Volkswagen Golf MPG by year — every rating on record

The Volkswagen Golf has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 24 model years, from 1986 to 2021. Across those years its best rated version returned 38 mpg (2000) and its thirstiest returned 22 mpg (1986). The EPA record holds 80 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Compact Cars.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Golf placed highest in 1989 at #1 of 49, and lowest in 2016 at #38 of 108. It spent 24 of its 24 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 80 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 5 of 13 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Golf fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf burns 348 to 359 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.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2021 model year is $1,900 to $1,950 a year in fuel, or $1,500 less 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 33 mpg the Volkswagen Golf is 7 mpg better the median, which is worth about $328 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.