Used 2014 Volkswagen Golf Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2014 Golf, so we've included reviews for other years of the Golf since its last redesign.
Great ride
lspeed1983, 07/04/2012
2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car on 01/31/2012. The car now has 5.8K on the clock, so it's past it's first stage break-in-period. I'm now averaging 39.7K overall in mixed driving, but can easily hit 48 MPG cruizing at 72 MPH @ just under 2K RMPs. I can't believe how powerful it feels while still being so fuel efficient. The shifter feels solid and well weighted, the clutch is light without being too light, and the steering is direct / tracks well. The car as a whole is vastly superior to anyother eco compact non-lux car also evident in it's simple yet top-notch interior. For pure driving excitement the GTI wins hands down, but the TDI is a nice compromise that leaves me with no regrets.
TDI best diesel available (better than EPA)
Richard Marks, 01/29/2016
2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Now that I am in the middle of wondering what will happen to VW over the "scandal", I would not trade, sell, nor return my car (even for a refund of full purchase price). It has been a stellar car and, even if green-weenies get their panties in a wad over the "scandal", I would keep it, drive it until the "wheels fall off" (likely to be far in excess of 250,000 miles. Excellent mileage, decent comfort, a real towing ability.
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2014 Volkswagen Golf for sale near you
3 of 24 listings
- 2.5L PZEV 4dr Hatchback w/Convenience, SunroofMSRP: $7,184401 mi away
- TDI Diesel 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $8,450729 mi away
- 2.5L PZEV 4dr Hatchback w/Convenience, SunroofMSRP: $9,412785 mi away
See all 24 listings
Room for the Linebacker
rbthatcherjr, 04/03/2014
2013 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 4dr Hatchback w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I purchased this VW Golf TDI in Jacksonville, FL in May 2013 after driving it and inspecting it on a hydraulic rack in dealer's garage. It drives exceptionally well as it exudes this rock-solid feel of German build-quality as well as the odd diesel clatter. The comforts are spartan, but there is more than enough head and leg room for me and my friends. After driving it 11k and experiencing the good dealer support for the car at Osteen VW, I would highly recommend the VW Golf TDI based upon its performance, price, and apparent quality.
So far, so good
graham_line, 07/19/2013
2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
After 15 months and 17000 miles, car still feels like new. Plenty of room for two people and very comfortable on 600-700 mile days. Fuel economy is averaging in low 40s for a highway/city mix.
Drives great, economical. Media interface and customer care, not so good
radsm, 06/15/2012
2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 4dr Hatchback w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
We purchased the Golf TDI to be a solid feeling, fun to drive, high mileage commuter car. It has all off those attributes. It gets 40mpg combined highway and city. It's much zippier than my Passat V6, and is solid and well-built. The media interfaces, however, are very buggy. For instance, I pug in my iPhone and am listening to a track, when the bluetooth pairs with the phone. On that event, the multimedia interface dies and no sound comes out until I unplug the iPhone and re-plug it back in. This and other annoying bugs make the navigation/multimedia package a very bad deal. Customer CARE will not pass along bug reports to the QA department for fixing, so don't expect it to work ever.
Everything was going OK until.....
jemartin928@gmail.com, 05/17/2016
2013 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I really liked this car, aside from some minor annoyances - silver tab on vent falling off and disappearing, knob to adjust mirror breaking off. Until I had a big issue that pretty much led to me having to get rid of it. I noticed in February of this year that my car had condensation on the insides of the windows... I was perplexed how there was moisture inside my car, but we had some rainy days so I attributed it to that. Fast forward to a weekend when my boyfriend tells me my car smells funny. I agreed it did smell a little, but blamed it on my pugs etc. Arriving at our destination he starts trying to find the source, upon lifting up my floor mats he finds that the right side floor boards are SOAKED. I'm in shock, thinking it was from recently getting my car detailed etc. Come to find out over the next two weeks and two trips to VW my sunroof drains are directing water - not outside my car - but directly into my car. My car started smelling like a disgusting swamp. The first trip they say they cleared them should be good - but they can't help me get the water out that is now pooling in half my car. "they don't do that". I take it to a detailer who tells me the whole carpet needs to be pulled out and replaced. I'll spare you the rest of this story but it's a smelly nightmare. Ultimately I get a new carpet and it still has a smell - I realize - now there is some water showing up under my spare tire, under the trunk. No clue where this is coming from. VW says the drains are clear. Needless to say I had this car for 3 years and just traded it in this weekend, it's given me so much anxiety in the last few months. VW states they cleared the drains on my 40K mileage per the handbook - but it wasn't on my print out... GET YOUR SUNROOF DRAINS CHECKED. This could happen to you!
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Does What You Need
bigal11, 11/01/2014
2013 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
34K miles. I love the agility and solid planted feel of this car. Made in Munich, much more substantial feel than my '12 Jetta. Great power delivery. Average 40mpg. Gets 48 @65, 39 @ 80, 36 in town. Prefer these cloth seats to Jetta's "pleather". I have little to complain about except this DSG tranny. My wife thinks it is unsafe, and I can't argue much. There's a 1-2 second lag before anything happens at takeoff which really throws your timing off compared to anything else you've driven. Also, Beware!! the $500+ tranny service every 40k miles. I really regret this purchase and would gladly trade it for the 6sp.
Extremely Reliable
David Kay, 03/31/2015
2013 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I own a 2013 Golf TDI. Bought it in Jan. 2014 with 9,000 miles. It's now March 2015. I have put about 13,000 miles on it in that time. Not one service call. Not one single issue. Not one broken part. Not one headache. Not one single problem. (i sure hope I don't jinx myself). The car just works and goes and goes. The car is well built. Super quality and tremendous build quality. Not one single nightmare, not one single issue. Nothing. The car just works. Its such a pleasure to drive. I'm 6'1 about 250lbs and was considering on bumping up to the Touareg TDI , but I am so scared because this car just doesn't have any issues. Super happy with this vehicle. Highly recommend.
Great car . . . BUT
volkswagon123, 06/13/2012
2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 4dr Hatchback w/Sunroof, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I love my VW Golf Diesel, BUT . . . the navigation system is faulty (tells you to get off the highway before your exit, turn right when you need to go left) and the FM radio song display shows only a few characters at a time (e.g. Jumpi; ng Jac; k Flash). There's no problem with the display while using satellite radio, CDs or an iPod. I researched both problems with the dealer and also called VW customer service about the FM radio display. They admitted these are problems, so if navigation or FM song display are important to you, then you need to look for a different car.
Love it... emissions and all.
Rockasaurus, 08/04/2015
updated 07/05/2017
2012 Volkswagen Golf 2.0L TDI 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
Three years later, "clean diesel" scandal and all, I still love this car. PROS: --The handling, suspension and brakes are excellent. You won't mistake it for a GTI, but it's sporty enough to be entertaining on a twisty road. --Acceleration, while not spectacular, is brisk enough to keep me out of trouble. Diesels are torque monsters, so you drive differently. As all of the oomph happens below 2500 RPM, there is no point in winding to the redline. The low end torque is great for city driving, but not so much on a twisty back road. --The interior layout is incredibly versatile. My two teenagers fit comfortably in the back (even on long trips). With the rear seats down, the cargo area becomes cavernous. I can't imagine ever buying another sedan. --Fit and finish are exceptional, and no other economy car feels this solid or substantial. Doors "thunk" when you close them, and noise isolation is excellent. Interior materials are high class and feel substantial. Ignore the VW logo on the steering wheel and you'd be hard pressed to differentiate the interior from an entry-level Audi. --And of course... the amazing fuel economy. I consistently average 44 MPG... COMBINED without making any special effort to do so. Tank range is over 600 miles; my bladder gives out long before my fuel supply does. I suspect (hope?) that the environmental damage that I'm causing by spewing nitrogen oxides is offset by the reduction in CO2 emissions. CONS: --Limited interior storage. To make room for the E-brake, the armrest storage bin is small and nearly useless. --The HVAC controls are almost impossible to read from the driver's seat, which is a stupid ergonomic mistake. Anyhow, most cars at this price point have climate control. --Mediocre electronics. The touchscreen and audio interface, while adequate, are well behind the state of the art. The interface with my iPhone is finicky and hasn't kept up with the many ways to listen to content (Spotify, podcasts, etc). The absence of a USB port (Until 2016, VW required a proprietary cable) is particularly annoying. --The driver's seats are weirdly articulated for my long torso, hunching me forward even with the lumbar cranked all the way up. I fixed this by removing the seats and stuffing a foam pad under the upholstery (takes about 45 minutes per seat). Now the seats are just about perfect. --Diesels don't like cold weather and I live in the upper Midwest. It takes a long time for the car to warm up on very cold mornings. The heated seats mitigate the sting considerably, however. The "cons" are really minor nits to pick. I absolutely love this car, and I'm dragging my feet on selling this car back to VW until I see what the "fix" does to performance and fuel economy. As is, I would be perfectly happy driving this baby until the wheels fall off.
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