Volkswagen Golf vs. Volkswagen R32
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen R32 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 Volkswagen Golf and the Volkswagen R32.
In comparing the Volkswagen Golf's and the Volkswagen R32's specifications and ratings, 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. The Volkswagen R32 has the advantage in the area of base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Volkswagen Golf's and the Volkswagen R32's specifications and ratings, the Volkswagen Golf is a better car than the Volkswagen R32.
Pricing: A used 2004 Volkswagen Golf ranges from $3,695 to $11,171 while a used 2004 Volkswagen R32 is priced between $13,195 to $36,990.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Volkswagen Golf’s base engine makes 115 horsepower, and the Volkswagen R32 base engine makes 240 horsepower. The Golf is rated to deliver an average of 24 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 392 miles. The R32 is rated to deliver an average of 19 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 384 miles. This gives the Volkswagen Golf the fuel efficiency and maximum range advantage over the Volkswagen R32. Both models use gasoline.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen R32 are comparable in regards to front shoulder room, front leg room, rear shoulder room and rear leg 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:
16155
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
15563
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
12960 - 20070
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
29675
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
N/A
Category Starting MSRP Range:
N/A
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
6760
Price Range:
3695 - 11171
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
5140
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
4343 - 6760
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
7
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
160147
# Good or Great Deals:
0
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
24257
Price Range:
13195 - 36990
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
4
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
100345
# Good or Great Deals:
0
Volkswagen Golf Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.1 / 10
Reliability:
7.9 / 10
Retained Value:
8.4 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Volkswagen R32 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
Not available
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Volkswagen Golf
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Volkswagen R32
Remaining Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
N/A
Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
N/A
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.077665203093099
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
4.3
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
1.5 - 18.2
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
1.4769729238330993
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Volkswagen Golf Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 29Ranking
1 out of / 9Ranking
3 out of / 29Ranking
3 out of / 9Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
5 out of / 29Ranking
9 out of / 29Ranking
20 out of / 29Ranking
22 out of / 29Ranking
25 out of / 29Volkswagen R32 Rankings
Available Body Styles
Hatchback
Available Body Styles
Hatchback
Available Drivetrain Options
Diesel, Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Volkswagen Golf Trim Levels
GL, GL TDI, GLS, GLS TDI
Volkswagen R32 Trim Levels
Base
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years / 50000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
115 hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque:
122 foot-lbs @ 2600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.042 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
240 hp @ 6250 rpm
Torque:
236 foot-lbs @ 2800 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.070 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
21 / 28 / 24
Range (city/hwy):
294 / 392 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3.2 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
17 / 24 / 19
Range (city/hwy):
272 / 384 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Standard/Optional Features
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bluetooth:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
N/A
Leather Upholstery:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Bench Seats:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Navigation System:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Android Auto:
N/A
Apple CarPlay:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bluetooth:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Ignition:
N/A
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Satellite radio:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Voice Recognition:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Backup camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Forward Collision Warning:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Pedestrian Detection:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.5 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
53.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
33.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
52.7 inches
Cargo Space:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
37.4 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.5 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
53.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.5 inches
Rear Leg Room:
33.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
52.7 inches
Cargo Space:
Not yet available
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2771 lbs
Width:
68.3 inches
Height:
56.7 inches
Length:
164.9 inches
Wheelbase:
98.9 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.1 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3409 lbs
Width:
68.3 inches
Height:
56.1 inches
Length:
164.4 inches
Wheelbase:
99.1 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.2 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
15.0 inches
Wheel Type:
steel
Tire Size:
195/65R15
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/40R18
Exterior Colors
Beige
Mojave Beige
Black
Black
Blue
Indigo Blue
Red
Tornado Red
Silver
Reflex Silver
White
Candy White
Exterior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black Magic
Blue
Deep Blue Metallic
Red
Tornado Red
Silver
Reflex Silver Metallic
White
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Beige
Black
Black
Gray
Gray
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Black
Gray
Anthracite/Black
