Volkswagen · Midsize cars · Gasoline
Volkswagen Golf/GTI: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
In model year 2026 the Volkswagen Golf/GTI is rated at 27 MPG combined, tied for 19th of 31 midsize cars, in the lower half.
- 27MPG combinedtied 19th of 31 in class
- $2,500a year in fuel16th of 31 in class
- 326g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the gasoline models of its class it is tied for 7th of 14 gasoline midsize cars, in the upper half. The median of that narrower group is 27 MPG, against 30 MPG for all midsize cars together.
Across every class it is tied for 44th of 180 gasoline models, in the upper half.
Volkswagen has 7 models in the 2026 data. This one ranks 6th of them on combined rating, against a make median of 29 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid at 28 MPG and just behind it is the Audi A5 at 26 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
At 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city, with regular gasoline at $4.47 per gallon, the annual fuel bill of the most efficient version is about $2,500. That is level with the midsize cars median of $2,500.
Tailpipe CO2 is 326 g/mile, 57 g/mile above the midsize cars median of 269.
Rated versions
In the city the most efficient version is rated 24 and on the highway 32, 8 better on the open road. 2 versions are rated for 2026. The most efficient, GTI: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), FWD, gets 27 MPG; the least efficient listed, Golf R: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), AWD, gets 25 MPG, a gap of 2 MPG.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTI: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), FWD | 27 | 24 | 32 | $2,500 | 326 |
| Golf R: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), AWD | 25 | 22 | 31 | $3,300 | 349 |
Year by year
The Volkswagen Golf/GTI is in the data for 8 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Its best combined rating went from 32 in 2019 to 27 MPG in 2026, down 5 MPG. The highest figure came in 2021, at 33. The number of rated versions shrank from 12 to 2. Fuel cost for the best version is $2,500 in the latest data against $2,100 in 2019, 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 | 27 | 25 | $2,500 | 326 | 30 |
| 2025 | 2 | 27 | 25 | $2,500 | 326 | 29 |
| 2024 | 4 | 27 | 23 | $2,500 | 323 | 30 |
| 2023 | 4 | 28 | 23 | $2,400 | 319 | 28 |
| 2022 | 4 | 28 | 23 | $2,400 | 312 | 28 |
| 2021 | 4 | 33 | 26 | $2,050 | 267 | 28.5 |
| 2020 | 4 | 32 | 27 | $2,100 | 280 | 28 |
| 2019 | 12 | 32 | 24 | $2,100 | 274 | 29 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Gasoline | 27 | $3,050 | 2026 |
| Cadillac CT5 | Gasoline | 26 | $3,150 | 2026 |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid | Hybrid | 28 | $2,950 | 2026 |
| BMW 5 Series Plug-in hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | 25 | $3,300 | 2026 |
| Mazda 3 | Gasoline | 30 | $2,250 | 2026 |
Compare and rank
Rankings: Midsize cars, Gasoline, Volkswagen, Gasoline midsize cars.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.