Volkswagen has revealed a new hybrid system for the Golf hatchback and T-Roc small SUV, which will go on sale in Europe in late 2026. Combining a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor and a 1.6kWh battery located under the boot floor, the new Volkswagen hybrid models send power exclusively to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Larger hybrid models are expected, like the Tiguan medium SUV, and all are a long time coming.

Making either 101kW or 127kW, official fuel consumption figures for the new hybrid system are yet to be announced. However, European-spec Golf and T-Roc models with the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with a mild-hybrid system are rated at as low as 5.3L/100km in the Golf and 5.6L/100km in the T-Roc, so we’re expecting the full hybrids to be rated in the 4L/100km bracket.

The new hybrid drivetrain works similarly to the e:HEV system in the Honda Civic, where the electric motor handles most of the propulsion at urban speeds using the engine as a generator and then above 60km/h, the engine handles propulsion with the electric motor assisting. At low speeds and at a gentle take off, it can run purely electrically, though likely not for long.

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The new Golf Hybrid and T-Roc Hybrid will offer eco, comfort and sport driving modes. With eco, the maximum system output is limited to 70 per cent and the boost function is deactivated to reduce energy consumption. Comfort profile does not limit the system output and allows boosting and in sport mode, sporty characteristics are achieved by the driver changing earlier to serial mode so that full power is made available quickly.

According to Volkswagen, the new full hybrid drive “offers numerous advantages: compared with a simpler mild hybrid, it enables a higher proportion of electric driving and thus lower emissions and consumption values as well as reduced fuel costs”.

“In comparison with an externally rechargeable plug-in hybrid drive, the purchase costs of the full hybrid are lower, and it requires no charging infrastructure.”

Volkswagen Australia is yet to announce any local plans for the new hybrid system, though plug-in hybrid variants of the Tiguan and Tayron SUVs are about to go on sale locally priced from $62,390 plus on-road costs.