The 2020 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is a dependable used car option with an excellent reliability record, boasting zero recalls and complaints.
Calculated from 10,000+ NHTSA, EPA & owner-complaint data pointsHow we score
2019 modelSpecifications by model year
Every section below is populated from the available EPA, NHTSA, and vehicle-specification data for this model.
EPA-rated city, highway, and combined economy by year.
Powertrain specifications can vary between model years.
| Year | Body style | engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Cylinders | Displacement | Fuel type | Horsepower | Torque | Engine configuration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | wagon | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | wagon | Cylinders: 4, Displacement: 1.4, Fuel type: Regular, Horsepower: 147-168 hp, Torque: 184-199 lb-ft, Engine configuration: Inline-4 | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 4 | 1.4 | Regular | 147-168 hp | 184-199 lb-ft | Inline-4 |
| 2018 | wagon | Cylinders: 4, Displacement: 1.8, Fuel type: Regular | Automatic (S6) | AWD/All-Wheel Drive | 4 | 1.8 | Regular | — | — | — |
| 2017 | wagon | Cylinders: 4, Displacement: 1.8, Fuel type: Regular | Manual 5-spd | FWD/Front-Wheel Drive | 4 | 1.8 | Regular | — | — | — |
| 2016 | wagon | Cylinders: 4, Displacement: 1.8, Fuel type: Regular | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 4 | 1.8 | Regular | — | — | — |
| 2015 | wagon | Cylinders: 4, Displacement: 1.8, Fuel type: Regular | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 4 | 1.8 | Regular | — | — | — |
Original pricing and model configuration where available.
Seating, cargo, and physical configuration by model year.
| Year | Seats | Doors | bodyAndInterior | GVWR | Keyless ignition | Steering location | Seat rows | Axles | Wheels | Wheelbase | Front wheel | Rear wheel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | — | — | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 4 | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 103.5 | 17 | 17 |
| 2018 | 5 | 4 | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 103.5 | 17 | 17 |
| 2017 | 5 | — | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 103.5 | 15 | 15 |
| 2016 | — | — | — | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
NHTSA safety ratings and listed driver-assistance availability.
| Year | nhtsaSafetyRatings | adas | Overall rating | Frontal crash | Side crash | Rollover | Rated vehicle | abs | esc | tractionControl | tpms | adaptiveCruiseControl | autoBrake | forwardCollisionWarning | pedestrianAeb | blindSpotMonitoring | rearCamera | adaptiveDrivingBeam | autoReverseSystem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | Overall rating: 5, Frontal crash: 4, Side crash: 5, Rollover: 4, Rated vehicle: 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | abs: standard, esc: standard, tractionControl: standard, tpms: standard, adaptiveCruiseControl: standard, autoBrake: optional, forwardCollisionWarning: standard, pedestrianAeb: standard, blindSpotMonitoring: optional, rearCamera: standard, adaptiveDrivingBeam: standard, autoReverseSystem: standard | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | optional | standard | standard | optional | standard | standard | standard |
| 2018 | Overall rating: 5, Frontal crash: 4, Side crash: 5, Rollover: 4, Rated vehicle: 2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | abs: standard, esc: standard, tpms: standard, adaptiveCruiseControl: standard, autoBrake: standard, forwardCollisionWarning: standard, pedestrianAeb: standard, blindSpotMonitoring: standard, rearCamera: standard, adaptiveDrivingBeam: standard, autoReverseSystem: standard | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2018 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard |
| 2017 | Overall rating: 5, Frontal crash: 4, Side crash: 5, Rollover: 4, Rated vehicle: 2017 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW AWD | abs: standard, esc: standard, tractionControl: standard, tpms: standard, autoBrake: standard, rearCamera: standard, adaptiveDrivingBeam: standard, autoReverseSystem: standard | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2017 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW AWD | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | — | — | — | standard | standard | standard |
| 2016 | Overall rating: 5, Frontal crash: 4, Side crash: 5, Rollover: 4, Rated vehicle: 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | tpms: standard | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2016 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | — | — | — | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | Rated vehicle: 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | — | — | — | — | — | 2015 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen SW FWD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Listed infotainment, equipment, battery, and charging data.
Model year reports
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is a dependable used car option with an excellent reliability record, boasting zero recalls and complaints.
The 2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is a practical wagon with a solid chassis, but its below-average reliability and documented engine issues warrant careful consideration and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
The 2018 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen offers practicality but is marred by a 'Below Average' reliability verdict and significant fuel system concerns.
The 2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is a practical wagon with a strong safety score, but its below-average reliability and significant suspension concerns warrant careful consideration.
The 2016 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen offers practicality but is hampered by below-average reliability, primarily due to recurring **airbag system failures** (clock spring).
The 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen offers practicality but is hampered by significant electrical and airbag system concerns, including clock spring failures.
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
Carfocal currently has 6 published Golf SportWagen reports, covering 2015 through 2020. Compare the year-specific reports directly to see how reliability, recalls, ownership costs, and value change over time. The newest published verdict says: The 2020 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is a dependable used car option with an excellent reliability record, boasting zero recalls and complaints.
Published year coverage: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
There is no single reliability answer for every Volkswagen Golf SportWagen. Carfocal's published year reports show why the model year matters, with verdicts that include the 2020 volkswagen golf sportwagen is a dependable used car option with an excellent reliability record, boasting zero recalls and complaints. and the 2020 volkswagen golf sportwagen's strong reliability record makes it an attractive used car proposition. Compare the report for the year you are considering before you make a decision.
6 published year-specific reports are available for comparison.
Across Carfocal's published Golf SportWagen guides, recurring problem areas include Engine, Electrical System, and Suspension. The exact risk depends on the model year, so open the report for the vehicle you are evaluating to see which issues, recalls, and repair concerns apply.
Common problem areas found in published repair predictions: Engine, Electrical System, and Suspension.