2020 Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf/GTI is sold in the U.S. with gasoline power. The EPA lists 4 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 27 to 32 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050 to $2,400 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Compact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 27-32 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 32 / 27 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,050-$2,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 280-327 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 7-7 / 10 |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2020 Golf/GTI costs about $2,050 to $2,400 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,238. Over five years that is about $11,188 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 $1,250 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 MPG. The Golf/GTI sits roughly 1 MPG 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 32 MPG | $2,050 |
| Golf | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 31 MPG | $2,100 |
| GTI | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Manual | Gasoline | 27 MPG | $2,400 |
| GTI | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 27 MPG | $2,400 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2020 Golf/GTI records tailpipe CO₂ of 280-327 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 7-7 out of 10. The EPA classifies it as compact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2020 Golf/GTI up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2020 Volkswagen Golf/GTI overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.