2015 head-to-head · Compact Car

2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,586/ year to fuel
35 MPG

The 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, it costs about $1,500 a year to fuel (31 MPG), versus $1,586 for the 2015 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel (35 MPG). That's roughly $86 a year, or about $429 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel

Side by side

Subaru Impreza/Outback SportVolkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel
$1,500 Your annual fuel cost $1,586
31 MPG Combined efficiency 35 MPG
28 MPG City 31 MPG
36 MPG Highway 41 MPG
97 cu ft Passenger volume 93 cu ft
12 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
289 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 292 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 8/10
Gas Powertrain Diesel
Regular gasoline Fuel Diesel
2.0L 4-cyl Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
CVT Transmission 6-speed dual-clutch
AWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel across model years

  • Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport has more passenger space (97 vs. 93 cu ft); the Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel has more cargo space (16 vs. 12 cu ft).

Among 52 2015 compact cars, the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport ranks 16th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel 22nd for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport is a conventional gas model, while the Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel is a diesel.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport or the 2015 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel?

Measured by cost to drive, the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport. The Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport is rated 31 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel 35 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, about $1,500 for the Subaru Impreza/Outback Sport and $1,586 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel.

Which has more cargo space?

The Volkswagen Golf/GTI Diesel, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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