2018 Volkswagen E-Golf

Volkswagen broke into the electric market last year with a plug-in version of its popular Golf hatchback, a car that, in 2017, previewed the updated VW applied to the gasoline-powered Golf this year.

That means there are no changes to the e-Golf for 2018, so it sticks with an electric motor that generates 136 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque and is fed by a battery good for a promised 200 km of driving range.

If you like VWs that don't use gasoline, then this car is a taste of your future as the diesel scandal of 2015 means it's unlikely we'll see a diesel Volkswagen in North America again. With that avenue for attracting buyers long gone, the manufacturer is working on a range of electric vehicles that will reach the marketplace in the next few years.

The Golf already has a strong and largely positive reputation in the marketplace (aside from the dirty diesel problem), so it makes good sense for VW to makes its EV debut with a recognizable nameplate and body shape, rather than with something all new. And the Golf already drives like a car a class above its compact status, and swapping in a smooth and silent electric drivetrain will up this car’s refinement quotient significantly.

Even in entry-level trim, the E-Golf skips the three-door body style that serves as the base configuration for gas models and comes only as a five-door that's standard with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, passive keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated cloth seats, heated windshield, LED headlights and taillights, backup camera and rain-sensing wipers.

Options include standalone leather seats; a tech package brings a larger touchscreen with gesture control and wireless smartphone/tablet integration; and a driver assistant group brings active safety features like blind spot warning, adaptive cruise, collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane assist, park assist and an all-digital configurable gauge cluster that looks and functions much like Audi’s virtual cockpit.

The EV market may yet be small, but Volkswagen faces competition for the e-Golf nonetheless. The most significant is the Chevrolet Bolt with its nearly 400-km driving range, but there's also the Hyundai Ioniq which matches the VW's driving range, and the Ford Focus EV, which can only go about 115 km.