Overview & Reviews

Beyond adjustments to its trim and options structure, the 2012 Volkswagen Golf is unchanged. Notably, however, one of those adjustments is the deletion of optional rear side airbags.

• Refined driving dynamics.
• Fuel-efficient diesel engine
• Outstanding cabin materials and construction
• Spacious hatchback body style

• Unrefined and inefficient gasoline engine
• Higher price than many rivals.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 32.00

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  12 TDI - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By ronsulli - February 14 - 1:45 am

  I got it my TDI new mid july . its at 29,000 miles , i love driving it , great car wouldnt trade it . 9.5 out of 10 . get one youll love it takes you every where , on a dime of diesel . from El Paso to Houston and back 150 bucks in diesel ! around 1500 miles .

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  Above average car - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By na121w - January 22 - 2:16 am

  I have had this car for about 6 months so far having put 5000 miles on it. I saw many reviews on here that reflected the car returned an average MPG rating of over 44 mpg. My average since i have owned the car is 35mpg. While not as high as other have claimed it is still very good and higher than the 34mpg EPA estimate. Car is fun to drive for a fwd economy car. Only issue I have encountered with the car is the steering. Ever since i had the car the steering wheel needs to be turned slightly left to drive straight. The dealer said it was due to a crown in the road; however, it still requires the wheel to be turned to the left even on flat roads without crowns.

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  Great Car To Drive - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By aom1 - November 20 - 8:33 am

  I got the 4 door hatchback with the base 2.5 engine. Like most VWs this is a drivers car. Its still built in Germany. Great feel on the road, very comfortable seats and a sophisticated feeling suspension. Very little road/wind noise. I have been getting around 27 mpg with mostly hwy driving. This powertrain has enough pep for my needs while still using regular gas. Theres lots of room with the seats folded down. VW still has great lease rates if you can negotiate.

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  QUICK AND FUEL EFFICIENT...but DSG confused. - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By dankocke - November 20 - 12:16 am

  I traded a 2011 Optima Turbo and dont miss the 270hp at all. The diesel torque is Fantasitic for spirited driving. My mileage has been around 39 mpg with A/C. The trip computer is off by as much as 4 mpg. I have 2000 miles on it and filled up 5 times. Only Issue: DSG can make your passengers feel ill because it is Jerky/seems confused when you first start out. Make sure to have all people in the car for test drive. Otherwise, the car has plenty of space for 2 adults and 2 kids. Backseat has actually more legroom than you realize by looking at it.... the footwells in the front are so deep you can easily move the seats up and still have room for the folks up front and back.

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  Delighted with the performance, not the interior - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By tedmontreal - October 11 - 7:49 am

  Overall I am extremely happy with this purchase, and the engine in particular has exceeded my expectations. I drove it brand-new (TDI) from Montreal to Chicago, with mostly highway driving and got a total _average_ of 49 + miles per gallon (4.7 litres / 100km), with peak segments getting 57 mpg. This was mostly at ~70 mph, and without cruise control. I took a little detour for curves and hills while on the trip and yes, the torque and the suspension is impressive. My only quibbles are the interior: my elderly (extremely skinny) dad said that after an hour of sitting the seats were uncomfortable for him, easily solved with a thick extra cushion. However, see my suggested improvements below.

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  Solid Quality Craftsmanship - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By ChuckP - May 5 - 8:11 am

  Of course, youve heard of the dieselgate scandal. Perhaps you have not heard about the failure of the high pressure fuel pump that had been under federal investigation. Regardless, Im caught in the middle of accepting the buyback of $15,000+ OR keeping the car, getting it fixed on VWs dollar, and pocketing the settlement of $5,000. I bought the vehicle because of its mix of performance and fuel efficiency and because I have an affinity towards hatchbacks. Why a hatchback? Because I frequently transport stuff: lawn mower, weed wacker, leaf blower, furniture, etc. If I sold it back, what would I buy that met these needs? A Prius? Someone online commented that the Prius performance is similar to pushing a grocery shopping cart; however, fuel efficiency is great. A Mazda 3? Theres a slight chance but probably not. I have 128K miles on this VW with only minor issues to report: horn wouldnt work early on. Thats been fixed. Lately and very rarely, Ive noticed Ill be driving down the road and the sunroof will open. Its a little freaky but its happened about 3 times total and it doesnt open all the way, just to the first level. The Bi-Xenon / adaptive headlights are powerful. Dynaudio is a pleasure to listen to. I use the navigation all of the time and its ok. The leather wrap-around steering wheel is comfortable to hold. My biggest complaint would be that the front seat could be more comfortable since theres little lumbar support and the headrest is in an awkward position. However, the front seats sort of wrap around your sides keeping you in place. This car is awesome and Im worried that any car I buy to replace it will be a disappointment. Besides, I can see this car going way over 250K miles. What car would I buy could do that? My fuel efficiency is less than most other TDI drivers because I admit, there are times when I "need" to pass or get through or by drivers that are "in my way". This car moves quickly when needed and its truly what makes it a joy to drive. At excessively high speeds it handles like a charm - no shaking, no rattling, and tight steering.

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  best car I ever owned - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By David Haldeman - February 8 - 3:57 pm

  Great on the open road

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  So far, excellent - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By smcgee - January 13 - 6:49 pm

  Just purchased 4 door Golf TDI, 750 miles driven. Avg 44 MPG on daily 20 mile commute in mixed hwy/city driving. Love the DSG transmission. Car feels very solid. It reminds me of a more refined, better version of my well-loved but long gone 83 GTI, similar feel in the seats and suspension. Very comfortable for a small car. You pay a bit of a premium for the Golf because it is still made in Germany, but I think will prove to be a long term good value. Diesels have come a long way. Car is quiet, and while not a racecar, has good acceleration and great torque.

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  Great value and its like owning a "Mac" car - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By sinoproject - June 29 - 11:37 pm

  Bought this car at the beginning of July 2012 and have taken it from Vancouver, BC to SF, and back. Great gas economy: the longer I drove, the better mileage I got, at the end averaging 19 Km/liter (44.69MPG) with the AC on 70% of the time. The entire trip I filled up 4 tanks. Thats with quite a bit city driving in the Bay area. Very comfortable even for this long haul trip. My kid was in a booster with the centre arm rest down, drink in the cup older, snacks near by. Her iPad linked to the stereo via Bluetooth and got sensational sound for her games. My wife sat next to her the whole trip & neither of them complained about lack of room or comfort. Driving it gives youa lot of confidence.

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  I love this car - 2012 Volkswagen Golf
  By fxgolf - April 22 - 9:34 pm

  I have owned and driven almost everything that moves. I am a car guy I love them all. My last VW was a 2004 1.8t GTI and i loved that one alot but this new Golf TDi is an absolute blast to drive, throw it into a corner and it just sticks very well for a stock car. the power of the lil Diesel is very nice pulls super hard in 1st and 2nd, nice even power throughout the entire shifting pattern. the looks of the MKVI are really agressive and i love my Tornado Red Golfs color a real classic VW color used for many years now. If you love having fun behind the wheel this is a great car to play in.