2026 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2026 Nissan Altima 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 2026 Nissan Altima is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,550 a year to fuel (30 MPG), versus $1,722 for the 2026 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (27 MPG). That's roughly $172 a year, or about $861 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
- Nissan Altima
- Volkswagen Golf/GTI
Side by side
| Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Golf/GTI | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,550 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,722 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 27 MPG |
| 26 MPG | City | 24 MPG |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 32 MPG |
| 101 cu ft | Passenger volume | 91 cu ft |
| 15 cu ft | Cargo volume | 20 cu ft |
| 297 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 326 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.5L 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.
Nissan Altima vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI across model years
- Nissan Altima
- 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 Nissan Altima has more passenger space (101 vs. 91 cu ft); the Volkswagen Golf/GTI has more cargo space (20 vs. 15 cu ft).
Among 31 2026 midsize cars, the Nissan Altima ranks 14th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 17th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Nissan Altima or the 2026 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Altima. The Nissan Altima is rated 30 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 27 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Nissan Altima vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,550 for the Nissan Altima and $1,722 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI.
Which has more cargo space?
The Volkswagen Golf/GTI, with 20 cu ft of luggage volume versus 15 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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