2020 Volkswagen Golf Review

Name: 2020 Volkswagen Golf
Brand: Volkswagen

Price Range: $20,590 - $21,998

2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback Exterior

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2020 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.

See all features & specs

Price & Payment

Select year

Average price: $15,991

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise My 2020 Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf model years

Volkswagen Golf for Sale

Pros

Hatchback design provides lots of room for cargo
Excellent ride comfort and quiet cabin

Cons

Lacks luxury, safety and convenience features
Budget tires sacrifice handling and braking performance
Mediocre acceleration

What's new

Lineup reduced to a single trim
Several driver assistance systems and 8-inch touchscreen are no longer available
New Wi-Fi hotspot is standard
Part of the seventh Golf generation introduced for 2015

Overview

Written by automotive expert Cameron Rogers

Updated: 8/4/2020

Europe gets an all-new Volkswagen Golf this year. Alas, the 2020 Golf for the U.S. is still the same model as last year. We were looking forward to getting the new model but this carry-over 2020 Golf might have enough positive qualities to potentially win you over. It's easy to drive, practical and impressively comfortable.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Columbus, OH

15 listings

Sort by:

Price Drop
2020 Volkswagen Golf
TSI 4dr Hatchback
$16,863
great price
$2,309 below market
- 48,332 miles
- 29 City / 35 Hwy MPG
- 114 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Huntington, WV
Vehicle DetailsLooking for a stylish and well-equipped hatchback? This pre-owned 2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI in Huntington WV delivers the perfect mix of...
Features and Specs:
32 Combined MPG (29 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
3VWG57AU3LM006450
Stock:
B7120A
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
08-27-2026
Price Drop
2020 Volkswagen Golf
TSI 4dr Hatchback
$20,590
fair price
$755 below market
- 32,922 miles
- 29 City / 35 Hwy MPG
- 177 mi away
- Home delivery*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Indianapolis, IN
At Carvana, we go miles beyond the extra mile. That's why we provide you with a convenient, fast, and hassle-free car buying experience that puts you ...
Features and Specs:
32 Combined MPG (29 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
3VWG57AU5LM005560
Stock:
3006717429
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
09-26-2026

See all for sale

You don't get a whole lot of choice, however. Though this Golf generation launched in a variety of configurations back in 2015, the options have dwindled over the last few years. You can pick transmission type and color and that's about it. For fresher alternatives to the Golf, check out the Honda Civic hatchback, the Toyota Corolla hatchback or even VW's performance-oriented GTI.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

by the Edmunds Experts

Average

7.4

out of 10

We drove the 2020 Volkswagen Golf on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7.5/10

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 2020 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.

Comfort

8/10

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.

Interior

8/10

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.

Technology

6/10

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.

Storage

7.5/10

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.

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Golf is reasonably fuel-efficient. The EPA estimates it will get 32 mpg combined (29 city/35 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 Corolla Hatchback, Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic.

Value

7.5/10

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 2020 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, 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

7.5/10

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.

2020 Volkswagen Golf trim level differences

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf is a compact hatchback available in a single, well-equipped trim, dubbed TSI. A turbocharged 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine drives the front wheels. If that doesn't get your blood pumping, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is a sportier and more powerful variant of the Golf, and it's reviewed separately. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, and an eight-speed automatic is optional. Highlighted features of the 2020 Golf include: Compare the 2020 Volkswagen Golf trim levels in-depth.

Which Golf trim does Edmunds recommend?

There's only one trim, so your Golf decisions boil down to which of six colors to get and which transmission you want. If you desire more features, you'll have to upgrade to the sporty Golf GTI. Its base S trim approximates Golf TSI equipment, with upper trims adding touches such as leather seating and navigation.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$153/mo

$235/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Reliability

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #26 out of 46 among Compact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average

#26 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$459/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

1.1x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

10.1%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

Recalls

2 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 24V110000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: VW: 20UF/A
Number of vehicles affected:: 261257
Defect Description:: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain front-wheel drive 2015-2020 Audi A3 Sedan, 2015-2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, 2018 Golf Sportwagen GP, 2018-2019 Golf Sportwagen A7, 2015-2017 Golf Sportwagen, 2015-2020 Golf GTI, and 2015-2020 Golf A7 vehicles. Due to a problem with a suction jet pump seal inside the fuel tank, fuel may flow into the evaporative emissions (EVAP) system and possibly leak out of the charcoal canister.
Defect Consequence:: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the suction pump, free of charge. Final owner notification letters for Audi owners were mailed on July 25, 2024. Final owner letters for VW owners were mailed on August 13, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are VW: 20UF/Audi: 20YF. Vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-647 will need to have the new remedy completed. This recall expands and replaces previous recall number 16V-647.

Recall Number:: 22V815000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: AU:45J7,VW
Number of vehicles affected:: 224704
Defect Description:: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Defect Consequence:: An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi?s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 7 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 2 years / 20,000 miles

Volkswagen Golf Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.4

26 reviews

5(77%)

4(7%)

3(0%)

2(7%)

1(9%)

See all 26 reviews of the Volkswagen Golf

Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2020 Golf Features & Specs

Est. Market Value	$18,221
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	31 MPG
Cost to Drive	$153/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	22.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Golf models:

Blind-Spot Monitor: Alerts the driver when a car enters a blind spot. Includes rear cross-traffic alert that warns about approaching cars when reversing.
Forward Collision Warning: Detects an impending front collision and warns the driver to take action.
Autonomous Emergency Braking: Applies the brakes automatically to avoid a front collision should the driver fail to act.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover13.4%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good