2026 Volkswagen GLI: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Volkswagen GLI gets 29 miles per gallon combined.
How the GLI ranks in its class
In the Compact Cars class for 2026, the GLI ranks 11th (tied with 1 other) of 17 for combined mileage (29 mpg), 5th of 17 for yearly fuel cost ($2,150 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 11th of 17 for tailpipe CO2 (306 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 30 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 294 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 60 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 GLI's best version, 7 other models get the same and 167 get less. The 2026 GLI's cheapest version costs $2,150 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 48 cost less, 4 the same and 173 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 8 to 15 of 17)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2026 Mazda 3 | 2026 3 4-Door 2WD | 30 | $2,100 | 294 |
| 8 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2026 CLA250 | 30 | $2,600 | 298 |
| 11 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 2026 C300 | 29 | $2,650 | 307 |
| 11 | 2026 Volkswagen GLIThis car | 2026 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) | 29 | $2,150 | 306 |
| 13 | 2026 Cadillac CT4 | 2026 CT4 (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 26 | $3,000 | 345 |
| 14 | 2026 Genesis G70 | 2026 G70 RWD (4-cyl 2.5 L) | 24 | $3,200 | 373 |
| 15 | 2026 Lexus IS | 2026 IS 350 | 22 | $3,500 | 403 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 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.
2026 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)), 4-cyl 2.0 L: 26 mpg city, 35 highway, 29 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 GLI version is $2,150 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Compact Cars class for 2026, 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 $522 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the GLI costs $2,610 less to fuel than the C-Class (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- 2026 BMW 4 Series
- 2026 Mazda 3
The GLI against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the GLI (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the GLI | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 2026 C300 | 29 mpg | $2,650 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
| 2026 BMW 4 Series | 2026 430i Gran Coupe | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 1 higher | $450 more a year | - |
| 2026 Mazda 3 | 2026 3 4-Door 2WD | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 1 higher | $50 less a year | - |
Every version of the 2026 Volkswagen GLI
EPA test figures for 2026; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AM-S7) | Front-wheel | 26 | 35 | 29 | $2,150 | 307 | cheapest |
| 2026 GLI (Manual 6-spd) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Manual 6-spd | Front-wheel | 26 | 36 | 29 | $2,150 | 306 | cheapest |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 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 2026 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) puts out 307 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 306 to 307.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)): 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 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 30 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 30 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 30 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 30 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 29 mpg | 2 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 30 to 29 mpg (down 1).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | no change |
| 2026 GLI (Manual 6-spd), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 29 mpg | 30 mpg | -1 mpg |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
We could not match the 2026 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, 2026
We could not match the 2026 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 2026 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 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The GLI itself is at 29 mpg.
Other Volkswagen models of 2026
More Volkswagen models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Volkswagen GLI gets the best mileage?
The 2026 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) with 29 mpg combined (26 city, 35 highway).
How much does a 2026 Volkswagen GLI cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Volkswagen GLI costs between $2,150 and $2,150 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2026 Volkswagen GLI rank among 2026 Compact Cars models?
The 2026 Volkswagen GLI is 11th of 17 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla at 50 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 30 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class at 29 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Cadillac CT4 at 26 mpg.
Did the GLI change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 2 tested versions and the 2026 model has 2. The best figure went from 30 to 29 mpg (down 1).
How did the 2026 Volkswagen GLI do in crash tests?
We could not match the 2026 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 2026 Volkswagen GLI?
We could not match the 2026 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 2026 Volkswagen GLI have recalls?
We could not match the 2026 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 2026 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 2026 Volkswagen GLI: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen GLI: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Volkswagen GLI: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 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.