2021 Volkswagen Golf Review

Name: 2021 Volkswagen Golf Review
Brand: Volkswagen

Price Range: $15,500 - $21,590

Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback Exterior

+82

The 2021 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.

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Price & Payment

8 cars

$18,761 avg. price

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2021 Volkswagen Golf Review

by the Edmunds Experts

What's new

No changes for the final year of production for this Golf generation
Part of the seventh Golf generation introduced for 2015

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.42 per gallon for regular unleaded in Washington.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Washington

$165/mo

$211/mo

Avg. Compact Car

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above 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

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Volkswagen Golf from 2008-2022.}

$459/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.1x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

10.1%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Volkswagen Golf Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.4

31 reviews

5(77%)

4(6%)

3(3%)

2(6%)

1(8%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Upscale hatchback

David, 07/26/2018

2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI S 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

I had a Mazda Miata previously, so the VW Golf is definitely a big step up in terms of stability and comfort. I am a person who actually likes to drive and am a moderate driver. Having driven and researched the Japanese hatchbacks and smaller cars, the Golf is absolutely a much better driver's car. The others drive like school buses. The SE has a few bells and whistles I wasn't too …

PHENOMENAL PERFORMER

DannyMac, 07/02/2020

2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

I’ve had the car one week. Contrary to this review, the brakes are very smooth; they do not grab. I find, with the 6-speed manual, acceleration is not leisurely, as the review notes. The turbo kicks in quickly; acceleration is robust. I let out the clutch smoothly as I accelerate; I time the full release of the clutch to match the power band of the turbo. It takes right off. The …

SUCH A GREAT VEHICLE

DannyMac, 07/07/2020

2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

Very smooth-shifting 6-speed Manual Transmission. Excellent attention to detail inside & outside. There was talk in the reviews that performance sags a bit, until the Turbo kicks in. I find that I can control that with the clutch. I accelerate as I gradually let out the clutch to match the power curve. I do find that I must downshift to 2nd gear when turning into a residential street …

Best car I’ve ever had

Kristina Lamson, 04/18/2019

2018 Volkswagen Golf TSI S 4dr Hatchback (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)

This car is awesome!!! It is so beautiful inside and out with great features like Bluetooth and touchscreen and Apple play along with navigation it is just so very cool and such a smooth ride!

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf, so we've included reviews for other years of the Golf since its last redesign.

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2021 Golf Highlights

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,195
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$165/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.4 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Golf models:

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.

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

2021 Volkswagen Golf Review

Price & Payment

2021 Volkswagen Golf Review

What's new

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.42 per gallon for regular unleaded in Washington.}

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Volkswagen Golf Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

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Upscale hatchback

PHENOMENAL PERFORMER

SUCH A GREAT VEHICLE

Best car I’ve ever had

2021 Golf Highlights

Safety

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2021 Volkswagen Golf Review

Price & Payment

2021 Volkswagen Golf Review

What's new

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.42 per gallon for regular unleaded in Washington.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Volkswagen Golf Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Upscale hatchback

PHENOMENAL PERFORMER

SUCH A GREAT VEHICLE

Best car I’ve ever had

2021 Golf Highlights

Safety

Related Used 2021 Volkswagen Golf info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Volkswagen

Research similar vehicles

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf TSI 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.42 per gallon for regular unleaded in Washington.}