2004 Volkswagen Golf Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999
IIHS Crash Test
Source   IIHS.org
MPG (up to)
33 City / 44 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
100
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Sharon H
They should know that I get great mileage.
I like the great mileage that I get. I really enjoy that it is five speed. It is comfortable. I have no complaints.
accountCircle laurie k
No complaints. I love my car. It gets great fuel mileage.
It's a diesel. I get about 600 miles on one tank of fuel.
accountCircle Mari B
Sporty compact and economical.
Reliable comfortable economical little sporty compact car good on gasoline and mileage runs great on freeway and streets.
accountCircle Jennifer C
It has plenty of warning lights if something goes wrong or if you forgot to lock a door
I like the keyless entry. I like that it warns me that something is wrong with the car. I do not have any complaints
accountCircle Jacob R
Gas efficient, reliable, and fun to drive!
My VW golf has about 150, 000 miles on it and it is still very reliable. So far I have had to replace the flex pipe w/ cat converter (an easy fix) due to an exhaust leak. But other than that, just normal, routine upkeep and tune-ups! It did have a pretty bad misfire, but changing the spark plugs/wires/coils fixed it immediately.
accountCircle Steve Z
Very affordable and cheap to maintain, because repairs are cheap, and it gets great MPG
My Golf is very reliable and it is very efficient on gas. The repairs are not expensive and it comfortable to drive
accountCircle thomas M
It runs great even when it shouldn't
It's an older beater. Bought it to get to and from work. Will probably upgrade to a new vw in the next year
accountCircle Dominic V
It is a fun car to drive for a low price.
I own a 2004 golf tdi. It has the 5-speed manual transmission so It's a blast to drive. Heated seats, sunroof, premium sound system, and it gets great gas mileage. It's getting older now so It's a nice vehicle to drive in the winter or park in a Walmart parking lot since it is not brand new anymore.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Maria B
It's great on mileage. I can fill up my tank with around 40 and it lasts 2 weeks!
You need to know how to drive a stick shift. I can be very inconvenient as it takes diesel gas and where I live the gas is super expensive. It is very good on mileage though so that is definitely a plus. I feel like the biggest danger with this car is that it can be very hard to see behind you if you are a shorter person! I have difficulty seeing over my seat sometimes!
accountCircle Susan W
My Toyota corolla le has stood the test of time with very issues.
I do not like the size of the car and the hatchback style. I do like the quality and reliability of the brand.
accountCircle betty c
The one most important thing that others should know is that we get really good gas mileage from our volkswagen.
Like our volkswagen for the room too haul stuff. Strong motor and good gas mileage. What I dislike is the ruff ride and only go certain places.
accountCircle Alyssa C
It is good on gas but it must be maintained well.
Good car but expensive to maintain not many problems great engine good on gas just expensive for each little part.
accountCircle Sabina T
It has been a reliable car for the past 14 years but I bought it before we had kids and we have definitely "outgrown" it and need a bigger vehicle.
It looks small but it has a lot of cargo space. And the gas mileage is good.
accountCircle Alexa D
Good for the most part, but has occasional brake and battery problems
Some general problems with the way it runs due to how old it is. Most common problems are with the battery and breaks. Brakes have needed to be replaced and battery has died twice. Car recently stopped in middle of the road while at a red light and started rolling backwards when brake was applied.

Volkswagen Golf Models

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

car
GL
100 HP 39-39 MPG 5 Seats
car
GLS
100 HP 39-39 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2004 Volkswagen Golf Owner Reviews

3.64
14 Reviews
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5 stars 21%
4 stars 36%
3 stars 29%
2 stars 14%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Mari B on March 27, 2021
Sporty compact and economical.
Reliable comfortable economical little sporty compact car good on gasoline and mileage runs great on freeway and streets.
accountCircle Sabina T on July 9, 2020
It has been a reliable car for the past 14 years but I bought it before we had kids and we have definitely "outgrown" it and need a bigger vehicle.
It looks small but it has a lot of cargo space. And the gas mileage is good.
View All Reviews (14) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #17 Small Cars by Owners

The 2004 Volkswagen Golf has an average owner rating of 3.89 out of 5 which ranks it #17 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2004 Volkswagen R32
5
2
car
2004 MINI Cooper
4.4
17
car
2004 Volkswagen Golf
3.64

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2004 Volkswagen Golf has a combined MPG of 33 which ranks it #9 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
2004 Honda Civic
48 MPG
2
car
2004 Toyota Echo
43 MPG
9
Tie
car
2004 Volkswagen Golf
44 MPG

Is The 2004 Volkswagen Golf A Good Car?

Yes, it is wonderful to drive and is reliable, it is great on gas mileage and unlike other Volkswagens it takes regular unleaded which saves money. It also has a spacious trunk that makes it way to... Read More
Jeff H.

How Reliable Is The 2004 Volkswagen Golf?

It is very reliable. I have not had any issues with the golf. I also maintain its service records and regularly change the oils and check all the fluids and brakes.
Lavender B.

Is The 2004 Volkswagen Golf A Good Value?

I bought my golf as a used car, but I don't remember what I paid for it. I do think I got a really good deal on the car though.
Rebecca K.

Related Articles for 2004 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 2004 VW Golf oil type?

Answer: The 2004 VW Golf 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...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test
(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