2025 Volkswagen GLI: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2025 Volkswagen GLI gets 29 to 30 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd) at 30 mpg.
How the GLI ranks in its class
In the Compact Cars class for 2025, the GLI ranks 9th (tied with 3 others) of 22 for combined mileage (30 mpg), 6th of 22 for yearly fuel cost ($2,100 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 12th (tied with 1 other) of 22 for tailpipe CO2 (301 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 30 mpg, costs $2,600 a year and puts out 299.5 grams per mile.
Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 52 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 GLI's best version, 11 other models get the same and 186 get less. The 2025 GLI's cheapest version costs $2,100 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 43 cost less, 7 the same and 191 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 9 to 15 of 22)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 2025 BMW 2 Series | 2025 228 xDrive Gran Coupe | 30 | $2,600 | 288 |
| 9 | 2025 BMW 4 Series | 2025 430i Gran Coupe | 30 | $2,600 | 290 |
| 9 | 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2025 CLA250 | 30 | $2,600 | 298 |
| 9 | 2025 Volkswagen GLIThis car | 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd) | 30 | $2,100 | 301 |
| 13 | 2025 Audi A4 | 2025 A4 quattro | 29 | $2,650 | 301 |
| 13 | 2025 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 2025 C300 | 29 | $2,650 | 303 |
| 15 | 2025 Volkswagen Golf/GTI | 2025 GTI | 27 | $2,300 | 326 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd), 4-cyl 2.0 L: 26 mpg city, 36 highway, 30 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 GLI version is $2,100 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Compact Cars class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The GLI costs $505 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the GLI costs $2,525 less to fuel than the 2 Series (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2025 BMW 2 Series
- 2025 BMW 4 Series
- 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
The GLI against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2025 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the GLI (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the GLI | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 BMW 2 Series | 2025 228 xDrive Gran Coupe | 30 mpg | $2,600 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
| 2025 BMW 4 Series | 2025 430i Gran Coupe | 30 mpg | $2,600 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
| 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2025 CLA250 | 30 mpg | $2,600 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
Every version of the 2025 Volkswagen GLI
EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Manual 6-spd | Front-wheel | 26 | 36 | 30 | $2,100 | 301 | cheapest |
| 2025 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AM-S7) | Front-wheel | 25 | 35 | 29 | $2,150 | 311 | +$50 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2025 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 GLI; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd) puts out 301 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 301 to 311.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd): fuel economy score 6, greenhouse gas score 6.
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the GLI gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 30 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 | |
| 2023 | 30 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 | |
| 2024 | 30 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 | |
| 2025This page | 30 mpg | 2 | this page | |
| 2026 | 29 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg lower than 2025 |
Compared with the 2024 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 30 to 30 mpg (no change).
The 2026 model has 2 tested versions.
| Version in 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 30 mpg | 28 mpg | +2 mpg |
| 2025 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 29 mpg | 30 mpg | -1 mpg |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2025
We could not match the 2025 Volkswagen GLI to the U.S. safety agency's list of models, so there is no star rating for it here (checked 2026-11-14). That is a naming gap between two files, not a clean or a bad record.
Owner complaints, 2025
We could not match the 2025 Volkswagen GLI to the U.S. safety agency's list of models, so there is no complaint figure for it here (checked 2026-11-14). That is a naming gap between two files, not a clean or a bad record.
Safety recalls
We could not match the 2025 Volkswagen GLI to the U.S. safety agency's list of models, so there is no recall figure for it here (checked 2026-11-14). That is a naming gap between two files, not a clean or a bad record. check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More Compact Cars for 2025
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The GLI itself is at 30 mpg.
Other Volkswagen models of 2025
More Volkswagen models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2025 Volkswagen GLI gets the best mileage?
The 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd) with 30 mpg combined (26 city, 36 highway).
How much does a 2025 Volkswagen GLI cost to fuel for a year?
The 2025 Volkswagen GLI costs between $2,100 and $2,150 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 GLI (Manual 6-spd) at $2,100; the dearest is the 2025 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) at $2,150. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2025 Volkswagen GLI rank among 2025 Compact Cars models?
The 2025 Volkswagen GLI is 9th of 22 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Toyota Corolla at 50 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 30 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class at 30 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 Audi A4 at 29 mpg.
Did the GLI change from 2024 to 2025?
The 2024 model had 2 tested versions and the 2025 model has 2. The best figure went from 30 to 30 mpg (no change).
How did the 2025 Volkswagen GLI do in crash tests?
We could not match the 2025 Volkswagen GLI to the U.S. safety agency's list of models, so there is no star rating for it here (checked 2026-11-14). That is a naming gap between two files, not a clean or a bad record.
Do owners complain about the 2025 Volkswagen GLI?
We could not match the 2025 Volkswagen GLI to the U.S. safety agency's list of models, so there is no complaint figure for it here (checked 2026-11-14). That is a naming gap between two files, not a clean or a bad record.
Does the 2025 Volkswagen GLI have recalls?
We could not match the 2025 Volkswagen GLI to the U.S. safety agency's list of models, so there is no recall figure for it here (checked 2026-11-14). That is a naming gap between two files, not a clean or a bad record. Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2025 Volkswagen GLI: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14 (model not matched to the agency's list); complaints 2026-11-14 (model not matched to the agency's list); recalls 2026-11-14 (model not matched to the agency's list). Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Volkswagen GLI: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Volkswagen GLI: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Volkswagen GLI: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Volkswagen GLI: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.