2021 Volkswagen Golf Performance

The Golf features just one engine variant in the USA for the 2021 model year with no other configurations on offer. It's a four-cylinder as usual, and the 1.4-liter motor is turbocharged to produce 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. In typical fashion for the segment, performance is delivered to the front wheels alone. The Mazda 3, on the other hand, offers all-wheel-drive. As standard, a six-speed manual keeps things entertaining while an eight-speed automatic is on offer for those who prefer to do a little less work on the daily commute. With such diminutive power figures from the small motor, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph is not something that will be easily achieved in under eight seconds, but the plucky little motor is not lethargic either, and you can easily get past slower traffic without too much fear. Top speed is not its strong suit either, and the lighter Honda Civic and more powerful Mazda 3 are better in this regard, but as a runabout, the Golf does its job just fine.

Volkswagen Golf models only have access to one engine option for 2021, namely a 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbo - but it's not a bad motor. It produces 147 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, and although this is low compared to its Japanese competition, it's adequate for the average driver who wants a simple car. The engine is refined and responsive at lower speeds, although pushing its limits will cause a bit of complaint from the engine compartment, where you'll notice things getting noisier the more you abuse the little motor. Still, it feels nippy enough when accelerating from a dead stop. The Volkswagen Golf can overtake other cars on the freeway without too much trouble. The six-speed manual gearbox is also slick and enjoyable to shift, making the engine feel a little better. With the available eight-speed auto, things feel a little more relaxed, especially since the auto prefers to shift up early. Fortunately, if you find that sort of thing annoying, you can switch to a manual mode and change gears with the paddles behind the steering wheel. In this mode, you'll find that the gearbox is great, obeying your every command with instantaneous precision.

According to the EPA's review of the VW Golf, 2021 models will achieve 29/39/33 mpg with the manual. Surprisingly, the automatic is thirstier, achieving mileage estimates of 29/36/32 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. With a 13.2-gallon gas tank, you can expect to achieve around 435 miles of range with the stick shift. How much of that is achievable in the real world will, of course, depend on how heavy your right foot is.