2021 Volkswagen Golf
2021 Volkswagen Golf Review
- Hatchback design provides lots of room for cargo
- Excellent ride comfort and quiet cabin
- Free scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles
- Lacks safety and convenience features
- Budget tires detract from handling and braking performance
- Mediocre acceleration
- No changes for the final year of production for this Golf generation
- Part of the seventh Golf generation introduced for 2015
In the 1970s, Volkswagen began its transition away from its iconic Beetle to the Golf. More than 45 years later, the 2021 Golf continues as the brand's familiar hatchback. But this is pretty much the end of the line for the car, at least in the United States. Next year, only the redesigned Golf GTI and Golf R (reviewed separately) will make the trip from Germany to our shores. The regular Golf will be discontinued as Volkswagen figures most of us would rather buy an SUV.
There's no grand send-off for the 2021 car. It's still a practical and comfortable four-door hatchback. Remarkably, it remains available with a manual gearbox, if you're into that sort of thing. While there is a certain appeal to a Golf's cloak of invisibility, we think most small-hatchback shoppers would be happier with the Golf GTI or hatchback versions of the Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla. Find out why by reading our Expert Rating below.
Our verdict | |
The Golf is dated but not without positive attributes. It has exceptional ride quality, a quiet interior and excellent fuel economy. And thanks to its well-matched 1.4-liter engine and eight-speed automatic, the Golf is an enjoyable daily companion. But the lack of optional features, downmarket interior plastics and mediocre tires ultimately make the Golf less desirable than more well-rounded competitors. | |
How does the Golf drive? | |
How much you'll enjoy driving the Golf every day depends on what you want out of this little hatchback. The Golf scoots through daily traffic with ease. But under full-throttle acceleration, we recorded a slightly tepid 0-60 mph time of 8.3 seconds, which is slower than the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Hatchback and Hyundai Veloster. However, the Golf's quick-shifting eight-speed automatic makes it one of the smoothest-driving cars in the class. The Golf has earned a reputation for sporty Germanic handling over the years, but there's little evidence of that with the current Golf. The tires are the worst aspect; their lack of grip hurts emergency braking performance as well as handling. Our test Golf needed 132 feet to stop from 60 mph, which is longer than any other small hatchback. | |
How comfortable is the Golf? | |
The Golf has an excellent ride quality over all manner of surfaces. It absorbs even moderate road imperfections with ease and never feels the least bit floaty, even at highway speeds. Praise also goes to the taller sidewalls on the otherwise unimpressive tires. Road and wind noise levels are low. The Golf offers straightforward climate controls and adjustable vents capable of cooling the cabin with ease. We like the standard simulated leather seating surfaces, but seat comfort is mediocre, especially for taller drivers. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The Golf has an uncluttered dash and easy-to-reach controls. The steering wheel controls are a little confusing at first, but previous Volkswagen owners will find them instantly recognizable. The Golf's boxy exterior design provides excellent visibility. There is excellent room for front passengers no matter how tall they are. Rear passengers will find enough knee room and legroom as long as they are under 5 feet 10. Headroom in the back is generous. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The Golf's infotainment interface is pretty lacking. Its smallish 6.5-inch screen looks dated and cannot be upgraded to the newer units you can get in the GTI or the Jetta. Its overall operation leaves a lot to be desired too, as some simple adjustments require multiple menus to select. Other disappointing features are the basic audio system and the single(!) USB port for the entire car. Driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning with emergency braking, and rear traffic alert are standard, but there are no optional packages to upgrade to adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. Those are offered by the Golf's competitors. | |
How’s the storage? | |
In typical hatchback fashion, the Volkswagen Golf offers up a fair amount of cargo capacity for its size. With 22.8 cubic feet on offer, it ranks above the Mazda 3 (20.1 cubic feet) and the Toyota Corolla Hatchback (17.8 cubes). The Civic does offer marginally more room with 25.7 cubic feet. The Golf's rear seats are split 60/40. They fold flat and offer a center pass-through. As an added bonus, the rear-seat release buttons can be accessed from the trunk. Inside, the Golf offers adequate storage from a cubby in front of the shifter, two cupholders and a sizable center console. The door pockets are generous for all passengers and are lined with felt, but not completely, which leaves a hard plastic surface for items to bang into. As far as installing child safety seats, larger ones will likely require sliding the front seat forward. But the anchor points are in plain view and easy to reach. | |
How economical is the Golf? | |
The Golf is reasonably fuel-efficient. The EPA estimates the automatic-equipped model gets 32 mpg combined (29 city/36 highway). We achieved an impressive 36.7 mpg on our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route. That's better than we've seen from the Toyota Corolla Hatchback, Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic. | |
Is the Golf a good value? | |
With the exception of choosing between the standard six-speed manual and an optional eight-speed automatic transmission, there are no options for the Golf. Our automatic-equipped test car stickered for just under $24K, making it less expensive than the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 hatchbacks. Unfortunately for the Golf, those two competitors offer interiors made from higher-quality materials as well as other options, such as upgraded audio systems and extra driver aids, that the Golf doesn't. If you've previously owned a Golf, you might be disappointed to find that Volkswagen has shortened the warranties, in both time and allowable mileage, starting for 2020. Still, the Golf's warranties are fairly standard for the class, and Volkswagen offers two years/20,000 miles of free maintenance. | |
Wildcard | |
The Golf does a fairly good job of impersonating a budget Audi. With a torquey engine, a supple ride and quiet cabin, the Golf packs a lot of refinement into a practical hatchback package. But as competitors embrace the concept of an upmarket small car, the corners VW has cut in recent years become more apparent, especially when you take a critical look at interior materials. There's no denying the inherent goodness of the Golf's chassis or its overall competence and fuel efficiency. With the standard six-speed manual transmission, and maybe a set of better tires, you could have all the refinement the Golf offers, plus a little bit of fun to boot. | |
Which Golf does Edmunds recommend?
Volkswagen Golf models
Choosing a 2021 Volkswagen Golf is easy. It comes one way, with TSI trim and a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder (147 horsepower, 184 lb-ft) engine. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eight-speed automatic optional. Both power the Golf's front wheels. Highlighted features include:
2021 Volkswagen Golf pricing
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Safety
Our experts’ favorite Golf safety features:
- Automatic Post-Collision Braking
- Brings the Golf to a stop as soon as possible after a collision to prevent secondary crashes after airbag deployment.
- Family Guardian Alerts
- Part of Car-Net connected services, Family Guardian sends alerts related to speed, geographic location and curfew time to the Golf's owner.
- Front Assist
- Warns when a potential collision with an object or pedestrian may occur and automatically applies the brakes.
Volkswagen Golf vs. the competition
2021 Volkswagen Golf
2021 Honda Civic
Volkswagen Golf vs. Honda Civic
While the Volkswagen Golf's style is buttoned-down and conservative, like a classic navy blue suit, the Honda Civic is more like bejeweled pink pajamas. You love or hate the way the Civic looks, but it grabs attention either way. But aside from the styling, the Civic is superior in almost every objective way. It's more entertaining to drive and gives you more choice for features. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Honda Civic.
Volkswagen Golf vs. Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 hatchback boasts sleek styling, interior sophistication and entertaining driving dynamics. Plus, an available all-wheel-drive system gives the Mazda an added benefit in regions where rain and snow regularly occur. You do, however, get more overall utility from the Golf. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Mazda 3.
Volkswagen Golf vs. Subaru Impreza
Of this trio of competitors, the Subaru Impreza best matches the Volkswagen Golf's emphasis on function over form. It's got plenty of cargo space, and it comes standard with all-wheel drive for enhanced traction in poor weather. Compared to the Impreza, the Golf is a little more fun to drive, but neither car will wow you like the Mazda 3 can.
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FAQ
Is the Volkswagen Golf a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Volkswagen Golf?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf:
- No changes for the final year of production for this Golf generation
- Part of the seventh Golf generation introduced for 2015
Is the Volkswagen Golf reliable?
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Golf a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Volkswagen Golf?
The least-expensive 2021 Volkswagen Golf is the 2021 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $23,195.
Other versions include:
- TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) which starts at $23,195
- TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $23,995