2024 Volkswagen GLI: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2024 Volkswagen GLI gets 28 to 30 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) at 30 mpg.
How the GLI ranks in its class
In the Compact Cars class for 2024, the GLI ranks 8th (tied with 3 others) of 22 for combined mileage (30 mpg), 7th of 22 for yearly fuel cost ($2,100 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 10th of 22 for tailpipe CO2 (297 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 29.5 mpg, costs $2,600 a year and puts out 300 grams per mile.
Across all 262 2024 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 261 other models, 49 get more miles per gallon than the 2024 GLI's best version, 13 other models get the same and 199 get less. The 2024 GLI's cheapest version costs $2,100 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 255 other models with a cost figure, 43 cost less, 6 the same and 206 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 8 to 13 of 22)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2024. 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 | 2024 Audi A4 | 2024 A4 quattro | 30 | $2,600 | 300 |
| 8 | 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 2024 C300 | 30 | $2,600 | 300 |
| 8 | 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2024 CLA250 | 30 | $2,600 | 296 |
| 8 | 2024 Volkswagen GLIThis car | 2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) | 30 | $2,100 | 297 |
| 12 | 2024 BMW 3 Series | 2024 330i Sedan | 29 | $2,650 | 158 |
| 13 | 2024 BMW 2 Series | 2024 228i Gran Coupe | 28 | $2,750 | 315 |
| 13 | 2024 BMW 4 Series | 2024 430i Gran Coupe | 28 | $2,750 | 312 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2024 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.
2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)), 4-cyl 2.0 L: 26 mpg city, 36 highway, 30 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2024 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 2024, 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 A4 (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2024 Audi A4
- 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
The GLI against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2024 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the GLI (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the GLI | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Audi A4 | 2024 A4 quattro | 30 mpg | $2,600 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
| 2024 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 2024 C300 | 30 mpg | $2,600 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
| 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 2024 CLA250 | 30 mpg | $2,600 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
Every version of the 2024 Volkswagen GLI
EPA test figures for 2024; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AM-S7) | Front-wheel | 26 | 36 | 30 | $2,100 | 297 | cheapest |
| 2024 GLI (Manual 6-spd) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Manual 6-spd | Front-wheel | 24 | 35 | 28 | $2,200 | 319 | +$100 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2024 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2024 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 2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) puts out 297 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 297 to 319.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2024 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 2024 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 30 mpg | 2 | same as 2024 | |
| 2023 | 30 mpg | 2 | same as 2024 | |
| 2024This page | 30 mpg | 2 | this page | |
| 2025 | 30 mpg | 2 | same as 2024 | |
| 2026 | 29 mpg | 2 | 1 mpg lower than 2024 |
Compared with the 2023 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 30 to 30 mpg (no change).
The 2025 model has 2 tested versions.
| Version in 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 30 mpg | 30 mpg | no change |
| 2024 GLI (Manual 6-spd), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 28 mpg | 30 mpg | -2 mpg |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2024
We could not match the 2024 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, 2024
We could not match the 2024 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 2024 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 2024
Other 2024 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The GLI itself is at 30 mpg.
Other Volkswagen models of 2024
More Volkswagen models that have a 2024 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2024 Volkswagen GLI gets the best mileage?
The 2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) with 30 mpg combined (26 city, 36 highway).
How much does a 2024 Volkswagen GLI cost to fuel for a year?
The 2024 Volkswagen GLI costs between $2,100 and $2,200 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2024 GLI (Automatic (AM-S7)) at $2,100; the dearest is the 2024 GLI (Manual 6-spd) at $2,200. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2024 Volkswagen GLI rank among 2024 Compact Cars models?
The 2024 Volkswagen GLI is 8th of 22 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2024 Toyota Corolla at 50 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 29.5 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class at 30 mpg and the next one behind is the 2024 BMW 3 Series at 29 mpg.
Did the GLI change from 2023 to 2024?
The 2023 model had 2 tested versions and the 2024 model has 2. The best figure went from 30 to 30 mpg (no change).
How did the 2024 Volkswagen GLI do in crash tests?
We could not match the 2024 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 2024 Volkswagen GLI?
We could not match the 2024 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 2024 Volkswagen GLI have recalls?
We could not match the 2024 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 2024 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 2024 Volkswagen GLI: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2024 Volkswagen GLI: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2024 Volkswagen GLI: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2024 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.