Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf has a history going back to the 1974 VW Rabbit, which was always known as the Golf in Europe. The Golf helped kick off the hatchback segment in the U.S., and VW was always a leader in economy cars that were also fun to drive. The seventh-generation Golf hatchbacks provided brisk performance, up-to-date technology, and affordable utility in a space-efficient package. The final year for the Golf in the U.S. was 2021, but the platform lives on as the Golf GTI and Golf R for those who want a performance-oriented hatchback.
Explore the evolution of the Volkswagen Golf
Get our expert take on used Volkswagen Golf models, or view year-by-year changes.
Seventh generation Volkswagen Golf
For the final generation of the basic Golf hatchback, Volkswagen produced a car that performed as well as prior generations of the upscale Golf GTI. By the end of production, the Golf offered EPA-estimated fuel economy of 33 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
The Golf provides seating for five and a large cargo capacity if you fold down the rear seats. The base engine for later years is a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder, paired with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission, driving the front wheels. Through 2018, the Golf used a 1.8-liter engine and five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.Inside, later model years include a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning with emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert are standard.
Model highlights
Four-door hatchback
1.4-liter turbocharged engine or 1.8-liter engine
Manual or automatic transmission
Front-wheel drive
Seating for five passengers
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2015 - 2021
2021 Volkswagen Golf
Highlights
Final year for the standard Golf in America
No changes for this model year
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2020 Volkswagen Golf
Highlights
Lineup reduced to a single trim level
8.5-inch touchscreen discontinued
Wi-Fi hotspot became standard
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2019 Volkswagen Golf
Highlights
Turbocharged 1.4-liter engine replaced 1.8-liter
New eight-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions
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2018 Volkswagen Golf
Highlights
Wolfsburg Edition and SEL trims discontinued
Available 8.5-inch infotainment system
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2017 Volkswagen Golf
Highlights
Two-door body style discontinued
Adaptive cruise control and automated parking system dropped
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2016 Volkswagen Golf
Highlights
Standard five-inch touchscreen and available 6.5-inch touchscreen introduced
Standard USB port added
Support for Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®
Additional driver-assist features added to Driver Assistance package
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2015 Volkswagen Golf
Highlights
First year of the redesigned seventh-generation Golf
Available as a two-door or four-door
1.8-liter engine
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Reliability
RepairPal gave the Volkswagen Golf an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Volkswagen Golf 26th out of 46 among Compact Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Volkswagen Golf is $459, compared to an average of $453 for Compact Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Volkswagen Golf owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.1 times per year, compared to an average of 1.1 times for Compact Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 10% for the Volkswagen Golf, compared to an average of 12% for Compact Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Jeff Zurschmeide has been an automotive journalist for more than 20 years, covering the new car business as well as motorsports and industry news. He lives in Tillamook, Oregon, at the confluence of great roads, nice weather, and plenty of space for a collection of strange old automobiles.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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