Volkswagen Golf/GTI MPG by year — every rating on record
The Volkswagen Golf/GTI has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 7 model years, from 1985 to 1998. Across those years its best rated version returned 38 mpg (1996) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (1996). The EPA record holds 18 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 4 | 35 mpg | 23 mpg | #4 of 45 (93th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1990 | 2 | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | #13 of 46 (73th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1991 | 2 | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | #16 of 60 (75th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1992 | 2 | 25 mpg | 23 mpg | #19 of 58 (68th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1996 | 3 | 38 mpg | 22 mpg | #1 of 52 (100th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1997 | 3 | 37 mpg | 22 mpg | #1 of 46 (100th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Compact Cars |
| 1998 | 2 | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | #23 of 47 (52th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Golf/GTI placed highest in 1996 at #1 of 52, and lowest in 1998 at #23 of 47. It spent 7 of its 7 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 18 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 2.0L 4-cyl | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1998 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 2.0L 4-cyl | 21 | 28 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1997 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1997 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 29 | 24 | 479.2 | 12.4 | $2,600 | 370.2916666666667 | n/a |
| 1997 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | (DSL,TRBO), turbocharged, Diesel | 33 | 44 | 37 | 310.8 | 9.7 | $2,400 | 275.13513513513516 | n/a |
| 1996 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 19 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1996 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 20 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.9L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | (DSL,TRBO), turbocharged, Diesel | 34 | 44 | 38 | 302.6 | 9.4 | $2,350 | 267.89473684210526 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1991 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 26 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1990 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 3-spd Regular | (FFS) | 21 | 25 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $2,700 | 386.39130434782606 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1985 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Diesel | 1.6L 4-cyl, Diesel | 31 | 41 | 35 | 328.6 | 10.2 | $2,550 | 290.85714285714283 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 4 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 → 1990 | 35 → 25 mpg | -10 mpg | 460 gal |
| 1992 → 1996 | 25 → 38 mpg | +13 mpg | 303 gal |
| 1996 → 1997 | 38 → 37 mpg | -1 mpg | 311 gal |
| 1997 → 1998 | 37 → 24 mpg | -13 mpg | 479 gal |
What Golf/GTI fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1998 Volkswagen Golf/GTI burns 479 to 523 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,438 | $1,568 | $131 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,677 | $1,830 | $152 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,917 | $2,091 | $174 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1998 model year is $2,600 to $2,850 a year in fuel, or $3,000 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Compact Cars
Across the 498 nameplates EPA classifies as Compact Cars, the median best combined rating is 26 mpg. At 24 mpg the Volkswagen Golf/GTI is 2 mpg below the median, which is worth about $129 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Compact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Volkswagen nameplates
Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.