Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit Gas Mileage

Over the years, the Volkswagen Golf’s excellent gas mileage ratings have consistently placed it in the short list of many fuel-conscious car shoppers … with a proviso. The highest VW Golf mileage has been historically achieved in the diesel-powered models. While gas-powered Golfs score highway mileage in the 30 mile per gallon (MPG) range, Golf TDI diesels rank into the mid-40 MPG range on the highway. Consequently, used diesel Golf TDIs are much in demand these days and command remarkable resale values … when you can find them.


But it’s not just about the MPGs. The Golf platform has proven to be quite versatile, with the high-MPG TDIs on the fuel-efficient end of the scale and the venerable GTI and R32 on the sporting side.

The Golf began its run as the iconic VW Rabbit, born in the days of the original gas crises, as the car that would take Volkswagen from its Beetle-roots into the modern world of fuel-efficiency. The Rabbit was rebadged as the Golf for the 1985 model year and returned to the Rabbit nameplate in 2007.

We recently had the opportunity to put the latest Golf TDI through a week-long test drive. Check out our 2010 VW Golf TDI Review:

Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit Gas Mileage: 1979-2010

Year Manf. Model Engine Disp. Fuel Trans. City Hwy
2010 Volkswagen Golf 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 22 30
2010 Volkswagen Golf 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (A6) Auto 23 30
2010 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter D (S6) Auto 30 42
2010 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter D (M6) Manual 30 41
2009 Volkswagen Rabbit 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 21 30
2009 Volkswagen Rabbit 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (S6) Auto 20 29
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (S6) Auto 21 29
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 22 30
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (S6) Auto 22 30
2006 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 37 44
2006 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (S5) Auto 33 44
2006 Volkswagen Golf 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (S6) Auto 22 30
2006 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 24 30
2006 Volkswagen Golf 5 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M5) Manual 22 30
2006 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
2005 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 38 46
2005 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (S5) Auto 32 43
2005 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
2005 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 24 30
2004 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 38 46
2004 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (S5) Auto 32 43
2004 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 24 30
2004 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
2003 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 23 29
2003 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
2003 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 42 49
2003 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (L4) Auto 34 45
2002 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 42 49
2002 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 23 29
2002 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
2002 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (L4) Auto 34 45
2001 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 22 28
2001 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter P (L4) Auto 23 29
2001 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
2001 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (L4) Auto 34 44
2001 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 42 49
2001 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter P (M5) Manual 25 31
2000 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
2000 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter P (L4) Auto 22 28
2000 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter P (M5) Manual 24 31
2000 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (L4) Auto 34 45
2000 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 42 49
2000 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 22 28
1999 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
1999 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 22 28
1999 Volkswagen NEW Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (L4) Auto 34 45
1999 Volkswagen NEW Golf 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 42 49
1999 Volkswagen NEW Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
1999 Volkswagen NEW Golf 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 22 28
1998 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
1998 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 22 29
1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 22 29
1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 40 49
1996 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.9 liter D (M5) Manual 41 49
1996 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 22 28
1996 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 23 30
1995 Volkswagen Golf III 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 23 29
1995 Volkswagen Golf III 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 32
1994 Volkswagen Golf III 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 21 28
1994 Volkswagen Golf III 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 31
1993 Volkswagen Golf III / GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (L4) Auto 21 28
1993 Volkswagen Golf III / GTI 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 32
1992 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 23 28
1992 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 25 32
1991 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 25 32
1991 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 23 28
1990 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 25 32
1990 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 23 28
1989 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 23 28
1989 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.6 liter D (M5) Manual 37 44
1989 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 25 34
1988 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 25 33
1988 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 23 28
1987 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 26 34
1987 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 23 27
1987 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.6 liter D (M5) Manual 36 41
1987 Volkswagen GTI/Golf GT 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 24 27
1987 Volkswagen GTI/Golf GT 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 26 31
1986 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.6 liter D (M5) Manual 37 44
1986 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (A3) Auto 23 27
1986 Volkswagen Golf 4 cylinder 1.8 liter R (M5) Manual 27 34
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter R (A3) Auto 24 27
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 37 46
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter R (A3) Auto 24 27
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter R (M5) Manual 26 32
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter R (M5) Manual 27 34
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 37 46
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter R (M5) Manual 27 34
1985 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 4 cylinder liter R (M5) Manual 26 32
Year Manf. Model Engine Disp. Fuel Trans. City Hwy
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 47 61
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 33
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 33
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 29 42
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 29 42
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 26 36
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 26 36
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 30 43
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 35 44
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 47 61
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 44 57
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 31 45
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 30 45
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 26 34
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 26 34
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 31 43
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 27 36
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 32
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 32
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 27 36
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 43 56
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 48 61
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (A3) Auto 35 44
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 33
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 31 43
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 26 36
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (S4) Auto 50 67
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 29 42
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 43 56
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (A3) Auto 36 47
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (S4) Auto 50 67
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (A3) Auto 36 47
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 43 56
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (A3) Auto 35 44
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 48 61
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 43 56
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 27 36
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 32 45
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 26 36
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 31 43
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 30 43
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 33
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 29 43
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 35
1983 Volkswagen Rabbit Convertible 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 29 42
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 43 59
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 45 58
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (A3) Auto 37 47
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 28 42
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 30 42
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 26 33
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 27 40
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 30 42
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 32
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (A3) Auto 37 47
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 32 49
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 43 59
1982 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 45 58
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 28 42
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 38 56
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 40 54
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 33
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 28 42
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 25 40
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 25 40
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 42 56
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 38 56
1981 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 25 33
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 26 40
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 26 38
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 24 35
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 42 56
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 40 52
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 40 52
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 25 40
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 24 38
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 23 32
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 42 56
1980 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 27 41
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M4) Manual 24 36
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (M5) Manual 24 42
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter (A3) Auto 23 32
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 41 55
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 40 50
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 1 (M5) Manual 26 42
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 1 (M4) Manual 25 38
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M4) Manual 40 50
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D (M5) Manual 41 55
1979 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 1 (A3) Auto 22 32
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D 40 53
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 24 36
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 23 32
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter D 40 53
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 1 25 38
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 1 22 32
1978 Volkswagen Rabbit 4 cylinder liter 26 40

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