Volkswagen Golf

19862021 · 80 configurations

Lowest
22
Average
29
Best
38

The Volkswagen Golf has been tested by the EPA across 80 different configurations spanning model years 1986 through 2021. Over this period, the Golf has achieved combined fuel economy ratings ranging from 22 MPG to 38 MPG, with an overall average of 29 MPG across all engine, transmission, and drivetrain combinations. Below you will find a comprehensive breakdown of every tested configuration, organized by model year. Click any row to view detailed specifications, emissions data, and annual fuel cost estimates for that specific vehicle.

All Configurations

Year Powertrain Annual Cost City Hwy Comb MPGCompare
2021
1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S8)Regular
$1,850293632MPG
2021
1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdRegular
$1,800293933MPG
2020
1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S8)Regular
$1,850293532MPG
2020
1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdRegular
$1,950283631MPG
2019
1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S8)Regular
$1,850293732MPG
2019
1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdRegular
$1,850293732MPG
2018
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,150243328MPG
2018
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,050253429MPG
2017
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,050253529MPG
2017
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,050253629MPG
2016
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,050253529MPG
2016
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,050253629MPG
2015
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,050253629MPG
2015
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (AM-S6)Diesel
$2,300314135MPG
2015
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,050253529MPG
2015
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdDiesel
$2,300304335MPG
2014
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (AM-S6)Diesel
$2,550293732MPG
2014
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdDiesel
$2,550293932MPG
2014
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,300233026MPG
2013
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (AM-S6)Diesel
$2,550293732MPG
2013
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdDiesel
$2,550293932MPG
2013
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,300243126MPG
2013
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,300233326MPG
2012
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,300243126MPG
2012
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,300233326MPG
2012
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Diesel
$2,550293732MPG
2012
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdDiesel
$2,550293932MPG
2011
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,200243127MPG
2011
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,300233326MPG
2011
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Diesel
$2,550293732MPG
2011
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdDiesel
$2,550293932MPG
2010
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,400223025MPG
2010
2.5L 5-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Regular
$2,300233026MPG
2010
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 6-spdDiesel
$2,550293932MPG
2010
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S6)Diesel
$2,550293732MPG
2006
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,400314034MPG
2006
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S5)Diesel
$2,550284032MPG
2006
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,500212724MPG
2006
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212924MPG
2005
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,300324135MPG
2005
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S5)Diesel
$2,550283932MPG
2005
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
2005
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
2004
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,250324236MPG
2004
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic (S5)Diesel
$2,550283932MPG
2004
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
2004
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
2003
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdDiesel
$2,450294033MPG
2003
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,150354438MPG
2003
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,600202723MPG
2003
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212924MPG
2002
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdDiesel
$2,450294033MPG
2002
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,150354438MPG
2002
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,600202723MPG
2002
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
2001
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdPremium
$3,150202622MPG
2001
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdPremium
$2,900222824MPG
2001
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdDiesel
$2,450294033MPG
2001
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,150354438MPG
2001
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,700202622MPG
2001
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
2000
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdPremium
$3,150192622MPG
2000
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdPremium
$2,900212824MPG
2000
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdDiesel
$2,450294033MPG
2000
1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,150354438MPG
2000
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,700192622MPG
2000
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
1999
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 4-spdRegular
$2,700192622MPG
1999
2L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,500212824MPG
1989
1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,400313934MPG
1989
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 3-spdRegular
$2,700202622MPG
1989
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,400223125MPG
1988
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 3-spdRegular
$2,600212623MPG
1988
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,400223025MPG
1987
1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,450313733MPG
1987
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 3-spdRegular
$2,700212522MPG
1987
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,300233126MPG
1986
1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdDiesel
$2,300314035MPG
1986
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Automatic 3-spdRegular
$2,700212522MPG
1986
1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive
Manual 5-spdRegular
$2,300233126MPG

Historical Efficiency

2021
33
2020
32
2019
32
2018
29
2017
29
2016
29
2015
35
2014
32
2013
32
2012
32
2011
32
2010
32
2006
34
2005
35
2004
36
2003
38
2002
38
2001
38
2000
38
1999
24

Safety Rating History

NHTSA typically tests the base platform of a vehicle and does not test every specific trim level. This specific configuration (Golf) has not been independently rated.

Complaint & Incident History

The data below represents all official consumer complaints reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the Volkswagen Golf. Click on any year to drill down and read the unedited, raw problem narratives submitted directly by vehicle owners.

Fatal Crash History (FARS)

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) is a nationwide census providing NHTSA, Congress and the American public yearly data regarding fatal injuries suffered in motor vehicle traffic crashes. The data below represents historical totals for the Volkswagen Volkswagen Golf/Cabriolet/Cabrio/GTI/ GLI grouping as reported by the NHTSA.

Total Fatal Crashes
519
Total Deaths
302

Incident Risk Profile

Rollover Rate
12.3%
Fire Occurrence
2.3%
Speeding Involved
25.0%
DUI Involved
24.9%
Primary Impact Zone

Breakdown of the initial point of impact across all fatal collisions involving this model.

76%
Front
14%
Side
10%
Rear

Year-by-Year Trend & Severity

2023
Fatal Crashes67
Fatalities
32
Deaths/Crash
0.48
2022
Fatal Crashes61
Fatalities
34
Deaths/Crash
0.56
2021
Fatal Crashes72
Fatalities
36
Deaths/Crash
0.50
2020
Fatal Crashes52
Fatalities
44
Deaths/Crash
0.85
2019
Fatal Crashes41
Fatalities
27
Deaths/Crash
0.66
2018
Fatal Crashes60
Fatalities
35
Deaths/Crash
0.58
2017
Fatal Crashes54
Fatalities
31
Deaths/Crash
0.57
2016
Fatal Crashes42
Fatalities
22
Deaths/Crash
0.52
2015
Fatal Crashes42
Fatalities
24
Deaths/Crash
0.57
2014
Fatal Crashes28
Fatalities
17
Deaths/Crash
0.61

Platform Recall Intelligence

Most Recalled Components

Tip: Click any component bar to view detailed recall narratives.

Historical Severity Timeline

2021
1
2019
3
2018
4
2017
2
2016
6
2015
13
2011
3
2010
4
2004
1
2003
1
2001
2
2000
3
1999
7
1988
4
1987
1
1986
5
Critical
Moderate
Advisory