FORCAR
Go Pro

Volkswagen Golf GTI Cargo Space

The 1998 Volkswagen Golf GTI has 17 cu ft of cargo space behind the rear seats: room for 2 checked suitcases or 8 carry-ons.

EPA interior volume · 17 cu ft cargo · 0 cu ft cabin · measured 1998 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

It gives 100% of its interior to luggage, more than most cars give.

What actually fits in a Golf GTI

FIG.01·Volkswagen Golf GTI — what fits in the trunk
What you are loadingHow many fitEach item
Checked suitcases227 × 21 × 14″ — 4.6 cu ft
Carry-on cases822 × 14 × 9″ — 1.6 cu ft
Grocery bags13about 1 cu ft each
Golf bags2full set, about 5 cu ft
Folded strollerFitsabout 6 cu ft
ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar, computed from EPA cargo volume

Cars with the same room

FIG.04·Volkswagen Golf GTI — cars with the same cargo room
CarLoad volumevs Volkswagen Golf GTIChecked suitcasesMeasured
Mazda 32316 cu ft-1 cu ft21995
Buick Riviera18 cu ft+1 cu ft31999
BMW 318ti15 cu ft-2 cu ft21999
Daihatsu Charade15 cu ft-2 cu ft21992
Mazda MX-315 cu ft-2 cu ft21996
Ford Probe19 cu ft+2 cu ft31997
ROWS 6·SOURCE EPA interior volume + ForCar
Upgrade to Pro

Trunk space is one number. Buying is a longer list.

  • Check a VIN for recalls, complaints and its exact build
  • Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • No ads, on every page
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed
Everything on the Volkswagen Golf GTI
Recalls45 campaignsReliability4.5/5Common problems635 complaintsCheck a VINAgainst this exact buildDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices373 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2016–2026

Frequently asked questions

How much cargo space does the Volkswagen Golf GTI have?

17 cu ft behind the rear seats in the 1998 model.

Has the Golf GTI's cargo area got bigger over the years?

Not much overall: 18 cu ft in 1985 and 17 cu ft in 1998, within 2 cu ft in every year we hold.

Which cars have the same cargo room as the Golf GTI?

The closest by volume in the same body family are the Mazda 323 (16 cu ft), Buick Riviera (18 cu ft) and BMW 318ti (15 cu ft), against 17 cu ft for the Golf GTI.

Cargo and passenger volumes from EPA interior-volume records, measured 1998 for the Volkswagen Golf GTI, seats up. Luggage capacity computed by ForCar at 80% usable volume against airline-standard case sizes (how we count). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →