Volkswagen · Compact cars · Gasoline
Volkswagen GLI: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
At 29 MPG combined, the Volkswagen GLI sits 5 MPG below the compact cars median of 34, which makes it tied for 15th of 21 compact cars, in the lower half.
- 29MPG combinedtied 15th of 21 in class
- $2,300a year in fuel12th of 21 in class
- 307g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the gasoline models of its class it is 4th of 9 gasoline compact cars, in the upper half, ahead of 62% of the others. The median of that narrower group is 26 MPG, against 34 MPG for all compact cars together.
Among all gasoline models of the year, regardless of size, it is tied for 29th of 180 gasoline models, in the top quarter.
Within the 7 Volkswagen models rated for 2026 it is tied for 4th on combined rating; the median of the make's line-up is 29 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Hybrid at 30 MPG and just behind it is the Cadillac CT4 at 26 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
Assuming 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city and regular gasoline at $4.47 per gallon, fuelling the most efficient version comes to about $2,300 a year. That is $350 more than the compact cars median of $1,950, which makes it 12th of 21 compact cars, in the lower half.
Tailpipe CO2 is 307 g/mile, 42 g/mile above the compact cars median of 265.
Rated versions
Its city rating is 26 and its highway rating 35: the highway figure is 9 higher. 2 versions are rated for 2026. All of them share the same combined rating of 29 MPG.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLI: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), FWD | 29 | 26 | 35 | $2,300 | 307 |
| GLI: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Manual 6-spd, FWD | 29 | 26 | 36 | $2,300 | 306 |
Year by year
The Volkswagen GLI is in the data for 5 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Between 2022 and 2026 the best combined rating fell by 1 MPG, from 30 to 29. Fuel cost for the best version is $2,300 in the latest data against $2,250 in 2022, although the file applies today's fuel prices to every model year, so that change comes from the rating, not from prices.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 29 | 29 | $2,300 | 307 | 34 |
| 2025 | 2 | 30 | 29 | $2,250 | 301 | 30.5 |
| 2024 | 2 | 30 | 28 | $2,250 | 297 | 30 |
| 2023 | 2 | 30 | 30 | $2,250 | 297 | 29 |
| 2022 | 2 | 30 | 30 | $2,250 | 297 | 30 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 29 | $2,850 | 2026 |
| BMW 3 Series Hybrid | Hybrid | 31 | $2,650 | 2026 |
| Cadillac CT4 | Gasoline | 26 | $3,150 | 2026 |
| Mini Cooper | Gasoline | 32 | $2,550 | 2026 |
| Genesis G70 | Gasoline | 24 | $3,400 | 2026 |
Compare and rank
Rankings: Compact cars, Gasoline, Volkswagen, Gasoline compact cars.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.