Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
34 City / 45 HWY
Horsepower
90
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Grace B
It has more room than it looks.
Repairs are expensive but it is a great size and reliable. Very fuel efficient. Roomy, good on gas mileage.
accountCircle john m
The vehicle is good on gas and if your looking for a vehicle good for the economy this is the one.
The volkswagen golf has brakes that make noises sometimes; it has a lot of pickup and go the gas mileage is pretty good too.
accountCircle Allison A
Volkswagen golf: the ideal artists car.
This car is exactly what I was looking for in regards to storage space and gas mileage. It is cute, has so much space for art supplies, and it has been reliable thus far. It has decent air conditioning and the seats are nicely adjustable. It has automatic windows and is easy to get/stay up to speed.
accountCircle Ben L
The most important thing is that it has excellent fuel economy
Lasts a very long time. Great reliability. A little bit underpowered. Excellent fuel economy and I love the hatchback style
accountCircle Jennifer g
Great mileage, And It's paid for.
Small enough to fit in garage. Fuel efficient. Paid for. It is in great shape for the years
accountCircle Alma D
A very happy VW golf owner.
Love how small and comfy this car is. The front seats folding makes it easy when I have more than 2 passengers to get in and out easily. A very good car for those looking to save in gas. Also wish I would have learned to drive in this car because you can easily see your surroundings and small enough to be able to park anywhere. But yet not too small that you are afraid of potentially getting smashed like a soda can if you ever get hit. Very well thought out design don't have any complaints besides doesn't come with free gas I guess.
accountCircle Heidi B
Reliable and good running condition.
My car is very reliable and has never been in an accident. It has very low miles and has been well maintained. It needs some minor cosmetic work. I plan on driving it as long as I can. I would only get another vehicle for travel or business purposes.
accountCircle Haley R
It is a great car, despite it is little negatives.
I love my car. It is very roomy in the front and back seats. The back seats are spacious enough to have a car seat correctly in there without cramming the child up. However, I am having problems with my air conditioner cutting in and out and random times. For a couple weeks my car also got stuck in third gear but eventually it fixed itself.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Haley R
It is a great car, despite it is little negatives.
I love my car. It is very roomy in the front and back seats. The back seats are spacious enough to have a car seat correctly in there without cramming the child up. However, I am having problems with my air conditioner cutting in and out and random times. For a couple weeks my car also got stuck in third gear but eventually it fixed itself.
accountCircle Maria D
Compact, sporty, fuel-efficient.
Since I have bought my car I have had abs problems, control arm and thermostat issues. However, my car was able to get me to Colorado from Boston and back with no issues. Drives nice and is comfortable when it is maintained.

Volkswagen Golf Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
GL
90 HP 40-40 MPG 5 Seats
car
GLS
90 HP 40-40 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2003 Volkswagen Golf Owner Reviews

4.22
9 Reviews
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5 stars 44%
4 stars 33%
3 stars 22%
2 stars 0%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Ben L on November 15, 2020
The most important thing is that it has excellent fuel economy
Lasts a very long time. Great reliability. A little bit underpowered. Excellent fuel economy and I love the hatchback style
accountCircle Alma D on October 28, 2020
A very happy VW golf owner.
Love how small and comfy this car is. The front seats folding makes it easy when I have more than 2 passengers to get in and out easily. A very good car for those looking to save in gas. Also wish I would have learned to drive in this car because you can easily see your surroundings and small enough to be able to park anywhere. But yet not too small that you are afraid of potentially getting smashed like a soda can if you ever get hit. Very well thought out design don't have any complaints besides doesn't come with free gas I guess.

Ranks #7 Small Cars by Owners

The 2003 Volkswagen Golf has an average owner rating of 4.22 out of 5 which ranks it #7 of 21 other Small Cars.

1
car
4.5
2
car
4.35
7
car
4.22

Ranks #10 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Volkswagen Golf has a combined MPG of 33 which ranks it #10 of 21 other Small Cars.

1
car
48 MPG
2
car
43 MPG
10
car
45 MPG

Related Articles for 2003 Volkswagen Golf

From the Vehicle History blog

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2017 Volkswagen Golf Review: Reliable Compact Hatchback With Reasonable Ownership Costs

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2003 vw golf tdi oil type?

Answer: The 2003 VW Golf tdi oil type iS5w-40. Your oil needs to be replaced eventually. Every 5,000 to 10,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. If You don't replace it, there will be issues with the engine. Having high...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Not Rated

Side

Not Rated
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety