2018 Volkswagen Golf Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2023 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
22 -25 City / 29 -34 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
170 -292
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Julie A
Volkswagen golf se compact car.
The car has features that are not found on most cars like map pockets, tan interior color, and velcro dividers for the cargo compartment. I didn't like having to get a sunroof or hiding the cd player in the glove compartment. The seats are designed for taller people so I had to add a foam cushion that also helps deal with the hot or cold faux leather seats.
accountCircle Christian P
Fun, sporty, spacious but not huge.
The golf is a diesel, which I feel really good about because it burns cleaner from what I hear. It corners like a dream, and handles all conditions very well. The car is quick, and the pickup speed is great. Internally, the heated seats are a major plus. I bought Volkswagen racks for the roof and have been pleased with how much cargo I can put inside and out.
accountCircle Zoe W
The 2018 Volkswagen golf alltrack is a great family car.
The car drives really well and is very reliable for longer drives. It gets a lot of mileage and is very easy to drive. The car supports apple CarPlay and has a very good speaker system. I love driving this car everywhere I go and it is very smooth on the roads. The hatchback is good for family traveling and their are racks on the roof if you need to store more than that.
accountCircle William B
It is dependable and very easy to operate. Also plenty of room.
Nice car. Efficient on gas. Very roomy interior.
accountCircle Mayra C
I love the sound system that it has.
This vehicle is a great car. I love the comfort of the seats, the sound system. It has great space in the back seat for my daughters to use. And the trunk is very big too. I really enjoy driving this car. The sound roof is amazing. The radio screen is so easy to use. I love the that it's a 4 wheel drive and has great safety features.
accountCircle Susan A
Great for families and fun for one.
The Volkswagen golf alltrack is a great car. We have used it for every day as well as for long trips. It comfortably seats four adults and even a dog. It has ample leg room. We have the extended sunroof which is awesome. The trunk space is roomy but does not make the car feel too long.
accountCircle Sarah P
This car is both reasonably compact and high tech.
I have no complaints about the car really. The only things that I could think about is that I wish it had more room in the trunk. But if it did then it wouldn't be the small car that I like. And I guess it could do a better job at defrosting the windows faster and more ac too.
accountCircle Mia L
Easeless drives around town.
I absolutely love this car. It is a perfect car for everyday running around as it is small and easy to drive. I love the features this car has with the back up camera, detectors for cars in the blind spot, and automatic braking when you come too close to another car on the road. These features make me feel very safe driving this car.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Erin H
Touch Screen malfunctions but car great in snow.
I do not like there is no option for the car to be in standard transmission. When the touch screen gets warm, like on a hot summer day, it stops working properly. Sometimes the screen becomes glitchy and other times it just shuts off. The car is very reliable, and drives really well. It is fantastic in the snow, and the high clearance is great for when the roads are really bad. Even though the car is a wagon, it is still very small. Overall I like it, but I would not get another one.
accountCircle Rachel S
Compact but comfortable: the golf is all you need for the city and light camping.
I have had this car for a little under a year. The golf is compact but there is plenty of legroom unlike the beetle. I was able to drive on dirt trails without an issue. The gas mileage is good. We often fill our tank once every other week. The car itself is comfortable for longer trips. The storage is limited but there was enough space to fit camping gear for 2. We have the one with a sunroof so that really helps with air flow. All in all, it's a reliable and comfortable car.
accountCircle Grace C
Such a great car for a family.
This car is really great. It drives very smoothly and handles well in poor conditions. The interior is very comfortable and surprisingly roomy. It can fit a family of five easily. We've had it for several years and haven't had any problems. It gets great gas mileage.
accountCircle Johnny T
Hey everybody! I have a GOLF! *everyone shrugs or pretends not to hear you*
Brakes are a bit snatchy. Turning radius could be better. Folding down front seats is difficult. CarPlay can be a bit buggy. Only 5,700 miles on it so far, so it's practically new, but can already tell that the car will need a brake service in the near future to fix the natchy brake issue.
accountCircle Mario V
I like the in dash radio that connects to my smartphone
I like the design and shape of my car. It drives pretty smoothie for the most part, at the moment tho we just did our 100k mile inspection and we are starting to have some problems. The brakes need to be changed, and now it's making another weird noise I never heard but if it wasn't for that, I'd give it a 4/5

Volkswagen Golf Models

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

car
S
170 HP 28 MPG 5 Seats
car
SE
170 HP 29 MPG 5 Seats
car
S Sport
170 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats
car
SE Sport
170 HP 28 MPG 5 Seats
car
SEL Sport
170 HP 28 MPG 5 Seats
car
SEL
170 HP 28 MPG 5 Seats
car
Base
292 HP 25 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2018 Volkswagen Golf Owner Reviews

4.44
32 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 63%
4 stars 22%
3 stars 13%
2 stars 3%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Tara M on March 19, 2021
The interior lighting adds a level of sophistication
I love my Golf Alltrack! It has everything I could possibly need. Storage and style to go along with impeccable performance!
accountCircle Sharlene G on March 16, 2021
Love my manual Volkswagen golf! So much fun to drive!
My car is very reliable and functional. Its cargo room is surprisingly spacious and I love that it is a manual transmission. Its exterior is sleek and stylish and I love the color. The interior is very comfortable and easy to clean. I have not had any major issues with the vehicle.
View All Reviews (32) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Julie G.

The car is fuel efficient. It is really fun to drive in a five speed manual and is one of the only cars you can get in a manual transmission that is affordable. The trunk has lots of storage space and velcro storage system.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Julie G.

It is very difficult to use children's car seats. It is hard to get the kids in and out of the car. It would not be very comfortable for a long road trip of three plus hours or more. The car is a little loud too.

Ranks #15 Small Cars by Owners

The 2018 Volkswagen Golf has an average owner rating of 4.56 out of 5 which ranks it #15 of 31 other Small Cars.

1
car
2018 FIAT 500
4.9
2
car
2018 Volkswagen GTI
4.88
15
car
2018 Volkswagen Golf
4.44

Ranks #12 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2018 Volkswagen Golf has a combined MPG of 38 which ranks it #12 of 31 other Small Cars.

1
car
2018 FIAT 500e
121 MPG
2
car
2018 Ford Focus
118 MPG
12
car
2018 Volkswagen Golf
34 MPG

Is The 2018 Volkswagen Golf A Good Car?

Excellent engineering. Tight steering. A pleasure to drive. My 3rd VW and will buy again. Interior is high quality w seat warmers. Not sofa like inside,.More like a sport vehicle, so if you are older... Read More
Wendy B.

How Reliable Is The 2018 Volkswagen Golf?

Extremely overall, nothing beats their engineering. I have had issues with the clutch and brake pads wearing out, but that could be a function of my not so great driving.
Wendy B.

Is The 2018 Volkswagen Golf A Good Value?

40 kish if mint off the press. Mine was a bargain since it is an older model. Got it brand new for only 29k.
Wendy B.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2018 vw golf sportwagen bolt pattern?

Answer: The 2018 VW Golf sportswagen features A5x112 mm bolt pattern. When You are adding or removing the lug nuts from a car then You will want to be careful not to damage them. If You overtighten them then You run...

Does the Volkswagen Golf have All-Wheel front-wheel or 4WD?

Answer: The Volkswagen Golf does have front wheel drive. The power steering fluid needs to be replaced every 75,000 miles. Along with changing fluids, You will hear noises from steering parts. A bad bearing will make a...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety