2015 head-to-head · Compact Car
2015 Toyota Prius c vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
FWD · 1.5L 4-cyl · CVT · 50 MPG
FWD · Electric motor (85 kW) · Single-speed · 116 MPGe · 83 mi
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $788 a year to fuel (116 MPGe), versus $930 for the 2015 Toyota Prius c (50 MPG). That's roughly $142 a year, or about $708 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
- Toyota Prius c
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV
Side by side
| Toyota Prius c | Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV | |
|---|---|---|
| $930 | Your annual fuel cost | $788 |
| 50 MPG | Combined efficiency | 116 MPGe |
| 53 MPG | City | 126 MPGe |
| 46 MPG | Highway | 105 MPGe |
| — | Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) | 29.2 kWh |
| — | Driving range | 83 mi |
| 87 cu ft | Passenger volume | 91 cu ft |
| 17 cu ft | Cargo volume | 17 cu ft |
| 178 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 0 g/mi |
| 10/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 10/10 |
| 10/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 10/10 |
| — | Charge time at 240V | 4 hrs |
| Hybrid | Powertrain | Electric |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Electricity |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | Electric motor (85 kW) |
| CVT | Transmission | Single-speed |
| FWD | 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.
Toyota Prius c vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV across model years
- Toyota Prius c
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV
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 Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV has more passenger space (91 vs. 87 cu ft).
Among 52 2015 compact cars, the Toyota Prius c ranks 3rd and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV 1st for lowest fuel cost.
Because the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Toyota Prius c; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Toyota Prius c or the 2015 Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV?
Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV. The Toyota Prius c is rated 50 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV 116 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Toyota Prius c vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $930 for the Toyota Prius c and $788 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV.
Toyota Prius c vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV in other years
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