Used 2017 Volkswagen Golf Consumer Reviews

This is a fantastic automobile

The 2016 Volkswagen Golf TSI S 4-door hatchback equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission is truly a great car. I chose the model without the sunroof for the reason that it costs around $1,000 more for that model, and the sunroof was not worth it for me. Starting with the exterior, the Golf looks sporty yet refined (not as bold as the GTI, yet still retains some sportiness). The standard 15" Lyon wheels look good, and the 195/65 tires transmit almost zero road noise, which makes the ride very quiet and comfortable, especially when coupled with the suspension setup. The four-door model offers plenty of space as well. I am 6' 3", and with the driver's seat in my setting, I have 1.5"-2" of leg room in the back seat, which is more than I have in most sedans which outsize the Golf considerably. The hatchback design also allows for a ton of cargo room, which is great when compared to sedans. The door panels are tight and make a solid "thunk" when closed. The halogen lights on the Golf are good (the lighting package cannot be had on this trim, an $1,100 option) and give you good visibility at night. I was surprised that the signals on the mirrors are LEDs, and the Golf has heated mirrors standard (great for the northern folks). Moving to the interior, the Golf's seating surfaces are a sort of cloth, but it is thick and durable, not like that found in a Toyota or Honda. The steering wheel is the same as the one found in the GTI model, leather-wrapped and having a flat bottom, which is very comfortable and feels great. The gauge cluster is very appealing, with easy-to-read font and a well-spaced layout. The steering wheel controls allow the menus to be navigated easily on the mini-screen between the tachometer and speedometer. This moves me to one of my favorite aspects about the car, and that is the Volkswagen Infotainment System. I have driven many cars (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, Honda, Porsche, and many more) and this is one of the top systems I have ever used. This is because it is simple, yet loaded with useful features that other vehicles lack. For instance, the VW system offers Apple Carplay and Android Auto, which essentially converts the screen to appear just like the phone you are using. It also has a wealth of vehicle information, such as MPGs, a ThinkBlue Trainer (which measures how much fuel the drivers' style saves or loses), and much more. This system arguably works better than vehicles with price tags double or triple of my Golf ($21,495). In the glove box, there are outlets for three SD cards and a CD player as well. In the center stack there are the USB and AUX input jacks for your telephone. The Golf also has three 12V power outlets, one by the E-brake, one in the center arm-rest, and one in the right side of the trunk. This allows for plenty of charging of any devices. The seats in the Golf are not as supportive as those found in the GTI, but they do the job. They are manually adjusting for forward/backward and height, but the backrest is electric for whatever reason (I found that rather odd) However, the overall quality of the interior is good. You can tell the quality of the materials used is economical, but altogether it is pretty good for the price point. Mechanically, the engine in this vehicle was one of the reasons I chose to go with the Golf. For the price point, you get the most power (170 hp, 200 lb-ft tq) and it is fantastic. The engine sounds great when it is revved up to around 5-6 thousand RPMs, and it does not sound annoying like some inline-4 cylinder turbos of today do. The 5-speed manual transmission is great as well, it is smooth, and the clutch is firm, which I like. The windows in the Golf are all auto up and down, and the actuators work well and do not feel/sound cheap at all. Driving the car is a blast. Though it is front wheel drive, there is virtually no torque-steer under full acceleration, and this car takes corners like a champ, despite the 195/65 tires. There are also many different accessories available for the Golf to make it an even better car than I have described it to be here. Overall, I give this car a 5/5 for the power, value, build quality, and overall fit-and-finish.

So Glad I Bought It

This little car is awesome. It's zippy and handles the road like a champ. Plenty of flexible cargo space. Great visibility, plenty of "get-up," fantastic turn radius, great for city driving also good on the highway. Very fun to drive, definitely the best small car I've driven. I was hesitant to buy a brand new car, but this turned out to be well worth it. I often get over 40 mpg on the highway cruising at ~72/mph. In the city I get around 25 mpg so it is a little worse than my cheap old hyundai in the city, but vastly better. The cargo space is not as big as the Jetta but it's more flexible and the car looks a lot cooler. If you are bored by the Civic or Elantra and have an extra ~ $3,000 go for this. UPDATE 6/2018: this car still kicks a$$. I just drove from Toronto to Pittsburgh and back: 45 mpg the whole time, and I always use the lowest grade of fuel. Sometimes I wonder if I could get even better economy from premium gas. So far the only parts I've replaced include the wipers (cost $75 total, had to special order from Bosch) and the cabin air filter ($25). I've had the oil changed twice because the car has some kind of sensor or timer that tells you when to change it. So, my total maintenance cost the last three years has been about $280. The exterior still looks great, everything works well, I really enjoy the carplay feature. The interior has definitely deteriorated a little bit, just normal waer and tear, especially in the driver's seat. I sometimes regreat not getting the leather seats because of that. Anyway, overall, this is one of the best things I've ever bought, I like it more than my house LOL!

Unity

Smooth engine, precise responsive steering, clean tasteful styling, better ride height and visibility won me over from the 2016 Civic. I wanted the lighting package so migrated to the SE which gives you an amazing Fender stereo. Wasn't planning on the driver assist safety package but given the how distractable life can be, and the non-obtrusive nature of this German version, I decided to fork out the extra $1500 in hopes it may safe my life in some way. The seats don't look impressive but are very comfortable and supportive. The new Honda Civic is their best version yet with lots of features on the touring. The best way to describe the difference between these two cars is the German car reflects the near perfection of unity between car and driver and the Japanese car reflects excellent car parts put together well but you still know it's a puzzle and not a photo. The Apple car play is a nice feature. Wind noise is exceptionally low. Not a fan of Mazda, but always rated high by professional reviewers.

Built to drive and have fun

It took a 10 minute drive to fall in love with this car.... and I've driven a LOT of cars. I didn't want to have anything to do with Volkswagen --- I wanted something that had a more reliable reputation -- but I suddenly find myself a devoted follower. The car is built to drive, to have fun and enjoy. Somewhere between the paddle shifters (makes the car FAST), technology and lighting packages, I just lost it. And I'm still loving it! Update: After a year of owning the Golf, I still look forward to driving. No problems with the vehicle. More and more I appreciate the lighting package, frequently use the parking assist (parallel parking) feature and love apple-play for podcasts / audiobooks. A great package in a small car. The difference between my wife's top of the line Toyota Highlander (a very nice $50k car) and the Golf is striking -- the Golf is built for the driving experience, where you can easily see, maneuver and accelerate in a way that, in my opinion, out-performs any of Toyota's cars. I'd buy it again.

Impressed

Great fuel mileage, very sturdy on the highway. Previous GTI owner (1989 European model)...performance with manual is better than the 8valve GTI. Shifting is a bit vague, and clutch release is very short. This Golf continues to be fun to drive, extremely economical, and after almost 16,000 miles, still surprising. I am averaging over 35 mpg combined, and often see over 40 mpg going to work--no traffic and hitting no traffic lights. Have considered trading for a new truck, but the trade value is very low in my opinion. The clutch is finally feeling good--a gearbox support installed by the local VW speed shop made all the difference. I was hesitant, but was assured they would remove it if I didn't like it. The guys at the dealership car wash even commented on how much better the clutch felt. Perhaps I drive like a grandma, but I am greatly exceeding the EPA estimates for fuel mileage. As far as handling and interior quality--the car feels as tight as it did new. If you are looking for a car that is relatively fun to drive, but do not want to fork out the money for A GTI or Focus ST, the Golf is a superb alternative at a fraction of the price.

Mixed bag, love the car, but hate repair record

I bought a TSI SE with the lighting and safety packages late in 2016. I really debated just getting the wolfsburg but really liked the lighting package and the fender. I regret that decision daily. Been in the shop a total of 14 days from 200 miles to 2700 so far. EPC light on twice, car went into limp mode. Sunroof leaked from day ONE. Evidently their plastic sunroof channels in GTIs and Golfs crack over time. Google it, or check out the link below for the technical bulletin. With all the issues I have had I honestly am almost about done with the car, but can't trade it in cause the value sucks. 28k sticker, paid just over 23k, now only worth 16k trade, great cars lol. I will say that the dealers worked with me to make things right and VW corporate did follow up with me all the time. I asked for a new car or give me my money back, they declined both. I then asked for something less and they accepted. So while this has become a love/hate relationship at least VW did something. I dealt with Honda and their VCM vibrations on their 6 cyl and they do nothing for you. So my verdict is still out, fun little car to drive, love the seats, love the radio and straight forward manual hvac controls. Their LKAS sucks though, FYI, Honda's implementation of that system is much better. We'll see how this progresses, but short of declaring a lemon law claim don't think I can afford to trade it in at that sort of loss. So my message is buyer beware here for VW, fun cars but get ready for a few possible trips to the dealer.

My third Volkswagen Golf

I turned in my 2014 Golf TDI (diesel powered) and bought my new 2017 TSI (gas powered). The new car is better than the old one in almost all respects. The engine is smooth and powerful. I don't miss the diesel vibration at all. It's hard to imagine anyone wanting more power. The new Golf feels less nervous and handles with greater precision than my old Golf. I also fit a little better behind the steering wheel. Trunk space is a little bit bigger than in my old Golf. I purchased the below trunk floor organizer accessory. This reduces overall trunk room somewhat, but provides hidden storage for tools and small valuable items. The radio, while very functional, does not sound as good as the radio in my 2014 Golf or in my old 2002 Golf. But it is adequate. The car driving position is a little bit low, but I have gotten used to it. I ordered the base "S" model, which is fairly well equipped, but missing heated seats and a few other items. I bought the "S" because I did not want a car with a sunroof (I'm tall). The ventilation system is exceptional, probably the best I've had in any car so far. There's just something about the way it moves air through the car. The seats are OK. They could be a little more comfortable, but they do not give me backaches. The car is a very easy car to drive, especially in city traffic.

GTI Lite

Have had a 2017 TSI Wolfsberg w 6 spd AT for a month and 800 miles now. Still a little too new for good evaluation but so far I'm thinking this is gonna be a great car. Nice thing about the '17 Wolfie is that it is better equipped than the any of the 2016 TSIs. Comes standard with 16" Alloys, Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitor with rear traffic alert, automatic headlights, and such niceties as a power sunroof, heated front seats, keyless access & start, and rain sensing wipers. Although I have desired a GTI for the last 6 years, I realized the extra performance was something I would benefit from or use < 5% of the time & simply couldn't justify the added cost. Got the Wolfburg for $20,830 + T & L; that was about $10K less than a GTI with DAP which was a must for me. But of course to be perfect (at least for me) it needs about $1,500 in accessories such as larger rear sway bar, Auto dim Homelink mirror, pop up hatch, LED tails & headlights; and of course better tires - upgraded to Michelin Premiers for best suite of AS characteristics for Pacific Northwest weather. Even with these upgrades it is still a steal compared to the GTI. Items such as pop up hatch, larger RSB & Homelink mirror not available on GTI at any price so I would added them to a GTI also. Only weak point I have detected so far is the OEM lights are quite poor. It's a shame that the Lighting Package was discontinued as an option for all Golfs except high end GTI models. This Golf replaced a much loved 2011 Honda Fit -- very similar utility, almost identical interior & exterior dimensions, but quite a significant boost in performance & comfort over the Fit. The best brief description I can give for the Wolfsburg edition is "GTI Lite" or "Honda Fit On Steroids". So far in love with my Wolfie, but with < than 1,000 miles so far I've got my fingers crossed for reliability compared to many Hondas & Subies I have owned. 1-8-18: First Year Update: My Golf now has 7,800 miles on it and has done a great job hauling my butt and stuff. I did the fore mentioned upgrades including replacing the poor head & tail lights with Euro spec aftermarket units - mucho better! I'm averaging 35 mpg highway & 28 in Seattle traffic which pretty good but a bit less than I had hoped. So far it has needed two repairs: fuel door was sticking & replaced under warranty and blind spot warning signal on drivers mirror just stopped workingwas due to snow covering sensor after heavy snowfall. Overall I'm happy with car, but unfortunately it the minor repairs tend to support the impression that this car is gonna have more problems then my previous Hondas and Subarus. 6-7-18: running trouble free past 7 months. Highway mileage has improved to 37 (ave speed 65 mph) 1-9-19 Update: Still enjoying the ride but not the leaky sunroof. Was repaired under warranty and no longer leaking. 7-9-19: No issues the past 6 months, still happy with it except I have a hankering for slightly larger car that uses less fuel. Looking hard at a Kia Niro PHEV 10-2019: Past 3 months have been trouble free with my Golf , no issues. But our city driving had more than doubled due to becoming "taxi service" for our granddaughter & a friend. We decided we would like something a bit larger and better city fuel economy. So we traded Golf for Kia Niro PHEV.

Good car for daily commuter

At first I dismissed VW since I could not get features I needed with manual transmission. VW came up with Wolsfburg edition. This was perfect configuration. I loved the car when I bought it. Very smooth, you ride it like on rails, quiet too - unlike Civic and Mazda 3 I testdrove. Has enough power and good pickup on low RPMs. I thought I got luxury car for a price of econobox. Still happy with the car 15K and almost two years later. Ride is smooth and car is quiet, in fact first car I did not add additional noise insulation to. Initially had some vibrations around 1200 RPM on higher gears but I learned to avoid that area. Have not tried GTI but this car is good enough for me. I do my own maintenance and certified oil is on expensive side especially if you are after newer VW 504.00/507.00 standard. Dealer will use older VW 505.00 and that has a potential to create more intake valve deposits. Expensive cleaning will be needed then, reported time is 60-100K miles. Just something to keep in mind.

My umpteenth VW and probably the best yet!

My first car was a '71 beetle and I've been drinking the Wolfsburg kook ade ever since. I've had an odd Camry or Accord in there, even a couple Audis and the awesome 2002 VW Passat W8 wagon. I have a '14 BMW 335i M Sport at the moment. Awesome car. Yet I find myself enjoying driving the Golf (5M has a lot to do with that) as much as the Bimmer in everyday driving. Quality is fantastic as are features, ride, handling, acceleration, drivability. I worried I'd miss the 6th gear my last '12 Sportwagen TDI had but truth is I was often skipping gears in that car anyway, especially 5th--just shifted straight from 4-6. Even in this car there's easily enough power to go from 3-5. And 3rd gear is more useful than ever before. Would a 6M help 0-60? Probably. But 5 gears in everyday driving is plenty. Even a little less taxing. Anyway for the money (I got mine for just over $19,200 excl TTL) so considering that is less than 1/3 what the Bimmer was brand new, this car is a bargain. Update--I'm still satisfied with this car in every way. It still looks, drives and feels like new with 12K miles. I also find myself driving this car 6/7 days over my Bimmer as I just really enjoy it (and like keeping miles off the Bimmer.) Also keep in mind the extraordinary value... the Wolfsburg Edition offers virtually all of the SE features for several thousand less. Finally, one thing I didn't realize I'd appreciate as much as I do is the collision avoidance. The car has warned me a few times of some close-calls and it was spot on. One time it even braked for me when a dog ran in front of me!

Fantastic Buy!

Purchased the SE model with automatic transmission. It's a blast to drive. The car rides like a luxury car and is super quiet at highway speeds. The doors close with a solid thud and overall the car feels more expensive than it is. There are w lot of small touches that are really cool like the cooled glovebox, carpet lined bin in the doors, and rear view camera that deploys from the logo when in reverse. The fender audio system is amazing! The car looks small on the outside but is very roomy for the class. Handling is exactly what you'd expect from a Volkswagen. It handles corners with ease. Plenty of power. Mileage is at 28 mpg or so but I have a lot of stop and go traffic and the car isn't broken in yet. My only gripe is the transmission. It can be a bit clunky at lower speeds as Edmunds says. It's eager to up shift and seems to have trouble finding the right gear when coming to a stop. There is of course the option to shift yourself. It's not enough to stop me from loving the car but something to consider. Perhaps a transmission reprogram would help. Can't comment on reliability yet. Overall this car would be a great buy for many people but always seems to get overlooked by all the Civics, corollas, and even jettas.

Love this car

Test drive this car first. If you are more of a sports car person, look at the GTI. But if you just want a economical car that is absolutely fun to drive, test drive the 2017 Golf. I looked at the Mazda 3, Ford Focus hatchback. No comparison. I test drove the Ford focus and practically fell asleep it was soon boring, had much less to offer, weak engine, AND COST MORE! I never could get past the Mazda 3's looks. I am so happy with my Golf. The quality and common sense functionality make the Golf feel like a much more expensive car.

Happy Golf Girl

Great hatchback, comfortable, peppy, fun to drive and smart looking. My Wolfsburg edition came loaded, didn't need any additional options.

Vault solid and great value.

This car drives sublimely. Quiet, stable and agreeably fun. Excellent highway MPG (40) OK city (25). Manual takes a little getting used to after precise 6 speed manual 14 Mazda6. Fit and finish are great. Wish the aluminum wheels were a little less boring on the S, but the suspension is way more refined than anything close price-wise. Inside, its all logical and nothing feels base. I got this with a huge discount off MSRP and in many ways it is like a 2005 Acura TSX I owned for 5 years. I hope that the reliability is good and that VW gets on track following the scandal. This is an icon of simple design refinement. Now at almost 12,000 miles, I continue to love the Golf. Masterful in city traffic and mileage has improved, great suspension and no problems. What a deal! At 26,000 miles I really like this car....solid, less is more, fun to drive and great space. Superb smaller car for a big city. No problems.

The "Can Do" car

I wanted a GTI, but I didn't want to spend the money on the GTI, specifically the GTI SE. I drove a competing car ( Kia Forte SX) and a total outlier ( Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti) before buying my Golf. Having owned a Focus before and other cars in this class, I was fairly set on the VW family. I have not been disappointed a year in to the car. As Car and Driver once wrote, the Golf is the Mercedes (or more appropriately the Audi) of the small car set. This car does everything fairly well and nothing poorly. The driving dynamics (ride, handling) of a German car, even if it's built in Mexico as all US Golfs are, cannot be denied and the competitors get close, they never get it just right. It's a cruiser when you want, it's willing when you want to push it. I replaced the standard 16 inch wheels with 17 inch wheels and Michelin Pilot tires. A bit more noise and a slightly harsher ride are worth the trade-off of this improvement. The hatch holds a great deal of stuff when you need it to and the Wolfsburg trim really lacks nothing. Yes, the seats are V-Tex ( VW's name for vinyl) but most people won't know and they are comfortable (and heated in this trim). The only complaints are the lack of HID headlights and that the air conditioning seems a bit weak on anything less than Max when it's really hot. I'd probably spend the extra on a GTI if I did it again, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy my Golf. Update 2/9/20: My initial impressions of the car still hold up. I wanted a manual transmission, but it took me a long time to get used to the clutch and especially the "Hill Hold". The clutch is my least favorite part of this car, I'd get the automatic if I did it again, especially now that I bought a "fun" car with manual. But other than that, this is a great car. It's fine around town and on long drives. It's comfortable and quiet and competent in nearly any situation. I've gotten as high as 39 mpg all highway, but average 28 in a 50/50 mix of driving with a lot hills and traffic, with some "spirited" driving when the urge strikes. The Golf is a willing partner when you feel like having fun. With the 1.8T engine, the basic Golf is 3/4 of GTI at 2/3 the price. If you want, there's huge aftermarket that will pretty much turn it in to a GTI without the upfront cost. Besides the clutch being a bit weird for my taste, I've had zero issues with this car mechanically and it's been completely reliable . I'm sad that the buying public shuns small, normal cars that aren't pseudo-SUV's or crossovers because this a very good car, one of my favorites out of the 20 I've owned. Also a shame that besides dropping the 1.8T 175 hp engine for the 1.4T 150hp engine in the Golf after 2017 and then allegedly as I write this, only bringing the Golf over to the US in GTI form for 2021.

Love the Golf TSI. Traded in for 2019 GTI Autobahn

Bought a loaded (except Nav) Golf 4door TSI SE in March 2016 and love it with some reservation. I think the value of this car exceeds the competition but they are catching up (eg. Mazda). The build quality mimics Audi and has performed well. My dealership service department (Coastal VW) has also been good to date but the Sales department has gone downhill. I owned the car for 3 years driving very low miles (20,500). My only complaints was the EPC error with engine hesitation which has occurred about 10 times before it was resolved with a software update. My other complaint (minor) is the automatic transmission down shifting could be smoother. If you are looking for a hatchback you must include the VW Golf TSI in your test drive line-up as the car is a good value. I got a good trade in value. Purchased a 2019 GTI Autobahn in Silver White Metallic with the new VW warranty offering (6/72k). Got a great deal and the Sales experience at Kelly VW was excellent!

Too many rattles - sold at a loss

All true below, but this car was so poorly made -- five times at dealer in year and a half to correct squeaking, creaking, cracking noises from panoramic sunroof. Could never get it resolved, and despite it being a fun car to drive, overall feeling of driving a worthless piece of junk. Had to sell, and also thanks to VW, residual value dropped like a stone. Lost all my equity from previous trade-in so had almost no value now compared to loan payoff. VW in the US sucks. Maybe they're built better in Europe but this is my second VW made on this side of the ocean and it was again a rattling piece of junk made with poor quality control. ========================= This is my third VW and I love the idea of the brand, i.e., an affordable, well-made, fun-to-drive regular European car available in the US. This segment simply doesn't exist here -- we get Japanese efficiency boxes, highly reliable but dull; or expensive European luxury like Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Europeans have access to ordinary cars that perform well, carry 4-5 people, are well made, economical, and not "luxury" (VW, Peugeot, Seat etc). VW owns that entire segment in the US, so why they screw up so often with scandals and shoddy workmanship are beyond me. That said, despite the outrageous TDI error, I tried VW again after being happy with a Civic for 8 years (great car, not too fun to drive). I wanted economy this time as well, plus good seating for 4, plus more fun. New Golf seemed the trick, especially with the new turbo 4 replacing the ridiculous 5-cylinder knockbox. The Golf is built on the MQB platform, same as Audi A3 and other VW/Audi compacts. So with the turbo 4, it feels like an A3, which is fantastic. It is a traditional compact car so it feels a little old-fashioned inside, especially if you're used to the open, sweeping feel of a Civic interior. You can see VW tried very hard with lots of quality interior components -- soft-touch dashboard, leather steering wheel and shift knob, carpeted storage area in door -- yet still they messed up. The "panoramic sunroof" squeaked and rattled relentlessly for a year; had to bring it to dealer 3-4 times; once they replaced the entire glass panel (I was told the glass had been poured incorrectly) and the last time VW finally sent out a service bulletin and had a fix, a sealing tape the dealer installed that should muffle the squeaks. Still, it came back, and now I used some rubber deal lubricant I read about on a VW forum. In any case, VW really seems to shoot itself in the foot -- offering a great car at a good price, but with quality control issues that make it really unpleasant and seem like a cheap piece of junk. Given the annoyance after only one year, I'm watching with hesitation to see what breaks next. I wish I could like and trust VW, and it seems insane that owning an entire segment in the US, they would make so many mistakes. Consumer Reports is not happy with Golf's long-term reliability, so while the car is fun to drive and has many exceptional characteristics, I don't have the feeling of confidence and security in the purchase. Time will tell. I'll hope to update the review in a year or so with good news.

Golf is a much better car than the Jetta

The basic S model in the 4 door with cloth interior is a great value. The beige interior with brushed aluminum trim looks very upscale and the materials feel expensive. The 15 inch wheel contribute greatly to ride comfort over the broken pavement and pot holes and the car still tracked well. It feels solid and well put together. Its quiet and smooth and easy to see out of. I drove the Jetta Sport in a five speed and I was disappointed. That particular Jetta also seems to have been abused as a demo so it might not be representative. Then I drove the Golf 6 speed auto and what a difference. If VW offered a 6 speed manual in the TSI I would have no hesitation in buying one. As it were, I am very tempted with the 6 speed auto. The paddle shifter on the steering wheel gave it a sporting touch and they also worked very well. Everything about the car is spot on!

His name is Mulligan

First, I bought a 2016 Golf with the large sunroof that always leaked. VW bought that car back, and I selected a 2017 w/o a sunroof that had been a dealership loaner. This car is perfect for 90% of drivers, 90% of the time. Solid on the road, very fast with the 1.8 turbo. Mileage is mid 30's on almost every tank. A few long road trips touched 42 mpg. Massive cargo room with the rear seats folded down. Plans are to keep Mully for 10 years, I see no reason to look for anything new. Simply a wonderful driving machine. 4/20/21 Update - just hit 60,000, and just paid off the note! Potholes in Michigan led to some recent suspension work, but otherwise the car is rock solid. Twice now I've needed to drive the 1600 miles round trip to South Carolina and back, the car makes the journey so easy. Plus it hauls a ton of stuff. I'll say it again - this car is perfect for 90% of drivers, 90% of the time. 10/2023 Update - at 109,000 miles. Have been battling a coolant leak issue, something to do with a bad gasket in the water pump. VW is reimbursing, but they should as it's been repaired 3 times. An annoying squeak around the glove box during colder months. Otherwise, still a terrific vehicle I plan to own for another 4-5 years.

Love to drive it

I look forward to going anywhere knowing i get to drive if there and back 😊 The automatic in shift mode ( paddle or stick) is just as fast as the manual and faster if you don't power shift. 0 to 30 is really fast ! My wife likes to tool around in auto drive mode and is more than happy with the response. Feels like i am in an Audi. Interior is high quality. This baby will do until I get the wherewithall to buy an S3. (Audi)👍

Fantastic Value

Purchased this car because I needed something both comfortable and fun to drive. I was initially shopping for a GTI, but opted for the Golf instead because it has more comfortable seats. Very happy with my purchase after 14 months and 6000 miles. The car is a pleasure to drive; the 5 speed is a lot of fun to shift and the turbocharged engine provides plenty of power for passing and merging. The steering is precise and the car handles well. The suspension is well balanced, being stiff enough to provide secure handling, yet soft enough to absorb pot hole impacts. Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple Car Play all work well. The car has two screens, one in the center console and the other in the center of the instrument cluster. Having two screens comes in handy when you are using Apple Car Play for navigation and need to, at the same time, change radio stations or call back a recent number. Note for car buyers suffering from hip/back pain. This car has very well placed pedals, that is, the brake pedal is significantly more to the right than it would be in a Honda. This means that you stretch less to reach the brake pedal. For some people this will translate into less hip and/or back pain.

Nice little city car

2016 golf looks very clean, distiller almost. In general the ride is very enjoyable: plush and quite. Ride wise my two biggest complains are: cornering and handling uneven pavement on stock 15" wheels/tire is entirely unpredictable, the car tilts and bobs diagonally at highway speed at times. The second complain is down-shifting of an automatic transmission: especially at lower gears, when downshift occurred the sound and the vibration comming from transmission is to much, almost feels as some sort of malfunction.

Fantastic Hatchback!

I got my 2017 Golf S in April 2018 & it has been fantastic! I’ve put 20,000 miles on it in 2 years with no problems. Living in Oklahoma, I’ve driven it to Cleveland, OH, then to Phoenix, AZ & Riverside, CA. This car is very comfortable on the interstate, back highways & city streets. I’ve been surprised by power this Golf has. While I averaged 39.7 on the trips, it’s been getting 30-35 mpg combined, depending on traffic. Wind also has an outsized effect on mileage. It is extremely easy to park. Even though most people think it would be, cargo space is not an issue. I put a new lawn mower, still in the box, in the back without having to put the back seats down. I grew up with a ‘67 VW Westphalia Camper van, ‘70 Squareback wagon & ‘74 Beetle that I bought from my folks. Since then I’ve owned a German spec ‘76 Scirocco, ‘99 Passat, now the ‘17 Golf. Of all these, while the others were right for that time, the Golf is by far the most utilitarian & most efficient.

Quick and Comfortable

The 2016 Golf is small, agile, quick, and comfortable, except for one small thing (four small things, actually): the doors. After having driven 2-door GTIs for thirty-one years, shoe-horning myself into the Golf is a challenge. Before buying the Golf, I paid CarMax $800 to ship a two-door 2016 GTI across country since I'd been happy with GTIs. But the ride on the 18-inch wheels was a lot harsher than on the 17-inch wheels of my previous GTI, so I bought the Golf instead.

1st Month - No buyer's remorse yet - LOL

Got a '16 SE on closeout. Had I been able to get it with a manual, I'd be supremely happy, as I'd say the only flaw in this otherwise fine machine is the odd and irritating shifting of the auto transmission. The computer and I are rarely in agreement. I find it to be over-eager to upshift and then lug (esp. on an incline) at 900 RPM or so, and in so doing, the normally peppy demeanor of the car is lost. It also seems to get confused when coasting, downshifting as one decelerates, only to then think the revs are too high and upshift again, and then back again. This issue aside, I continue to be impressed with the Golf's able handling, surprisingly good noise isolation for such a small car, firm seats, logical controls, clean design and other general German virtues. Just wish I could have gotten the SE's 17" rims and leather seats on the S, OR a manual tranny on the SE. But ultimately my aversion to the S's 15" rims outweighed my desire for a manual transmission (not available on the SE). One year on and, with the only exception of the oddly programmed automatic transmission, I remain very pleased with this car. Took a 2,600 mile road trip this summer, and it proved a worthy travel companion.

Simply BEST in Class!

This will be my 5th VW (4 prior Jetta's 1-Base Model, 1-GLX, 1-GLI & 1-TDI) This is my favorite. Why? Because what you receive for you hard-earned money & in my case the Wolfsburg Edition Golf. I picked up mine yesterday afternoon after ordering the M/T in Tornado Red with Black interior. I'm only 200 miles in, but I'm in love. What's not to like? Peppy engine, solid fuel economy, fun to drive, insane interior quality, excellent internal technology & of course the price. This automobile is pretty loaded overall. The TDI scandal worked in my favor. After returning my vehicle, I received a check on the spot, turned around & gave it back to VW & paid cash for the rest. Oh & right now VW has a $1000 customer loyalty program right now. Consider my review semi-biased, but do yourself a favor & look @ what the 2017 Golf has to offer. It's a winner

Exceptional Golf

This car's handling far exceeded my expectation. Awesome acceleration! Purchased base S automatic in white. Installed aftermarket leather and tinted windows. The car looks fantastic! Got a great deal from VW Royal in San Francisco from James!

Dub Life!

I focused my car search on the Golf to replace my Jeep Patriot. While I appreciated the Jeep's 4WD, the trade-offs in my mileage on my long commute, loud interior, and questionable fit and finish led me to look at a replacement. Having sold Audi's in the past, I was very familiar with the VW and Audi brands and knew that they provided a very high level of fit and finish, and overall quality that I would appreciate on my commute. Although the 2018s had all the additional safety tech available/standard, they looked a bit boring compared to the 2017 SE. Main selling point for me was the Fender audio system and the sunroof, and given the leftover deals on the 17s it worked out very well. Compared to my older Acura ILX, the Golf blows it out of the water in terms of ride quality, NVH, rear seat room, and even the ELS audio system. Fender is 10/10. Cargo space is pretty good, as is rear seat room. It obviously isn't a Passat, but the Golf makes a great all-around replacement for a smaller SUV/CUV like my Jeep. The gas mileage so far has been stellar.

Fantastic Car For The Money

We bought this car 3 years ago and now have about 39k miles. We chose the 2017 Golf Wolfsburg Edition because it included all the advanced safety features - emergency braking, rear cross-traffic warning, etc.- in a low-cost car. The bonuses: Incredible performance, keyless entry/ ignition, and a sunroof included! This is a highly refined car as VW has been making it for so long. It is quiet and handles well, yet the suspension is not at all harsh. There are a few features that the German engineering makes confusing, but ultimately you realize is better than the standard way of doing things. Downside? You pay for all that performance with gas milage below other small cars. We average 27mpg; 31-32 on longer trips. Not bad, but not great, either. On the other hand, we're fairly aggressive drivers. (Freeways = 75-80 mph....) The only problems we've had are that a headlight and license plate bulb gave out at 36k miles. The squareback design gives quite a bit of storage (especially with the split fold-down backseat) compared to other hatchbacks. An excellent car. Highly recommended!

The perfect car for me!

I've always liked small cars but this has a large car feel where you want it. My 1st new car was a 77 Rabbit. This has the same quickness and agility of the old one. This one is much more powerful and quiet. Both are so much fun to drive. Parking is a snap. Plenty of room for me the Mrs., the 50 lb dog and the grandson in the car seat. I was shocked to see my gas mileage was well above government ratings when I wasn't playing Mario Andretti. Highway I'm getting 40+. I just love this car...… I wanted a manual originally like my 77 rabbit but the Mrs. convinced me to get the AT. You won't be disappointed. PS... It has a CD player, a huge plus for an old man like me.

Transmission dead Engine misfiring 4yrs old

A ten thousand dollar repair on a 4 yr old well maintained vehicle is ridiculous. Volkswagen Canada, no response local Barrie dealer, no response.

4th vw

Golf Wolfsburg White with Manual tran. Great car. Replaced regular golf that was 3 weeks old and totlaled. Prior 03 Passat 1.8t wagon. Prior 08 Passat 2.0t sedan. Always had good comfort reliability and performance in VW. Apple car play is great. Nice car inside and out. Bought at Fussilo vw in Schenectady Bill Watson was most helpful and a pleasure to work with (twice due to other new one being totaled, no injuries )

buy used golf, not new.

if you are in the market for a Volkswagen golf, find a well cared for 2016 tsi s ,instead of a 2019. vw ruined the golf when they replaced the wonderful 1.8 engine with the 2.4 litre. the transmission is also less desireable.other than that it is still a quality hatchback. I have owned the 2016 model for four years and it rides,drives and performes as well as it did the day I drove it off the showroom floor.in addition ,the car is still rock solid without a squeak or a rattle.good luck finding one.

Amazing Little Car

I've had a love/hate relationship with VW, having owned over 10 since the early 90's. I purchased a 2016 TSI SE in late November 2015 and 15 months later I've only put a hair over 7,000 miles on it. Living in Salt Lake City and finally getting a heavy snow year, the Golf rallied in deep snow but at low and high speeds. Even pulling into an unplowed parking lot with 9" of snow, the car never felt like it was going to get stuck. For 170hp, the car is quite quick with a little turbo lag. But quick accelerating at 90mph to pass interstate traffic is never a problem. At first I didn't notice much of a change in performance between Drive and 'Sport' mode, other than a huge decline in fuel economy. Now it seems like the car is broken in and I've noticed Sport mode working around town - although not nearly as noticeable as my BMW 3 Series or my old Audi A3 Sportback. The car provides a super comfortable ride. At 6'4" tall, I have plenty of head and leg room. My only complaint in the comfort department is that I wish the lumbar support had a bit more adjustability. The suspension is great, even at high speed cornering, and always feels planted. A/C is decent, but VW isn't known for it's A/C. However the seat heaters and heating overall is amazing. The small engine gets up to temperature quick so you're feeling the effects kick in, even on short commutes. Shifting... That would be the Achilles heel of this car. I find the lag in upshift between 2nd and 3rd to be frustrating at times, but an easy solution is to hit the + paddle on the steering wheel and manually shift up when the RPM's are high. I have to say I'm glad to have pulled the trigger on the 2016 SE model before the 2017's hit the market with a reduced number of choices. Although the same car, my neighobor's 2017 Golf Wolfsburg Edition is essentially the same car - less the super nice wheels that come stock on the 2016 SE's.

VW transmission issues

Although the VW is a fun car to drive. The maintenance is incredibly high. I needed a new transmission after 109,000 Km on the vehicle. VW would not cover under warranty. I spent approx. $10K on getting this fixed.

I still love driving it after 4 years and 32k

I traded in my MK6 diesel Golf for this one 4 years ago, and I still love driving it. It is smooth, quick when I need it to be, comfortable on long trips, practical, spacious and fuel-efficient. I am obviously not getting 45mpg as I did with diesel Golf, but this still gives me 35+ on mostly highway driving. I bought this car for 17.5K, and I see similar models going for 13-14k on dealerships now. It has been a very reliable car as well. Hopefully I can keep it for at least another 5 years.

Fun to drive, great value

I have the Golf wagon with 6 speed automatic. It's fun to drive and with the wagon it can haul a LOT. Been completely reliable thus far - 15,000 miles. And I got it for just over $20K with 0% financing. Couldn't be happier.

Great car for the money

It’s not the best looking vehicle out there but compared to every vehicle in its class it’s significantly better. To be fair I have the 1.8T SEL with tech package and “ leatherette” interior. It feels premium for the price I paid though would have seemed a bit pricey if I bought it new. I bought it used with 22,000 miles. I have had the car now for over 2 years put 28,000 miles on the car. It gets great gas mileage when you are not hammering the turbo. If you actually drive at highway speed limits you can get about 35mpg. I’m a fairly aggressive driver so I am getting about 24MPG combined and 32 MPG highway. In terms of balance and feel the car is simply unparalleled. It’s easily maneuvered due to its compact size and masterfully crafted chassis. Does it have its plastic bits that creak? Sure! but so did one of my $85k SUVs. I bought this car as a beater that I could throw miles on and not care about. The drive is so fun that I fell in love with it and choose to drive it over my other cars on most days. If I knew what I was getting myself into from the start I would have opted for the 2.0L GTI yet I am enjoying the extra fuel savings and not having to buy premium fuel. All in all if you can find a GTI or 1.8T with all the upgrades buy it. You won’t be disappointed.

1st 1,000 miles and still loving it

Very happy with my Golf. It wasn't my top choice but with mfg rebates the price was to good to pass up. Car handling is great and I appreciate the interior and how quiet the car is. Only regret so far is I didn't get sunroof. As I live in the northeast I'm curios to see how it handles in the snow.

Excellent Car

I bought the Golf TSI S model in 2016. I selected the 2-door, with a 5-speed manual. It is now 2025 and 123,000 miles later. This car has been an absolute pleasure to own. I use premium fuel, and it easily gets 40 mpg hwy. Smooth, responsive, handling at all speeds, even with 15" wheels! After 8 years of ownership the only negatives I can identify is a blind spot over my left shoulder, which is common with small hatchbacks. Also, my right knee touches the large center console. That is it. Car is nimble around town with a micro turning radius. It is not super zippy like a Honda Civic or Mazda 3. Instead, this car is geared for highway travel, which is amazing for a small car. It rides very stable at 75 mph, with lots of power for passing. Quiet at high speed and the engine is nowhere near winding out like Honda or Mazda would be. There have been 3 recalls: clock spring and fuel tank pump twice. Dealer took care of these. Bottom line: If they still offered this car I would absolutely buy a new one today. If you are considering a used 2016, buy it. It is a very well made car. I don't know how the automatic has held up, but the manual is a winner.

Excellent Quality

I have had this car for for 8 months and I love it. I literally researched different cars for years before I bought this one, and definitely made the right choice. I've had no problems, and I feel the quality and luxury every time I drive it. The only things that are a "con" would be these: the gas mileage is not as good as my old car (which was a 2001 Kia Rio), I still have problems fiddling with the windshield wiper lever, and I wish that every model came with an option for a blind spot monitor. I wanted that feature, but didn't want to buy an entire package for thousands of dollars just to get a blind spot monitor.

Great car

I've owned my Golf for almost 2 years, and have 45,000 miles on it. It's been the best car I've ever owned - even better than my Hondas and definitely better than my old Mazda3 and Ford Focus. Exceptional reliability so far, very fun to drive, gets amazing gas mileage, and can hold a crazy amount of cargo (2 bikes, a dog, 2 people, and luggage for a weekend trip).

One of the best cars I’ve owned

The golf has a really nice interior at a really great price vw was offering mine for $21k on thanksgiving. They throw in lots of features that other cars at the price point don’t have like leatherette seats blind spot warning panoramic sunroof. It also was really quick but has a horrible transmission that is slow shifting and lazy. It handled exceptional and had good brakes. U also get standard one touch all windows electric driver and passenger seats lumbar on both front seats rain sensing wipers paddle shifters and rear air which no hatchback at that price point has those. The visibility is fine but I have blind spot monitoring and backup camera so it doesn’t matter. I upgrade my sound system to fender which is one of the best sound systems I’ve heard in a car mind u I’ve never really been in luxury cars but compared to what Ford Chevy and kias etc have to offer. My only problem I’ve had so far is minor electrical issues that don’t really affect the car at all 90% of the time I was able to fix them myself in a minute. Although my transmission went out but I was driving like it was stolen. This car handles so well I’ve drifted it sideways by flooring it at a stoplight and turning and I kept it in control. Mind you at the time this was the fastest car I’ve driven so it’s super easy to learn to drive with. It’s also great at whipping through traffic it’s so easy to speed really fast and cut everyone off safely. If you need to get to your destination fast take a golf it accelerates quick handles well and you can tune it for even more power. It got good gas mileage too not the best but still good. I got a new car recently and I don’t wanna get rid of the golf it’s such a fun car to drive. Someone also backed into me and it was ruled 50/50 even tho it was their fault and they hit me pretty hard but there was barely even a dent not even a scratch you can’t even notice it unless I point it out. I’ve had it for 3 years and there is no squeaks and rattles and everything still feels very solid. Only complaints are I wish it had the DSG but then it would feel too much like a GTI and it’d be kinda dumb to get a GTI.

Get it

Love it

I have had two now and am super pleased with the TSI . What an outstanding smaller car- the only thing I don’t like is the plug in for the phone charger. (😳)

Golf TSI S Review

I got this car as I wanted a somewhat sporty hatchback that is good on gas. I had a jetta from around 2008 and enjoyed it and so I thought I would try out the golf. The TSI is a fairly barebones model without any real fancy features but it was very affordable. The exterior is subdued as is the utilitarian interior design but it is functional and good quality materials. I like the center touch screen and it functions nicely. The golf tsi s has paddle shifters and a sport mode which makes it a fun drive. With a 170 hp 4 cylinder turbocharged engine, it does a good job of balancing sporty performance with excellent fuel economy. At just around 7 seconds from 0-60 mph it is lively but not a speed demon. It lacks some safety features now present on the competition, such as Lane assist. I have had several maintenance related problems. I got the car with 55,000 mi and I had to have 1. The gear shifter assembly replaced and 2. The clock spring in the steering wheel. Both were covered under warranty but it was still a head ache to deal with. As a result, it's hard to give it the best marks for reliability but I also recognize it is a used car and you get what you pay for. Looking back I don't regret my decision to get this car but I am wanting more and springing for the GTI or the R is tempting now that I've had a taste of the Golf TSI.

Great Car

In 2018, I bought a used 2016 S model with 5,000 miles on it, for $14,500. Couldn’t be happier. So far, zero problems, with regular maintenance. No squeaks or rattles. Drives smoothly and good highway mileage (drove 800+ miles and filled the tank twice. It now (2023) has 50,000 miles on it: still comfortable, still no problems, smooth ride. A really great little car—so much so that we bought another one (2018 model), pre-owned with 15,000 miles on it, for the family, equally reliable and a comfortable ride, in the city and on the highway. A friend recently drove it and said, “I love this little car, so smooth and frisky!” Every once in a while, I think about trading it in for a Tiguan, but I like it so much I’m keeping it.

Excellent choice

Agile and fun yet comfortable. Five years no major maintenance issues.

Awesome car, great fuel economy!

I’m very happy with my purchase, car has been awesome. Good pep in the step, and fuel economy is good when I need it.

Best buy for the money!

Has the same features (except leather seats and sunroof) as my Toyota Camry SE. Only....Camry has a 2.5L engine with 168HP. Golf has 1.8L engine with 170HP!