Volkswagen Golf: PHEV power no closer to Australia
Volkswagen Australia is yet to commit to electrifying its popular
Golf
hatchback, despite mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options being available in overseas markets.
Speaking with CarExpert at the launch of the new Mk8.5 Golf range, head of product for Volkswagen Australia – Arjun Nidigallu – said arguing the business case with the company's global parent remains the biggest hurdle.
'We continually investigate alternative powertrains as a general thing, not just for [the] Golf but for every model wherever there's an opportunity,' Mr Nidigallu said.
'The challenges tend to be around creating a business case for it, particularly in segments that are smaller in volume.'
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'We continue to investigate these things, but for the current Golf if we look at what the customers are after, it's very, very clear that they want the quality and practicality aspects of it in the lower end, and of course they want the performance and acceleration in the GTI and R,' Mr Nidigallu continued.
'We haven't seen a clear marker in our data sets for hybridisation as a priority for [Golf] customers. Yes it is on the list, but it's not top of the list at the moment for this segment.
'There are other segments – [like] medium SUV – where electrification is very much desired, and that's why the
ID.4
and
ID.5
were such a big priority for us, and it's the first step we're taking in that direction.
'But in the small segment, while it is a general interest for customers, it's not on top of the list for Golf buyers at the moment.'
Despite VW Australia being unable to get the business case over the line with its global parent, other brands in the VW Group stable Down Under have managed to make it work – the related
Audi A3
runs the Group's latest 1.5 eTSI engine with 48V mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology, soon to be joined by the also-related
Cupra Leon
and
Skoda Octavia
.
Further, the non-MHEV 1.5 TSI – which is already newer and more efficient than the 1.4 TSI – is offered in a raft of products in Australia and around the world. The
Skoda Scala
and
Kamiq
, as well as the
Audi A1
and
Q2
also feature this powertrain.
Then there are plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which VW brands as eHybrids. In the Golf alone there are two different variations offered abroad: a 150kW in the standard Golf and a 200kW tune in the GTE, with both quoting over 130km of WLTP-certified electric driving range in their latest forms.
PHEVs have been a struggle for all of the VW Group in Australia, particularly in the smaller segments, though Cupra offers the Leon and
Formentor
with plug-in tech. These use the older 1.4-litre PHEV powertrain with less range – in the 50-60km realm.
Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles in Australia has made a number of attempts to bring the Golf PHEV Down Under, starting with the Mk7 GTE last decade before backflipping due to high global demand, and more recently the Mk8.5 GTE
which was likewise abandoned
.
Skoda Australia recently confirmed it's planning to
bring the mild-hybrid 1.5 eTSI powertrain to the Octavia
before the end of this year as a running change to the lineup. Currently, the Skoda runs the same 1.4 TSI and eight-speed auto transmission as the Golf.
Likewise the Cupra Leon and Formentor will add the 1.5 eTSI with their incoming facelifts, joined by the larger Terramar SUV – which will get MHEV and PHEV options unlike the related
VW Tiguan
.
Despite VW's stance on demand for electrified small vehicles, the Golf is being outpaced by rivals with varying degrees of electrification on the Australian sales charts.
The
Hyundai i30
and
Toyota Corolla
currently outsell the Golf by quite some margin, with the Hyundai offering 48V mild-hybrid and full-hybrid options across its i30 Hatch and Sedan respectively, while the entire Corolla range is hybrid-only as of mid-2024.
Further, the all-electric
MG 4
hatchback is likewise beating out the Golf in year-to-date volume (1335 v 853) as of March 31.
Elsewhere in the small passenger segment, the
Mazda 3
has previously offered 24V mild-hybrid tech, though has reverted to ICE-only; and the
Honda Civic
has gone hybrid-only Down Under.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for our Australian launch drive review of the new Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf and Golf GTI on May 8.
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