golf came as a single trim level, with equipment based on (and improved upon) the regular Golf SE. As well as the equipment listed below, there were a handful of options available, including upgraded LED headlights, dark tinted rear windows, leather trim, and a handful of paintwork colours.

• The Volkswagen e-Golf came with 16-inch alloy wheels, an e-Golf styling pack with C-shaped daytime running lights, LED headlights with a blue stripe, two-zone climate control, heated windscreen, 8-inch touchscreen, fabric trim, adaptive cruise control, electric folding mirrors, a leather steering wheel with blue stitching, and mode 2 and mode 3 charging cables.

Used Volkswagen e-Golf dimensions and boot size

The Volkswagen e-Golf’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4270mm
• Width: 1799mm (without mirrors), 2027mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1450mm

The Volkswagen e-Golf’s boot size is:

• 341 litres
• 1231 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof)

Used Volkswagen e-Golf road tax

The e-Golf’s relative age doesn’t matter one bit when it comes to taxing it, since like all electric vehicles, the e-Golf has zero-rate VED. This is set to change in April 2025, but even when a charge is introduced, it’s unlikely to be too expensive.

How much is it to insure a Volkswagen e-Golf?

e-Golf insurance starts in group 26, which follows the trend of electric vehicles being a bit more expensive to insure than their combustion counterparts - the regular Golf range spanned groups 7-18, and it’s only a little less than the group 29 of the sporty Golf GTI. Some other EVs are similar, but it’s worth noting that the Nissan Leaf may be a bit more affordable with its group 21 rating.

Read our full Volkswagen e-Golf review