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Volkswagen Golf 1998 fuel consumption

Volkswagen Golf from 1998 to 2003 real fuel consumption according to user reports is approximately 10% higher compared to advertised fuel consumption. Starting from 1998 Volkswagen Golf average difference between actual owner-reported fuel consumption and stated consumption was slightly above industry average, at 2001 difference between owner-reported and advertised fuel economy became similar to average. For more details, see the table below.

Year-to-year deviations of actual owner-reported average fuel consumption from advertised values

YearGasoline carsDiesel cars
All carmakersVolkswagen GolfAll carmakersVolkswagen Golf
1998+3%+6% +4%+8%
Show all years
1999+3%+6% +5%+9%
2000+4%+6% +5%+8%
2001+5%+6% +6%+11%
2002+6%+7% +7%+13%
2003+6%+7% +8%+15%

See below for the actual consumption of generations and versions of Volkswagen Golf.

1998 - 2003

Volkswagen Golf 1998 4 hatchback fuel economy

Average advertised fuel consumption for petrol engines27.0 MPG
8.7 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for petrol engines25.7 MPG
9.1 l/100km
Average real gasoline consumption difference *+7%
Average advertised fuel consumption for diesel engines42.1 MPG
5.6 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for diesel engines39.0 MPG
6.0 l/100km
Average real diesel consumption difference *+9%

According to advertised fuel consumption, a Volkswagen Golf 1998 with automatic transmission consumes on average 1 liters per 100 km or 19% more fuel than similar versions with manual gearbox. Based on user-reported real-world fuel consumption, this generation Volkswagen Golf with automatic transmission consumes around 0.9 litres per 100 km or 13% more fuel than a version with the same engine but a manual gearbox.

Compared to similar cars from other manufacturers, the Volkswagen Golf fuel economy is slightly better than average. The best real fuel economy in its class according to user reviews of all the modifications has modification with 1.9 diesel engine and manual transmission (Volkswagen Golf 2000 1.9 TDI 4Motion 150 HP 4x4). However, of all modifications the best advertised fuel economy in its class has Volkswagen Golf with 1.6 petrol engine and manual transmission (Volkswagen Golf 2003 1.6 16V FSI 110 HP).

ModificationClaimed consumptionReal consumption
1.4 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.4 16V 75 HP manual 35.6 MPG
6.6 l/100km
32.2 MPG
7.3 l/100km+11%
1.6 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.6 100 HP manual 31.8 MPG
7.4 l/100km
29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km+8%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.6 101 HP automatic 28.0 MPG
8.4 l/100km
25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km+12%
Volkswagen Golf 2000 1.6 102 HP automatic 29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km
26.7 MPG
8.8 l/100km+10%
Volkswagen Golf 2000 1.6 16V 105 HP manual 34.1 MPG
6.9 l/100km
31.4 MPG
7.5 l/100km+9%
Volkswagen Golf 2003 1.6 16V FSI 110 HP manual 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
33.1 MPG
7.1 l/100km+15%
1.8 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.8 5V 125 HP manual 28.3 MPG
8.3 l/100km
27.0 MPG
8.7 l/100km+5%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.8 5V 125 HP automatic 25.6 MPG
9.2 l/100km
Volkswagen Golf 1999 1.8 5V 4Motion 125 HP AWD manual 26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km
25.3 MPG
9.3 l/100km+4%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.8 5V Turbo 150 HP manual 29.8 MPG
7.9 l/100km
26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km+13%
Volkswagen Golf 2001 1.8 5V Turbo 150 HP automatic 25.6 MPG
9.2 l/100km
24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km+5%
Volkswagen Golf 2002 1.8 5V Turbo GTI 180 HP manual 28.0 MPG
8.4 l/100km
26.1 MPG
9.0 l/100km+7%
Volkswagen Golf 2001 1.8 5V Turbo GTI 210 HP manual 28.0 MPG
8.4 l/100km
1.9 liter diesel engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.9 SDI 68 HP manual 46.1 MPG
5.1 l/100km
43.6 MPG
5.4 l/100km+6%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.9 TDI 90 HP manual 48.0 MPG
4.9 l/100km
42.0 MPG
5.6 l/100km+14%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.9 TDI 90 HP automatic 37.3 MPG
6.3 l/100km
36.8 MPG
6.4 l/100km+2%
Volkswagen Golf 2001 1.9 TDI 100 HP manual 58.8 MPG
4.0 l/100km
42.0 MPG
5.6 l/100km+40%
Volkswagen Golf 2001 1.9 TDI 100 HP automatic 36.8 MPG
6.4 l/100km
37.3 MPG
6.3 l/100km-2%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.9 TDI 110 HP manual 48.0 MPG
4.9 l/100km
42.0 MPG
5.6 l/100km+14%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.9 TDI 110 HP automatic 37.3 MPG
6.3 l/100km
34.6 MPG
6.8 l/100km+8%
Volkswagen Golf 1999 1.9 TDI 115 HP manual 46.1 MPG
5.1 l/100km
41.3 MPG
5.7 l/100km+12%
Volkswagen Golf 2000 1.9 TDI 115 HP automatic 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
36.2 MPG
6.5 l/100km+5%
Volkswagen Golf 2001 1.9 TDI 130 HP manual 45.2 MPG
5.2 l/100km
39.2 MPG
6.0 l/100km+15%
Volkswagen Golf 2001 1.9 TDI 130 HP automatic 36.2 MPG
6.5 l/100km
36.2 MPG
6.5 l/100km0%
Volkswagen Golf 2000 1.9 TDI 4Motion 150 HP AWD manual 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
36.2 MPG
6.5 l/100km+5%
2.0 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1999 2.0 115 HP manual 29.8 MPG
7.9 l/100km
28.0 MPG
8.4 l/100km+6%
Volkswagen Golf 1999 2.0 115 HP automatic 26.7 MPG
8.8 l/100km
24.5 MPG
9.6 l/100km+9%
2.3 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 2.3 V5 150 HP manual 25.3 MPG
9.3 l/100km
25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km-2%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 2.3 V5 150 HP automatic 23.8 MPG
9.9 l/100km
21.4 MPG
11.0 l/100km+11%
Volkswagen Golf 2000 2.3 V5 170 HP manual 27.0 MPG
8.7 l/100km
24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km+13%
Volkswagen Golf 2000 2.3 V5 170 HP automatic 24.5 MPG
9.6 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+4%
Volkswagen Golf 2000 2.3 V5 4Motion 170 HP AWD manual 23.8 MPG
9.9 l/100km
24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km-1%
2.8 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1999 2.8 V6 4Motion 204 HP AWD manual 21.8 MPG
10.8 l/100km
20.8 MPG
11.3 l/100km+5%
3.2 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 2002 3.2 R32 241 HP AWD manual 20.5 MPG
11.5 l/100km
19.1 MPG
12.3 l/100km+7%
Volkswagen Golf 2003 3.2 R32 241 HP AWD automatic 23.1 MPG
10.2 l/100km
1998 - 2002

Volkswagen Golf 1998 4 cabrio fuel economy

Average advertised fuel consumption for petrol engines27.5 MPG
8.5 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for petrol engines27.7 MPG
8.5 l/100km
Average advertised fuel consumption for diesel engines45.2 MPG
5.2 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for diesel engines42.8 MPG
5.5 l/100km
Average real diesel consumption difference *+6%

According to advertised fuel consumption, a Volkswagen Golf 1998 with automatic transmission consumes on average 1.3 liters per 100 km or 16% more fuel than similar versions with manual gearbox. Based on user-reported real-world fuel consumption, this generation Volkswagen Golf with automatic transmission consumes around 1.2 litres per 100 km or 14% more fuel than a version with the same engine but a manual gearbox.

The best fuel economy in its class of all the modifications has one with 1.9 diesel engine and manual transmission (Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 1.9 TDI 110 HP).

ModificationClaimed consumptionReal consumption
1.6 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.6i 101 HP manual 28.7 MPG
8.2 l/100km
Volkswagen Golf 1998 1.6i 101 HP automatic 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
1.8 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 1.8 75 HP manual 30.5 MPG
7.7 l/100km
29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km+4%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 1.8 90 HP manual 29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km
29.8 MPG
7.9 l/100km-1%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 1.8 90 HP automatic 25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
23.5 MPG
10.0 l/100km+6%
1.9 liter diesel engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 1.9 TDI 90 HP manual 45.2 MPG
5.2 l/100km
42.8 MPG
5.5 l/100km+6%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 1.9 TDI 110 HP manual 45.2 MPG
5.2 l/100km
42.8 MPG
5.5 l/100km+6%
2.0 liter petrol engine
Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 115 HP manual 29.8 MPG
7.9 l/100km
27.7 MPG
8.5 l/100km+8%
Volkswagen Golf 1998 Cabriolet 2.0 115 HP automatic 25.6 MPG
9.2 l/100km
24.5 MPG
9.6 l/100km+4%

* - Difference between advertised and user reported fuel economy has been calculated taking into account only those car versions for which information is available both on the fuel consumption specified by the manufacturer and reported by users.

User-reported fuel consumption may not accurately represent all users' experiences due to variables such as driving conditions, driving style, technical condition of the vehicle, and other circumstances. Thus, it should not be relied upon as a representative indicator.