2018 Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2018 Volkswagen Golf/GTI is sold in the U.S. with electric and gasoline power. The EPA lists 13 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 24 to 119 MPGe and an estimated annual fuel cost of $650 to $3,300 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Compact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Electric, Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 24-119 MPGe |
| Best / worst combined | 119 / 24 MPGe |
| Annual fuel cost | $650-$3,300 |
| EPA range | 125-125 mi |
| 240V charge time | 5.3-5.3 h |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 309-366 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 3-10 / 10 |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2018 Golf/GTI costs about $650 to $3,300 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,427. Over five years that is about $12,135 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient Golf/GTI configuration saves about $8,250 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of compact cars in this dataset is about 29 MPGe. The Golf/GTI sits roughly 43 MPGe above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-Golf | electric | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Electric | 119 MPGe | $650 |
| Golf | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 29 MPGe | $2,250 |
| Golf SportWagen | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 29 MPGe | $2,250 |
| GTI | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 28 MPGe | $2,300 |
| Golf | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPGe | $2,300 |
| Golf SportWagen | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPGe | $2,300 |
| GTI | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 27 MPGe | $2,400 |
| Golf R | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 25 MPGe | $3,200 |
| Golf Alltrack | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 25 MPGe | $2,600 |
| Golf SportWagen 4motion | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 25 MPGe | $2,600 |
| Golf R | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 24 MPGe | $3,300 |
| Golf SportWagen 4motion | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 24 MPGe | $2,700 |
| Golf Alltrack | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 24 MPGe | $2,700 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2018 Golf/GTI records tailpipe CO₂ of 309-366 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 3-10 out of 10, and an EPA electric range of 125 to 125 miles when running on battery. The EPA classifies it as compact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2018 Golf/GTI up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2018 Volkswagen Golf/GTI overview.
← All Volkswagen Golf/GTI years ← All Volkswagen models
Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.