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2018 Volkswagen e-Golf: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf is largely unchanged, and its biggest update is reserved for SEL Premium: a new 9.25-inch navigation touchscreen, standard digital gauges, and upgraded parking assistance with low-speed braking.
About the 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf
7th-generation Golf/e-Golf (Mk7.5 facelift), second U.S. model year after the major 2017 battery-and-range update; mid-cycle update period.
Volkswagen positioned the e-Golf as an electric car for drivers who still wanted a normal, useful hatchback. Its appeal was that going electric did not require a futuristic design or giving up the familiar Golf formula: compact size, practical cargo room, comfortable daily driving, and a more engaging feel than many early EV rivals. In plain language, the e-Golf is a tidy, city-friendly electric hatchback built to feel familiar and easy to live with.
The SE is the everyday version, pairing the 35.8-kWh battery with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. The new SEL serves as the bridge trim with synthetic leather and rear parking sensors, while SEL Premium is the upscale, tech-focused version with navigation, digital gauges, and adaptive LED headlights.
What changed, by category
Tech
SEL Premium gains a 9.25-inch touchscreen navigation system, and its digital gauge cluster becomes standard.
Safety
SEL Premium receives upgraded front and rear parking assistance with automatic low-speed braking while maneuvering.
2018 Volkswagen e-Golf specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Electric Motor | Electric Motor | Electric Motor |
| Transmission | Single-Speed Fixed Gear | Single-Speed Fixed Gear | Single-Speed Fixed Gear |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Fuel Type | Electric | Electric | Electric |
| Horsepower | 134 hp | 134 hp | 134 hp |
| Torque | 214 lb-ft | 214 lb-ft | 214 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 52.7 cu-ft | 52.7 cu-ft | 52.7 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 35.6 in | 35.6 in | 35.6 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Electric Range | 125 | 125 | 125 |
| MPGe Combined | 119 | 119 | 119 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||
| Adaptive Headlights | |||
| Alarm System | |||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | |||
| Automatic High Beams | |||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors | |||
| Active Lane Keep Assistance | |||
| Park Assist | |||
| Rear View Camera | |||
| Alloy Wheels | |||
| LED Headlights | |||
| Rear Spoiler | |||
| Navigation System | |||
| Satellite Radio | |||
| Smartphone Interface | |||
| Touch Screen Monitor | |||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | |||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | |||
| Heated Front Seats | |||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | |||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf?
The biggest change is the SEL Premium technology upgrade. It gains a 9.25-inch navigation touchscreen, standard digital gauges, and upgraded parking assistance with low-speed maneuver braking.
Did the 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf get a new battery or more range?
No. The 2018 e-Golf carries over the 35.8-kWh battery, 134-hp electric motor, and 125-mile EPA range introduced for 2017.
How did the 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf trim lineup change?
The SEL joined the 2018 lineup as a middle trim, while the Limited Edition was dropped. The SE and SEL Premium continued.
What changed on the 2018 e-Golf SEL Premium?
The 2018 SEL Premium adds a 9.25-inch navigation touchscreen, makes the digital gauge cluster standard, and upgrades its parking system with automatic low-speed braking while maneuvering.
Is the 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf meaningfully different from the 2017 model?
Not for most shoppers. The battery, electric motor, and EPA range carry over, so the main reason to favor 2018 is the SEL Premium’s upgraded displays and parking assistance or the addition of the middle SEL trim.
2018 Volkswagen e-Golf Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf.
4.1
2018 Volkswagen e-Golf
(9 reviews)