2025 head-to-head · Compact Car
2025 Toyota Corolla vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2025 Toyota Corolla is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,329 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $1,722 for the 2025 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (27 MPG). That's roughly $394 a year, or about $1,968 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 Corolla
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Side by side
| Toyota Corolla | Volkswagen Golf/GTI | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,329 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,722 |
| 35 MPG | Combined efficiency | 27 MPG |
| 32 MPG | City | 24 MPG |
| 41 MPG | Highway | 32 MPG |
| 85 cu ft | Passenger volume | 93 cu ft |
| 18 cu ft | Cargo volume | 16 cu ft |
| 254 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 326 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| CVT | Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| 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 Corolla vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI across model years
- Toyota Corolla
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI
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 has more passenger space (93 vs. 85 cu ft); the Toyota Corolla has more cargo space (18 vs. 16 cu ft).
Among 26 2025 compact cars, the Toyota Corolla ranks 7th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 12th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2025 Toyota Corolla or the 2025 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
Measured by cost to drive, the Toyota Corolla. The Toyota Corolla is rated 35 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 27 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2025 Toyota Corolla vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,329 for the Toyota Corolla and $1,722 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI.
Which has more cargo space?
The Toyota Corolla, with 18 cu ft of luggage volume versus 16 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Toyota Corolla vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI in other years
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