For years, most of us car enthusiasts resisted the idea of hybrid vehicles. We thought of them as the sirens that would signal the end of a glorious petrol-burning and exhaust-roaring motoring era. Any car that boasted fantastic fuel saving abilities and reduced exhaust emanations was regarded as a defiler.
But then, cars like the BMW i8, the McLaren P1, the Porsche 918 Spyder and, more recently, the Honda NSX started coming onto the scene. The performance of such machines slowly wavered our faith. With time and technology, manufacturers demonstrated that enjoying both power and economy is an advancement we should embrace.
Volkswagen was next on this bandwagon, albeit with a humbler car, with the surprisingly perky Golf GTE - the hybrid sibling of the iconic Golf GTI. While the GTI moniker stands for Grand Touring Injection, depicting its petrol-driven powertrain, the 'E' in GTE represents an electric heart.
The GTE badge has since found its way onto the new Passat Variant and the Passat GTE Variant 1.4 TSI Plug-In Hybrid plays host to Volkswagen's most powerful plug-in hybrid drive system ever.Up close and Personal
While there isn't much disparity in appearance between the regular petrol-powered Passat Variant and the GTE, there are elements of individualisation that have been conceived solely for the latter.
But then, cars like the BMW i8, the McLaren P1, the Porsche 918 Spyder and, more recently, the Honda NSX started coming onto the scene. The performance of such machines slowly wavered our faith. With time and technology, manufacturers demonstrated that enjoying both power and economy is an advancement we should embrace.
Volkswagen was next on this bandwagon, albeit with a humbler car, with the surprisingly perky Golf GTE - the hybrid sibling of the iconic Golf GTI. While the GTI moniker stands for Grand Touring Injection, depicting its petrol-driven powertrain, the 'E' in GTE represents an electric heart.
The GTE badge has since found its way onto the new Passat Variant and the Passat GTE Variant 1.4 TSI Plug-In Hybrid plays host to Volkswagen's most powerful plug-in hybrid drive system ever.Up close and Personal
While there isn't much disparity in appearance between the regular petrol-powered Passat Variant and the GTE, there are elements of individualisation that have been conceived solely for the latter.
Some of these bits include the GTE's chrome radiator grille unit, which is marked with a striking blue stripe - blue representing Volkswagen electric motoring. The GTE also adorns a redesigned, sportier bumper with C-shaped LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) signatures - a feature specific to all of Volkswagen's electric and plug-in hybrid models.
The last external giveaway, apart from the obvious GTE badges, is the car's 17-inch Montpellier alloy wheels, which highlight its plug-in hybrid status.
For the casual observer, the differences in the cabin are even harder to spot.
To complement the blue trims on the outside, the cabin's design individualisations include blue ambient lighting, as well as a multi-function leather steering wheel, a GTE-specific shift knob and seats with blue stitching.
The last external giveaway, apart from the obvious GTE badges, is the car's 17-inch Montpellier alloy wheels, which highlight its plug-in hybrid status.
For the casual observer, the differences in the cabin are even harder to spot.
To complement the blue trims on the outside, the cabin's design individualisations include blue ambient lighting, as well as a multi-function leather steering wheel, a GTE-specific shift knob and seats with blue stitching.
The Drive
There are two ways you can drive the Passat GTE Variant in. Under normal operating conditions, the car always begins its journey in all-electric and thus emission-free mode. In E-mode, its electric motor generates 118bhp and enables the car to hit 130km/h.
Although we didn't have enough time to confirm this, Volkswagen claims that the Passat GTE Variant can be driven in E-Mode for up to 50km. In comparison, the smaller and lighter Toyota Prius Prime's all-electric range is expected to reach 35km.
For more fun, the Passat GTE Variant can be switched into the sportier GTE mode at the touch of a button. As soon as you do so, the 1.4-litre TSI engine comes to life and puts a combined output of 215bhp and 400Nm of torque at your disposal.
In GTE mode, the TSI and electric motor work together, in what is known as 'boosting', to make the full system power and the maximum system torque available.
Various characteristics such as throttle and steering response also become more dynamic, resulting in a more engaging drive. It will do the 0-100km/h run in 7.6 seconds and you can continue to push the car to a top speed of 225km/h. A particular aspect of driving in this mode that we love is the sporty growl that the car makes when you put your right foot down.
There are two ways you can drive the Passat GTE Variant in. Under normal operating conditions, the car always begins its journey in all-electric and thus emission-free mode. In E-mode, its electric motor generates 118bhp and enables the car to hit 130km/h.
Although we didn't have enough time to confirm this, Volkswagen claims that the Passat GTE Variant can be driven in E-Mode for up to 50km. In comparison, the smaller and lighter Toyota Prius Prime's all-electric range is expected to reach 35km.
For more fun, the Passat GTE Variant can be switched into the sportier GTE mode at the touch of a button. As soon as you do so, the 1.4-litre TSI engine comes to life and puts a combined output of 215bhp and 400Nm of torque at your disposal.
In GTE mode, the TSI and electric motor work together, in what is known as 'boosting', to make the full system power and the maximum system torque available.
Various characteristics such as throttle and steering response also become more dynamic, resulting in a more engaging drive. It will do the 0-100km/h run in 7.6 seconds and you can continue to push the car to a top speed of 225km/h. A particular aspect of driving in this mode that we love is the sporty growl that the car makes when you put your right foot down.
When it does, it's easy to forget that you're behind the wheel of a hybrid.
But even without the petrol engine at play in E-mode, the 1,722kg Passat GTE Variant performs nimbly and feels light on its feet. On top of that, the car shines just as bright as its petrol-powered 2.0-litre TSI sibling when roads turn corners, putting it on par with vehicles of a sportier class.
Depending on your needs, the car can also be customised with optional systems like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Traffic Jam Assist, or the latest generation of Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) for improved handling.
Conclusion
High-performance racers aside, cars like the Passat GTE Variant are rewriting history for hybrids. It combines exemplary fuel efficiency, motoring comfort, modern technology and, more importantly to us, a great deal of fun on the roads.
If watching the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder tear up race tracks made us think twice about allowing hybrids into our hearts, the experience with the Passat GTE Variant made damn sure we would.
Sadly, as hybrid technology isn't as accepted here as in Europe, it may be quite a wait before this one reaches our shores.
But even without the petrol engine at play in E-mode, the 1,722kg Passat GTE Variant performs nimbly and feels light on its feet. On top of that, the car shines just as bright as its petrol-powered 2.0-litre TSI sibling when roads turn corners, putting it on par with vehicles of a sportier class.
Depending on your needs, the car can also be customised with optional systems like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Traffic Jam Assist, or the latest generation of Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) for improved handling.
Conclusion
High-performance racers aside, cars like the Passat GTE Variant are rewriting history for hybrids. It combines exemplary fuel efficiency, motoring comfort, modern technology and, more importantly to us, a great deal of fun on the roads.
If watching the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder tear up race tracks made us think twice about allowing hybrids into our hearts, the experience with the Passat GTE Variant made damn sure we would.
Sadly, as hybrid technology isn't as accepted here as in Europe, it may be quite a wait before this one reaches our shores.
