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2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specs - Exterior and Interior Dimensions
| Body | 2dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch |
| Wheelbase | 101.5 in | 101.5 in |
| Length | 165.4 in | 165.4 in |
| Width | 70.3 in | 70.3 in |
| Height | 58.3 in | 58.3 in |
| Curb Weight | 3025 lb. | 3025 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gal. | 14.5 gal. |
| Headroom, Row 1 | 39.3 in | 39.3 in |
| Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 54.7 in | 54.7 in |
| Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 41.2 in |
| Headroom, Row 2 | 38.5 in | 38.5 in |
| Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 52.8 in | 52.8 in |
| Legroom, Row 2 | 35.5 in | 35.5 in |
| Total Legroom | 76.7 in (over 2 rows) | 76.7 in (over 2 rows) |
| Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.0 ft3 | 15.0 ft3 |
| Cargo Volume, Maximum | 46.0 ft3 | 46.0 ft3 |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
| 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2012 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Four adults can easily and comfortably fit in this car, with plenty of room for luggage. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD |
Seats actually fit your body and have proper bolstering, unlike most other seats in this price range which are more like shelves for oversized American behinds. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Good leg room and supportive seats. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Good leg room for a small car. Supportive seats. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
I have MS, so comfortable seats are a must. This is the only car that I've been in where I could do a non-stop trip from Michigan to Washington DC in. No fatigue, no stopping for a stretch. It's that good, and VW throws in standard heated seats for the GTI. And they do mean "heated" seats, not "warmed" seats, not "take-the-edge-off" seats. Turn them on full and your bum will be roasting with in a few minutes. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Firm, supportive seats. Not too hard. Should be excellent for long road trips. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Firm, yet comfortable. Excellent lateral support in the turns. Excellent thigh support fro taller driver. Can sit for hours and still feel comfortable. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2-door Hatch Specs - Powertrains and Tire Sizes
| Trim | Base | TDI | GTI | R |
| Standard Engine | 2.5L I5 DOHC-4v 170 hp@5700 177 lb-ft@4250 | turbocharged 2.0L I4 Diesel DOHC-4v 140 hp@4000 236 lb-ft@1750 | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700 | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 256 hp@4300 243 lb-ft@2400 |
| Standard Transmission | 5-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual |
| Optional Transmission(s) | 6-speed manually-shiftable automatic | 6-speed automated manual | 6-speed automated manual | |
| Standard Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | AWD |
| Standard Tires | 195/65HR15 tires | 225/45HR17 tires | 225/40HR18 tires | 225/40HR18 tires |
2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 4-door Hatch Specs - Powertrains and Tire Sizes
| Trim | Base | TDI | GTI | R |
| Standard Engine | 2.5L I5 DOHC-4v 170 hp@5700 177 lb-ft@4250 | turbocharged 2.0L I4 Diesel DOHC-4v 140 hp@4000 236 lb-ft@1750 | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700 | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 256 hp@4300 243 lb-ft@2400 |
| Standard Transmission | 6-speed manually-shiftable automatic | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual |
| Optional Transmission(s) | 6-speed automated manual | 6-speed automated manual | ||
| Standard Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | AWD |
| Standard Tires | 195/65HR15 tires | 225/45HR17 tires | 225/40HR18 tires | 225/40HR18 tires |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Powertrain of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
| 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Powertrain: Pros | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2013 | 4dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Automotive experts are rather harsh with the 5 cylinder 2.5L engine sound. Sure, after testing cars that cost 3 to 10 times as much as the golf does, almost all lesser cars are at a disadvantage. But considering all sub $20K car engines, this one is a jewel. Its gruffness and low end grunt suits the character of the car. Its a strong engine over its entire power-band and in the daily cut and thrust, its got ample power and can accelerate on on-ramps with a huge safety margin to spare. It can live within its normal envelop of daily duties without feeling strained.(the engine sounds better in the Golf than in the Jetta). A $650 AWE-tuning muffler would make this engine sound almost exotic. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2013 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD |
The TDI has gobs of torque down low and feels stronger than it is. Subjectively, it's a blast to drive. Of course the R has a lot more power, especially as the revs rise and at higher speeds. But at most speeds that matter, the TDI is great. It is something of a shock to look down and see that you are turning 1400 rpm. Keeping the revs down really pays off at the pump. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2012 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 170hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD |
Within the confines of diesel (the narrow-powerband deal), I feel my baby go boom reliably - it can dig out of anything I've thrown at it so far, including mud and snow but also passing at any speed. I can't wait for the GTD to come out in 2015 so I can be even more unscientifically pleased. I might consider trying the DSG auto-shifting model if there were a way to have one for a month to see how I like it. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2012 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 256hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual AWD |
This review is specific to the Golf R model which is a turbo 2.0 L with all-wheel-drive that we bought as a CPO with 13K miles. The Golf R is set apart from all other Golf's in VW's line by only coming (to the U.S.) with a manual 6-speed trans. It's a 'subtle' performance hot hatch that when new ismuch more expensive than a 'loaded' GTI. In our mind, it's not for everyone but it's a low volume (only 5,000 sold per year) fun car you simply don't see on every street corner. The engine pulls hard with quick acceleration and little to no torque steer as its AWD. The 6-speed has nice short throws and the clutch sweet spot lends itself to quick shifting. The engine/trans in the R is the same as what you'll get in an Audi TTS which is much more expensive but of course more sporty looking than the Golf R. VW does an excellent job with these small displacement 4 cyl engines --- quite smooth and way over built (you can easily add more HP in 'stages' and still not overstress the engine); quiet when cruising but plenty of power when shooting down a ramp or for passing. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2012 | 2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD |
The 2.5L inline-5 is pretty ubiquitous in Volkswagens today, even though its days are supposed to be numbered. Despite its odd cylinder count, it has been around for a long time and, in a car of this size and class, it is very responsive and the 170-odd lb./ft. of torque get it moving quickly to pass or merge onto the highway. This car will genuinely accelerate in fifth gear, which gives plenty of confidence to the driver. Things do get rather less exciting as the tach rises, though - it's not a performance model, but it is far more than just adequate for a commuter vehicle. Journos inevitably malign its engine note, and it's certainly not going to turn any heads, but for my money it's less annoying than the buzz-saw whining of lots of economy four-bangers. Oh, and it's easy to find a manual transmission, which has a light, long-travel clutch with a weighty, satisfying shifter. Perfect. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
The torque means the engine never strains to move the car. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
This little 2.0L hauls. There's nothing better than being able to keep up with the traffic in the fast lane, pull out and instantly whoosh up to speed without having to shift from 6th. It's not the quietest engine at idle a little on the ticky side, but that's high-pressure fuel injection for you. Otherwise this is the most linear, and smoothest turbo-four on the market. More than makes up for the power deficit in it's class with sheer refinement. As for the manual transmission, let's not even go there. Clutch takeup is light, linear if a little vague. The shifter itself is smooth, with positive engagement and an effortless movement. This gearbox rewards fingertip lightness. Rev-matching is almost instinct, as the car is geared perfectly. The shifter position itself is exemplary, with the knob bing positioned right where your hand lays. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Effortless torque. The engine never feels like it is straining. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Excellent transmission. Quick, precise, smooth shifts. Quick (but not spectacular) acceleration. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Powertrain: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2012 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 256hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual AWD |
Both the TDI and the R are much slower cars than the Nissan 370Z I am trading in. So the difference between them is much smaller than their difference vs. the Z. They are both slow cars, relatively. But both are fun to drive, which is what I care about. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2012 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
The manual transmission is really just there. Gear changes happen, and the shifter is smooth, but also vague and unconnected. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Tires of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
| 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Tires: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2013 | 4dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The 17 and 18 inch wheels look great but in this small a car, they tend to make the ride a bit harsh (totally livable on smooth roads, but realistically, these roads are few and far in-between). If maximum comfort is your requirement, resist the urge to splurge on the larger rim size as the little 15 inch wheels steel rims provide the cushiest most forgiving ride with least penalty. Decent 15 inch alloys can be purchased separately for under $500 rather than splurging to a higher equipped model or VW sourced $1800 alloy wheel kit. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2013 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD |
Golf TDI comes with low rolling resistance all-season tires. They are OK around corners, but not very good when braking, especially on wet roads. I wish I had insisted on performance tires (or winter snow tires) rather than "no-season" tires that I got. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
| 2012 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Stock Dunlops (A/S) are noisy and not especially grippy. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI MSRP and Invoice Prices
| Body | Trim | Base Price | Invoice | Destination |
| 2dr Hatch | Base | 17,995 | 17,275 | 770 |
| 2dr Hatch | TDI | 24,235 | 23,266 | 770 |
| 2dr Hatch | GTI | 23,995 | 23,035 | 770 |
| 2dr Hatch | R | 33,990 | 32,631 | 770 |
| 4dr Hatch | Base | 19,795 | 19,003 | 770 |
| 4dr Hatch | TDI | 24,935 | 23,937 | 770 |
| 4dr Hatch | GTI | 24,595 | 23,611 | 770 |
| 4dr Hatch | R | 34,590 | 33,207 | 770 |
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