Hybrid hot hatch fizzes but fails to spark

The Volkswagen GTE promises sports hatch handling with hybrid low emissions. Can it deliver? Jack Evans finds out.

The Golf GTE has been designed to offer the exceptionally low running costs of a plug-in hybrid with the involving drive of a sports hatch.

Powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine linked to an electric motor, the GTE has a claimed economy of 156.9mpg (55km/l) and yet, despite this, should crack 100km/h in under eight seconds.