
The following table compares the fuel economies of different models of Volkswagen Golf cars, across model years.
The annual fuel costs (shown in the right-hand columns) are calculated based on an estimated annual mileage of 15,000 miles,
of which 55% of the miles are city driving, and 45% of the miles are highway driving.
Annual Cost 1 assumes a fuel cost of $5.00 per gallon, while Annual Cost 2 assumes a fuel cost of $6.00 per gallon.
| Model Year | Transmission | Cyl. | Combined MPG | City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Annual Cost 1 |
Annual Cost 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Golf SportWagen | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 31 | 27 | 36 | $2,465 | $2,958 |
| 2019 Golf SportWagen | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2018 Golf SportWagen | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 28 | 24 | 33 | $2,741 | $3,289 |
| 2018 Golf SportWagen | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 29 | 25 | 34 | $2,642 | $3,171 |
| 2017 Golf SportWagen | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 29 | 25 | 34 | $2,642 | $3,171 |
| 2017 Golf SportWagen | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 28 | 25 | 35 | $2,614 | $3,137 |
| 2016 Golf SportWagen | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 29 | 25 | 34 | $2,642 | $3,171 |
| 2016 Golf SportWagen | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 28 | 25 | 35 | $2,614 | $3,137 |
| 2015 Golf SportWagen | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 35 | 31 | 40 | $2,174 | $2,609 |
| 2015 Golf SportWagen | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 35 | 30 | 42 | $2,178 | $2,614 |
| 2015 Golf SportWagen | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 29 | 25 | 34 | $2,642 | $3,171 |
| 2015 Golf SportWagen | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 28 | 25 | 35 | $2,614 | $3,137 |
| Model Year | Transmission | Cyl. | Combined MPG | City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Annual Cost 1 |
Annual Cost 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Golf III | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 22 | 20 | 26 | $3,360 | $4,032 |
| 1995 Golf III | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 29 | $3,128 | $3,753 |
| 1994 Golf III | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 21 | 18 | 26 | $3,589 | $4,307 |
| 1994 Golf III | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 29 | $3,128 | $3,753 |
| Model Year | Transmission | Cyl. | Combined MPG | City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Annual Cost 1 |
Annual Cost 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Golf Alltrack | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 25 | 22 | 30 | $3,000 | $3,600 |
| 2019 Golf Alltrack | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 30 | $3,089 | $3,707 |
| 2018 Golf Alltrack | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 25 | 22 | 30 | $3,000 | $3,600 |
| 2018 Golf Alltrack | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 30 | $3,089 | $3,707 |
| 2017 Golf Alltrack | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 25 | 22 | 30 | $3,000 | $3,600 |
| 2017 Golf Alltrack | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 26 | 22 | 32 | $2,929 | $3,515 |
| Model Year | Transmission | Cyl. | Combined MPG | City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Annual Cost 1 |
Annual Cost 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Golf SportWagen 4motion | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 24 | 22 | 29 | $3,038 | $3,646 |
| 2019 Golf SportWagen 4motion | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 25 | 22 | 31 | $2,963 | $3,556 |
| 2018 Golf SportWagen 4motion | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 24 | 22 | 29 | $3,038 | $3,646 |
| 2018 Golf SportWagen 4motion | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 25 | 22 | 31 | $2,963 | $3,556 |
| 2017 Golf SportWagen 4motion | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 25 | 22 | 30 | $3,000 | $3,600 |
| 2017 Golf SportWagen 4motion | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 26 | 22 | 32 | $2,929 | $3,515 |
| Model Year | Transmission | Cyl. | Combined MPG | City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Annual Cost 1 |
Annual Cost 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Golf | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 36 | $2,359 | $2,831 |
| 2021 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 33 | 29 | 39 | $2,287 | $2,745 |
| 2020 Golf | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 35 | $2,386 | $2,864 |
| 2020 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 31 | 28 | 36 | $2,410 | $2,892 |
| 2019 Golf | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2019 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2018 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 28 | 24 | 33 | $2,741 | $3,289 |
| 2018 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 29 | 25 | 34 | $2,642 | $3,171 |
| 2017 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 29 | 25 | 35 | $2,614 | $3,137 |
| 2017 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 29 | 25 | 36 | $2,587 | $3,105 |
| 2016 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 29 | 25 | 35 | $2,614 | $3,137 |
| 2016 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 29 | 25 | 36 | $2,587 | $3,105 |
| 2015 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 29 | 25 | 36 | $2,587 | $3,105 |
| 2015 Golf | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 35 | 31 | 41 | $2,153 | $2,584 |
| 2015 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 29 | 25 | 35 | $2,614 | $3,137 |
| 2015 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 35 | 30 | 43 | $2,159 | $2,591 |
| 2014 Golf | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2014 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 32 | 29 | 39 | $2,287 | $2,745 |
| 2014 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 5 | 26 | 23 | 30 | $2,918 | $3,502 |
| 2013 Golf | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2013 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 32 | 29 | 39 | $2,287 | $2,745 |
| 2013 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 5 | 26 | 24 | 31 | $2,807 | $3,368 |
| 2013 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 5 | 26 | 23 | 33 | $2,816 | $3,379 |
| 2012 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 5 | 26 | 24 | 31 | $2,807 | $3,368 |
| 2012 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 5 | 26 | 23 | 33 | $2,816 | $3,379 |
| 2012 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2012 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 32 | 29 | 39 | $2,287 | $2,745 |
| 2011 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 5 | 27 | 24 | 31 | $2,807 | $3,368 |
| 2011 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 5 | 26 | 23 | 33 | $2,816 | $3,379 |
| 2011 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2011 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 32 | 29 | 39 | $2,287 | $2,745 |
| 2010 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 5 | 25 | 22 | 30 | $3,000 | $3,600 |
| 2010 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 5 | 26 | 23 | 30 | $2,918 | $3,502 |
| 2010 Golf | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 32 | 29 | 39 | $2,287 | $2,745 |
| 2010 Golf | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 32 | 29 | 37 | $2,334 | $2,801 |
| 2006 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 34 | 31 | 40 | $2,174 | $2,609 |
| 2006 Golf | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 32 | 28 | 40 | $2,316 | $2,780 |
| 2006 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 27 | $3,214 | $3,857 |
| 2006 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 29 | $3,128 | $3,753 |
| 2005 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 35 | 32 | 41 | $2,112 | $2,534 |
| 2005 Golf | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 32 | 28 | 39 | $2,338 | $2,806 |
| 2005 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 2005 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 2004 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 36 | 32 | 42 | $2,092 | $2,511 |
| 2004 Golf | Automatic (S5) | 4 | 32 | 28 | 39 | $2,338 | $2,806 |
| 2004 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 2004 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 2003 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 33 | 29 | 40 | $2,266 | $2,719 |
| 2003 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 38 | 35 | 44 | $1,945 | $2,334 |
| 2003 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 23 | 20 | 27 | $3,312 | $3,975 |
| 2003 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 29 | $3,128 | $3,753 |
| 2002 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 33 | 29 | 40 | $2,266 | $2,719 |
| 2002 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 38 | 35 | 44 | $1,945 | $2,334 |
| 2002 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 23 | 20 | 27 | $3,312 | $3,975 |
| 2002 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 2001 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 22 | 20 | 26 | $3,360 | $4,032 |
| 2001 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 22 | 28 | $3,080 | $3,696 |
| 2001 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 33 | 29 | 40 | $2,266 | $2,719 |
| 2001 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 38 | 35 | 44 | $1,945 | $2,334 |
| 2001 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 22 | 20 | 26 | $3,360 | $4,032 |
| 2001 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 2000 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 22 | 19 | 26 | $3,469 | $4,162 |
| 2000 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 2000 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 33 | 29 | 40 | $2,266 | $2,719 |
| 2000 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 38 | 35 | 44 | $1,945 | $2,334 |
| 2000 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 22 | 19 | 26 | $3,469 | $4,162 |
| 2000 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 1999 Golf | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 22 | 19 | 26 | $3,469 | $4,162 |
| 1999 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 28 | $3,169 | $3,803 |
| 1989 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 34 | 31 | 39 | $2,196 | $2,635 |
| 1989 Golf | Automatic 3-speed | 4 | 22 | 20 | 26 | $3,360 | $4,032 |
| 1989 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 25 | 22 | 31 | $2,963 | $3,556 |
| 1988 Golf | Automatic 3-speed | 4 | 23 | 21 | 26 | $3,262 | $3,914 |
| 1988 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 25 | 22 | 30 | $3,000 | $3,600 |
| 1987 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 33 | 31 | 37 | $2,242 | $2,691 |
| 1987 Golf | Automatic 3-speed | 4 | 22 | 21 | 25 | $3,314 | $3,977 |
| 1987 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 26 | 23 | 31 | $2,882 | $3,458 |
| 1986 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 35 | 31 | 40 | $2,174 | $2,609 |
| 1986 Golf | Automatic 3-speed | 4 | 22 | 21 | 25 | $3,314 | $3,977 |
| 1986 Golf | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 26 | 23 | 31 | $2,882 | $3,458 |
| Model Year | Transmission | Cyl. | Combined MPG | City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Annual Cost 1 |
Annual Cost 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Golf R | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 29 | $3,128 | $3,753 |
| 2019 Golf R | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 26 | 23 | 30 | $2,918 | $3,502 |
| 2018 Golf R | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 29 | $3,128 | $3,753 |
| 2018 Golf R | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 25 | 22 | 29 | $3,038 | $3,646 |
| 2017 Golf R | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 25 | 23 | 30 | $2,918 | $3,502 |
| 2017 Golf R | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 25 | 22 | 31 | $2,963 | $3,556 |
| 2016 Golf R | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 25 | 23 | 30 | $2,918 | $3,502 |
| 2016 Golf R | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 25 | 22 | 31 | $2,963 | $3,556 |
| 2015 Golf R | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 26 | 23 | 30 | $2,918 | $3,502 |
| 2013 Golf R | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 22 | 19 | 27 | $3,421 | $4,105 |
| 2012 Golf R | Manual 6-speed | 4 | 22 | 19 | 27 | $3,421 | $4,105 |
| Model Year | Transmission | Cyl. | Combined MPG | City MPG |
Highway MPG |
Annual Cost 1 |
Annual Cost 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 Golf III / GTI | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 21 | 18 | 26 | $3,589 | $4,307 |
| 1993 Golf III / GTI | Manual 5-speed | 4 | 24 | 21 | 29 | $3,128 | $3,753 |
| 1993 Golf III / GTI | Automatic 4-speed | 4 | 22 | 19 | 27 | $3,421 | $4,105 |
Data source: Fuel Economy USA, Reference.