Is the 2021 Volkswagen Golf a good car?
No.
2 of 7checks
- First car: 3 of 5. Turning circle 35.8 ft. Class median 35.4 ft.
- Commuter: $87 a month. Class median $82.
- Seniors: 1 of 3. Front headroom 38.4 in. Class median 39.1 in.
- Off-road: no AWD or 4WD.
- Good buy: 2 rivals beat it on all four.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | Yes | 3 of 4 parts |
| First car | No | 3 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | No | $87 vs $82 a month |
| Seniors | No | 1 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | No | No AWD or 4WD |
| Worth the money | Yes | 1% below predicted |
| Good buy | No | 2 beat it on all four |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the Golf a good family car?
Yes. Passes 3 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 35.6 in | Median 34.7 in | 20 | Yes |
| Rear headroom | 38.1 in | Median 37.3 in | 20 | Yes |
| Cargo behind the last row | 17.4 cu ft | Median 18.7 cu ft | 16 | No |
Is the Golf a good first car?
No. Passes 3 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $23,195 | Median $28,458 | 20 | Yes |
| Horsepower | 147 hp | 119 hp to 207 hp | 20 | Yes |
| Length | 167.6 in | Median 176.0 in | 19 | Yes |
| Turning circle | 35.8 ft | Median 35.4 ft | 20 | No |
| Fuel cost per mile | 10.0 cents | Median 9.4 cents | 19 | No |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the Golf a good commuter car?
No. $87 a month to commute. Class median $82.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $87
- Median of 19 hatchbacks
- $82
- Highway mpg
- 36 mpg, top 47% of 15
Is the Golf a good car for seniors?
No. Passes 1 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 5.4 in clearance | 5.3 to 5.9 in clearance | 13 | Yes |
| Front headroom | 38.4 in | Median 39.1 in | 20 | No |
| Turning circle | 35.8 ft | Median 35.4 ft | 20 | No |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the Golf a good off-road vehicle?
No. No AWD or 4WD.
Is the Golf worth the money?
Yes. Priced 1% below cars like it.
- Price, TSI FWD
- $23,195
- Predicted price
- $23,409
- Gap
- -$214 (-0.9%)
- Model error
- 14% median, 277 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2021 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the Golf a good buy?
No. 2 rivals cost less and beat it on fuel cost, cargo and power.
| Car | Price | Fuel cost per mile | Max cargo | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf TSI FWD | $23,195 | 10.0 cents | 25.4 cu ft | 147 hp |
| Honda Civic LX FWD | $22,000 | 9.4 cents | 46.2 cu ft | 174 hp |
| Honda Civic Hatchback LX CVT FWD | $22,200 | 9.4 cents | 46.2 cu ft | 174 hp |
Compared with 107 trims of other makes, hatchbacks, 2021.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree