Volkswagen Golf / GTI Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2012

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Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specs at TrueDelta: Powertrains and tires by trim level (2012)

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI specs.

2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specs - Exterior and Interior Dimensions

Body 2dr Hatch 4dr Hatch
Wheelbase 2,578 mm 2,578 mm
Length 4,201 mm 4,201 mm
Width 1,786 mm 1,786 mm
Height 1,481 mm 1,481 mm
Curb Weight 1,372 kg 1,372 kg
Fuel Capacity 55 L 55 L
Headroom, Row 1 998 mm 998 mm
Shoulder Room, Row 1 1,389 mm 1,389 mm
Legroom, Row 1 1,046 mm 1,046 mm
Headroom, Row 2 978 mm 978 mm
Shoulder Room, Row 2 1,341 mm 1,341 mm
Legroom, Row 2 902 mm 902 mm
Total Legroom 1,948 mm (over 2 rows) 1,948 mm (over 2 rows)
Cargo Volume, Minimum 425 L 425 L
Cargo Volume, Maximum 1,303 L 1,303 L

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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
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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 Transmission5-speed manual6-speed manual6-speed manual6-speed manual
Optional Transmission(s)6-speed manually-shiftable automatic6-speed automated manual6-speed automated manual 
Standard DrivetrainFWDFWDFWDAWD
Standard Tires195/65HR15 tires225/45HR17 tires225/40HR18 tires225/40HR18 tires

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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 Transmission6-speed manually-shiftable automatic6-speed manual6-speed manual6-speed manual
Optional Transmission(s) 6-speed automated manual6-speed automated manual 
Standard DrivetrainFWDFWDFWDAWD
Standard Tires195/65HR15 tires225/45HR17 tires225/40HR18 tires225/40HR18 tires

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Powertrain of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Powertrain: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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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