2027 Toyota Prius vs 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
The Toyota Prius wins clearly, 100 to 78.7, on fuel & range.
2027 Toyota Prius
The 2027 Toyota Prius is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize hatchback with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Prius, is EPA-rated at …
2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
The 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize hatchback with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Golf GTI, is EPA-…
2027 Toyota Prius
Clear winThe Toyota Prius wins clearly, 100 to 78.7, on fuel & range.
| Category · weight | 2027 Toyota Priusoverall 100 | 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTIoverall 78.7 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 50.3 | |||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Performancenot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Tech & comfortnot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | Specs not available | Specs not available | |||||||||
| Overall | 100 | 78.7 | |||||||||
Safety-only comparison · 2 of 7 categories compared · specs not available for Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Toyota Prius: base trim LE FWD · Volkswagen Golf / GTI: safety only (EPA and NHTSA record; specs not available). Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Toyota Prius wins
- It costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,200 against $2,400).
- It is rated 55 combined against 28 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 100.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
44 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 1,987 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0-Liter 4-cylinder aluminum block and head, DOHC 16-valve VVT-i | — |
| Valve configuration | 4-valve/cylinder with VVT-i | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 150 hp | — |
| Torque | 139 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 59 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 55 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 50 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Transmission type | eCVT | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.6 in | — |
| Overall height | 55.9 in | — |
| Overall length | 181 in | — |
| Overall width | 70.2 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 108 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 23.8 cu-ft | — |
| Total interior volume | 91.2 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 36.4 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.2 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 34.8 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,097 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,097 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link rear suspension with stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 34.4 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 282 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Automatic Electric Parking Brake | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 279 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 195/60R17 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 11.3 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Toyota Connected Services | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 60 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 60 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.3 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 52.8 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
55 features · differences first, then sharedSafety22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control | std | — |
| Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist | std | — |
| Lane Tracing Assist | std | — |
| Safe Exit Alert | std | — |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | — |
| Auto High Beams | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Eight airbags | std | — |
| Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking | opt | — |
| Hill Start Assist Control | std | — |
| Integrated backup camera | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | std | — |
| Proactive Driving Assist | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Road Sign Assist | std | — |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Brake System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist and Smart Stop Technology® | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0™ | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist | std | — |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System | std | — |
| Engine immobilizer | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System | std | — |
Infotainment11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Apple Music® and Amazon Music) compatibility. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| SofTex®-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| 6-speaker audio system | std | — |
| 8.0-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with USB media port, five USB charge ports, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, SiriusXM® 3-month trial subscription. | std | — |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance button, enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Six USB-C charge ports — two front/two center console/two rear | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility | std | — |
Convenience2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key System with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock and panic functions | std | — |
| Power windows with auto up/down | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-zone climate control system with pollen filtration | std | — |
Seating2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed front seats; 6-way adjustable driver's seat; 6-way adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
Interior6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Center console with armrest and storage compartment | std | — |
| Rear dome light and cargo area light | std | — |
| Top-mount Multi-Information Display with indicators and 7-in. LCD display with speedometer, drive mode indicators, instrumentation and customizable settings, odometer, tripmeters, clock, outside temperature, rear passenger seatbelt indicators, fuel economy information, trip timer, and warning messages | std | — |
| Two front cup holders; two front and two rear bottle holders | std | — |
| Extendable dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Extendable dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
Exterior10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Heated power outside mirrors with folding feature | std | — |
| 17-in. alloy wheels with wheel covers and 195/60R17 tires | std | — |
| Active grille shutter | std | — |
| Color-keyed outside front door handles | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors with folding feature | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature | std | — |
| LED taillights and stop lights | std | — |
| Roof-mounted shark-fin antenna | std | — |
| Tire Repair Kit | std | — |
| Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo area tonneau cover | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Prius
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota PriusLE FWD | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | — 12 trims | — |
| Powertrains | HEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Prius | Golf GTI |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 55 | 28 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,200 | $2,400 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 3 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Toyota Prius or the 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?
The Toyota Prius wins clearly, 100 to 78.7, on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Toyota Prius scores 100 and the 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI 78.7. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Toyota Prius or the 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?
2027 Toyota Prius: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2027 Toyota Prius and the 2027 Volkswagen Golf / GTI?
Where the 2027 Toyota Prius wins: it costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,200 against $2,400) and is rated 55 combined against 28 (EPA mpg or MPGe). What they share: a Safety Signal of 100.