BMW 3 Series vs. Volkswagen Golf
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW 3 Series and Volkswagen Golf contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW 3 Series and the Volkswagen Golf.
In comparing the BMW 3 Series's and the Volkswagen Golf's specifications and ratings, the BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. The Volkswagen Golf has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency. Based on this comparison of the BMW 3 Series's and the Volkswagen Golf's specifications and ratings, the two cars are fairly comparable.
Pricing: A used 2019 BMW 3 Series ranges from $12,118 to $31,539 while a used 2019 Volkswagen Golf is priced between $10,426 to $20,532.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW 3 Series’s base engine makes 248 horsepower, and the Volkswagen Golf base engine makes 147 horsepower. The 3 Series is rated to deliver an average of 27 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 521 miles. The Golf is rated to deliver an average of 32 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 488 miles.This gives the Volkswagen Golf the advantage in fuel efficiency and the BMW 3 Series the advantage in maximum range. The 3 Series uses premium unleaded, and the Golf uses regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: The BMW 3 Series has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space. The Volkswagen Golf has the advantage in the area of front shoulder room.
Safety Ratings: The Volkswagen Golf has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
45400
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
42984
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
25900 - 74200
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
21845
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
21340
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
14795 - 40395
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
23835
Price Range:
12118 - 31539
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
26773
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
19270 - 45859
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
175
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
66296
# Good or Great Deals:
65
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
16041
Price Range:
10426 - 20532
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
17470
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
10157 - 31336
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
21
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
59542
# Good or Great Deals:
7
BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
Volkswagen Golf Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.1 / 10
Reliability:
7.9 / 10
Retained Value:
8.4 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
6.2
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.5 - 14.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Volkswagen Golf
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
11.1
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
5.8
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
2.8 - 12.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.133
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
17.02722731268845
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
3.3
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.0 - 17.0
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
5.799025556136334
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
4.8
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
1.0 - 12.6
BMW 3 Series Rankings
Not yet available
Volkswagen Golf Rankings
Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 13Ranking
7 out of / 37Ranking
7 out of / 37Ranking
10 out of / 17Ranking
12 out of / 37Ranking
13 out of / 37Ranking
14 out of / 37Ranking
25 out of / 37Ranking
25 out of / 37Ranking
26 out of / 37Ranking
32 out of / 37Available Body Styles
Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon
Available Body Styles
Hatchback
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels
Not yet available
Volkswagen Golf Trim Levels
S, SE
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
6 years / 72000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
6 years / 72000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
248 hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque:
258 foot-lbs @ 1450 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.062 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
147 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque:
184 foot-lbs @ 1400 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.051 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
23 / 33 / 27
Range (city/hwy):
363 / 521 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.4 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
29 / 37 / 32
Range (city/hwy):
383 / 488 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Apple CarPlay:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
41.3 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.2 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
39.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.1 inches
Cargo Space:
24.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
127.1 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.6 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.9 inches
Cargo Space:
22.8 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
116.3 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4015 lbs
Width:
80.6 inches
Height:
59.4 inches
Length:
190 inches
Wheelbase:
115 inches
Ground Clearance:
6.5 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2873 lbs
Width:
70.8 inches
Height:
58.2 inches
Length:
167.6 inches
Wheelbase:
103.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.4 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
15.0 x 6.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
195/65R15
Exterior Colors
Beige
Kalahari Beige Metallic
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Estoril Blue Metallic / Imperial Blue Metallic
Brown
Jatoba Brown Metallic
Gray
Arctic Grey Metallic / Mineral Grey Metallic
Red
Melbourne Red Metallic
Silver
Glacier Silver Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Exterior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Deep Black Pearl
Blue
Night Blue Metallic / Silk Blue Metallic
Brown
Not available
Gray
Platinum Gray Metallic / Tungsten Silver Metallic
Red
Tornado Red
Silver
Not available
White
Pure White
Interior Colors
Beige
Cognac w/ Dark Brown Highlight / Cognac w/ Dark Brown Highlight and Cognac Dashboard / Venetian Beige w/ Dark Oyster Highlight / Venetian Beige/Black
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Highlight / Black w/ Dark Oyster Highlight / Black w/ Red Highlight
Gray
Oyster
Red
Coral Red w/ Black Highlight
Interior Colors
Beige
Beige
Black
Titan Black
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
