The 2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen 4motion, with its 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, gets a combined fuel economy of 25 MPG. While this won’t break any records, it’s a practical tradeoff for a vehicle built to carry passengers and cargo in all weather. The SportWagen 4motion is for someone who wants the practicality of a small wagon, the security of all-wheel drive, and the fun driving experience that Volkswagen is known for. This buyer is okay with using a little extra gas to get these benefits.

City and highway fuel economy

The EPA estimates for the 2017 Golf SportWagen 4motion are 22 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. The city figure reflects stop-and-go traffic, where the engine works harder and idles more. The 30 MPG highway rating is easier to reach on longer trips, if you maintain consistent speeds and don’t carry too much weight. These numbers are decent. However, fuel economy isn’t usually the main reason people choose this car; the surefootedness of the 4motion all-wheel drive is.

Annual fuel cost

The EPA estimates the annual fuel cost for the 2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen 4motion at about $1,750. This is based on driving 15,000 miles a year and the national average fuel price at the time of calculation. Your actual fuel cost may be different depending on how you drive, the kind of driving you do, and changes in gas prices. This $1,750 figure gives you a way to compare fuel costs between cars.

Real-world expectations

The EPA’s tests are standardized, but real-world fuel economy can vary a lot. Several things affect what you get on the road. Fuel economy will drop with fast acceleration, hard braking, heavy loads, and hilly terrain. However, you can get closer to the EPA estimates by anticipating traffic, keeping a steady speed, and not idling too much. Checking tire pressure and choosing the right tires can also improve your MPG.

How it compares

The Golf SportWagen 4motion’s fuel economy compares well to other similar cars. The Subaru Outback, a common competitor in the AWD wagon/crossover market, gets 28 MPG combined in its base 2.5i trim. The BMW 328d xDrive wagon is more expensive but gets much better fuel economy, with 34 MPG combined, but that diesel engine costs more to purchase. Even other Golfs with different engines and drivetrains can beat the 4motion version in MPG, but they don’t have the same all-weather capability. For someone who wants AWD, the 25 MPG of the SportWagen 4motion is a good compromise.

The Golf Alltrack is basically the same car with a slightly higher ride height and body cladding. Its fuel economy is very similar, showing that AWD wagons in this class get around the mid-20s for combined MPG.

Tips to maximize efficiency

The SportWagen’s 1.8L turbocharged engine responds to driving style. Accelerating smoothly and gradually keeps the turbocharger from working too hard, which saves fuel. Watch the traffic and avoid fast acceleration.

Regular maintenance, like replacing the air filter and spark plugs, can make a difference. A clean air filter helps the engine breathe, and good spark plugs improve combustion. Both help fuel efficiency. Do these basic tasks regularly.

Tire pressure is important and easily forgotten. Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure, which is on the driver’s side door jamb. Underinflated tires create more rolling resistance, which uses more fuel. Check them often.

Don’t idle more than needed. Modern engines don’t need long warm-ups, and idling wastes fuel. If you’re stopped for more than a minute, it’s usually better to turn off the engine. Idling while waiting for passengers really hurts your MPG.

Remove any unnecessary weight from the car. More cargo adds more load on the engine, which reduces fuel economy. Removing extra items from the cargo area can reduce the weight without affecting your driving.