Overview

What's New for 2012:
- Slight adjustments to option packages

Exterior Features
The 2012 Volkswagen Golf is a 3- or 5-door hatchback with either a gasoline or diesel engine. The diesel version is called the Golf TDI. Both the 3- and 5-door versions of the Golf are offered in the 2.5L (gasoline engine) or the TDI trims. Standard exterior features include 15-inch steel wheels and fog lights. The Volkswagen Golf, now in its sixth generation, has previously been sold as the Rabbit.

Interior Features
The base Volkswagen Golf 2.5L includes air conditioning, cruise control, power accessories, cloth upholstery, and an 8-speaker stereo system. The Golf TDI includes many features that are optional on the 2.5L, including heated front seats, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and an upgraded sound system.

Optional Features
Options on the 2012 Volkswagen Golf include 17-inch wheels, sunroof, navigation system, bi-Xenon headlights, and a premium audio system.

Under the Hood
The Golf 2.5L comes with front-wheel drive. The standard power plant on the 2.5L is a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine rated at 170 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque, which works  with a 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 6-speed automatic transmission. The Golf TDI features a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine rated at 140 horsepower, but boosts the torque to 236 lb.-ft. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard on the TDI.

Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2012 Volkswagen Golf are:
- Golf 2.5L with manual transmission: 23/31/26 mpg (city/highway/combined)
- Golf 2.5L with automatic transmission: 24/31/26 mpg
- Golf TDI with manual transmission: 30/41/34 mpg
- Golf TDI with automatic transmission: 30/42/34 mpg

Safety
Standard safety features on the Volkswagen Golf include anti-lock disc brakes, front-seat side air bags, and side curtain air bags.

In government tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Golf received 4 (out of 5) stars for rollover protection. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Golf received "Good" ratings--the Institute's highest--in all crash protection tests.