1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI MPG and Fuel Economy
On this page, you will find a complete guide to the miles per gallon and fuel efficiency data for the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI.
The 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI has 3 model options: Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.9 L, Automatic 4-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L and Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L.
The 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.9 L runs on diesel and is in the Compact Cars car class.
The 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Automatic 4-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Compact Cars car class.
The 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Compact Cars car class.
🛣 How Many Miles per Gallon (MPG) Does a 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Get?
Across all models, the combined average MPG for the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI is 28 miles per gallon.
The table below breaks down the MPG for each model option:
| Model Option | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.9 L | 37 | 33 | 44 |
| Automatic 4-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L | 22 | 19 | 26 |
| Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L | 24 | 21 | 29 |
💵 What is the Average Yearly Fuel Cost for a 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI?
The average fuel costs for all models of the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI is $2,517.
The average fuel costs have been estimated by government regulators based on 15,000 miles driven per year, using regular gasoline, and a split of 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.
Comparing a 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI to an average vehicle over 5 years, you will spend $1,083 more on fuel.
The table below shows the fuel costs and 5-year save/spend for each model option:
| Model Option | Fuel Cost | 5-Year Save/Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.9 L | $2,100 | save $1,000 |
| Automatic 4-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L | $2,850 | spend $2,750 more |
| Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L | $2,600 | spend $1,500 more |
🛢 How Many Barrels of Petroleum Does a 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Consume?
Across all models, the average number barrels of petroleum that the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI will consume in one year is 12 barrels.
The majority of the world's petroleum is sourced from countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the United States.
| Model Option | Barrels |
|---|---|
| Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.9 L | 10 |
| Automatic 4-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L | 14 |
| Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L | 12 |
💨 How Many Grams of CO2 Does a 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Emit?
The 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI will emit an average of about -15,000 grams of CO2 per year.
🌳 To help you understand the impact of this, a normal tree will absorb around 21,000 grams of CO2 per year. This means that roughly 1 tree would be needed to offset emissions from the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI.
Overview
The tables below cover all of the miles per gallon, engine specifications, and emission details we have for the 3 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI model options.
Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.9 L
The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 1.9 L:
| City MPG | 33 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 44 |
| Combined MPG | 37 |
| Save/Spend vs Average Car | Save $1,000 |
| Fuel Cost | $2,100 |
| Fuel Type 1 | Diesel |
| ATV Type | Diesel |
| Barrels of Petroleum | 10 |
| Grams of CO2 | -15,000 |
| Trees Needed to Offset | -1 |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 1.9 |
| Transmission | Manual 5-spd |
| Vehicle Class | Compact Cars |
| Start/Stop? | No |
| Supercharged? | No |
| Turbocharged? | Yes |
Automatic 4-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L
The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Automatic 4-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L:
| City MPG | 19 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 26 |
| Combined MPG | 22 |
| Save/Spend vs Average Car | Spend $2,750 |
| Fuel Cost | $2,850 |
| Fuel Type 1 | Regular |
| Barrels of Petroleum | 14 |
| Grams of CO2 | -15,000 |
| Trees Needed to Offset | -1 |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2 |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Vehicle Class | Compact Cars |
| Start/Stop? | No |
| Supercharged? | No |
| Turbocharged? | No |
Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L
The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI Manual 5-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L:
| City MPG | 21 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 29 |
| Combined MPG | 24 |
| Save/Spend vs Average Car | Spend $1,500 |
| Fuel Cost | $2,600 |
| Fuel Type 1 | Regular |
| Barrels of Petroleum | 12 |
| Grams of CO2 | -15,000 |
| Trees Needed to Offset | -1 |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2 |
| Transmission | Manual 5-spd |
| Vehicle Class | Compact Cars |
| Start/Stop? | No |
| Supercharged? | No |
| Turbocharged? | No |
Link To or Reference This Page
If you use this page in your research, please reference MPG Buddy as the source.
<a href="https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/volkswagen/golf-gti/1997">1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI MPG and Fuel Economy</a>
"1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/volkswagen/golf-gti/1997.
"1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/volkswagen/golf-gti/1997. Accessed January 3, 2026.
1997 Volkswagen Golf/GTI MPG and Fuel Economy. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/volkswagen/golf-gti/1997.