2019 head-to-head · Compact Car

2019 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

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✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
37 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,453/ year to fuel
32 MPG

On fuel costs these two are nearly tied. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.10/gal regular gas, the most efficient 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel (37 MPG) costs about $1,500 a year to fuel and the 2019 Volkswagen Golf/GTI (32 MPG) about $1,453.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Side by side

Chevrolet Cruze DieselVolkswagen Golf/GTI
$1,500 Your annual fuel cost $1,453
37 MPG Combined efficiency 32 MPG
31 MPG City 29 MPG
48 MPG Highway 37 MPG
94 cu ft Passenger volume 93 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
294 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 276 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
7/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Diesel Powertrain Gas
Diesel Fuel Regular gasoline
1.6L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 1.4L 4-cyl turbo
9-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI across model years

  • Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Volkswagen Golf/GTI has more cargo space (16 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 43 2019 compact cars, the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel ranks 15th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 12th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is a diesel, while the Volkswagen Golf/GTI is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel or the 2019 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Golf/GTI. The Chevrolet Cruze Diesel is rated 37 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI 32 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.70/gal diesel fuel and $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,500 for the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel and $1,453 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI.

Which has more cargo space?

The Volkswagen Golf/GTI, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Cruze Diesel vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI in other years

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