Volkswagen averages 25.9 mpg combined across 30 petrol and diesel models (1984–2027). The best on record does 44 mpg, the thirstiest 14 — a yearly fuel gap of about $1,870. Its 4 electric models sit apart at 112.5 MPGe — 30 kWh per 100 miles, about $612 a year to charge, which is $871 less than the average Volkswagen costs to fuel.
What that actually costs
What a Volkswagen costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 25.9 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,483 |
| Most frugal on record | 44 mpg — $873 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 14 mpg — $2,743 a year |
| Its electric models | 112.5 MPGe — $612 a year to charge |
Volkswagen models by gas mileage
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
The electric Volkswagens, measured differently
Volkswagen has 4 models that never visit a filling station, averaging 112.5 MPGe. That figure looks four times better than the 25.9 mpg the petrol Volkswagens manage, but the two are not the same unit — so we keep them apart and price the electric ones in kilowatt-hours.
| Model | MPGe | kWh / 100 mi | Charging per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen e-Golf | 28.6 | $583 | |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | 28.6 | $583 | |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 31 | $632 | |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz | 40.6 | $828 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
Volkswagen rests on 501 EPA ratings covering 30 models from 1984 to 2027, plus 4 electric ones counted separately in MPGe. The laboratory numbers are EPA's and go in unchanged; the money is ours, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Volkswagen gas mileage?
25.9 mpg combined across 30 models and 501 EPA ratings, from 1984 to 2027 — 43 model years in one figure, which is why it sits below what a new Volkswagen does today.
Which Volkswagen model is the most economical?
The Volkswagen Golf at 31.1 mpg, about $1,235 a year in fuel, against the EuroVan at 15.7 mpg and $2,446 — a gap of $1,211 a year between the two ends of the same badge.
How much does a Volkswagen cost to run?
About $1,483 a year in fuel, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon. Over five years that is $7,415, before a single service.
Does Volkswagen make anything electric?
Yes — 4 models, rated 112.5 MPGe rather than in mpg, which works out to 30 kWh per 100 miles and roughly $612 a year at the socket. That is $871 less than the average petrol Volkswagen, though the two ratings are not in the same unit.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.