Volkswagen Golf-R MPG by year — every rating on record
The Volkswagen Golf-R has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 2 model years, from 2022 to 2023. Across those years its best rated version returned 26 mpg (2022) and its thirstiest returned 23 mpg (2022). The EPA record holds 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 26 mpg | 23 mpg | #79 of 121 (35th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2023 | 2 | 26 mpg | 23 mpg | #48 of 72 (34th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | 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-R placed highest in 2023 at #48 of 72, and lowest in 2022 at #79 of 121. It spent 0 of its 2 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 20 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 382 | 5/10 |
| 2023 | 2.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S7) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 23 | 30 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $3,000 | 343 | 5/10 |
| 2022 | 2.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Premium | SIDI, turbocharged | 20 | 28 | 23 | 500.0 | 12.9 | $3,350 | 382 | 5/10 |
| 2022 | 2.0L 4-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM7) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 23 | 30 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $3,000 | 343 | 5/10 |
What Golf-R fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2023 Volkswagen Golf-R burns 442 to 500 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 | $1,327 | $1,500 | $173 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,548 | $1,750 | $202 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,769 | $2,000 | $231 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2023 model year is $3,000 to $3,350 a year in fuel, or $5,500 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 26 mpg the Volkswagen Golf-R is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $62 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize 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.