For enthusiasts, the Golf range lines up best against the Mazda 3.
They're both a hoot to drive, with the 3 taking crown unless you opt for the well-priced Golf GTI.
Mini's Cooper feels more special inside and out than the Golf, but it gets expensive fast and is something of a polarizing choice for many.
If you're looking to stay mainstream, pair the Golf against the Honda Civic and Chevrolet Cruze; they're both offered as compelling hatchbacks.
The Civic range now includes Si and Type R models that give VW's sportier offerings a real run for their money, while the Cruze is available as a diesel.
VW once offered diesels...
until they got caught repeatedly cheating American emissions standards.
And the recently redesigned Subaru Impreza is also worth a look with its standard all-wheel drive and high-tech interior.
The Impreza begets the Crosstrek, which the Alltrack is doing its best to emulate.
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 2018 Volkswagen GolfBrowse Used Listings |  2018 Chevrolet CruzeBrowse Used Listings |  2018 Honda CivicBrowse Used Listings |  2018 Mazda MAZDA3Browse Used Listings |  2018 Subaru ImprezaBrowse Used Listings |  2018 MINI CooperBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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There's a VW Golf for everyone, and they're even better for 2018 thanks to a big tech upgrade inside. |
The 2018 Chevy Cruze offers lots of compelling reasons to select it, but we’d like to see more safety tech on its standard equipment roster. |
The 2018 Honda Civic is a good car made better by plenty of options and value at nearly every stop. |
The 2018 Mazda 3 adds standard active safety features to an already compelling value. Among compact cars, this is one to consider. |
The 2018 Subaru Impreza offers all-wheel drive for all of us in a comfortable, refined, tech-savvy package. |
The 2018 Mini Cooper is an icon made better by nimble handling and infinite customization. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $20,910 | $16,975 | $18,940 | $18,095 | N/A | $21,600 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 21 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 27 MPG City / 52 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 38 MPG Hwy | |
| Engine | |||||
| Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | N/A | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-3 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Compact Cars | Midsize Cars | Compact Cars | Compact Cars | N/A | Minicompact Cars |
| Style Name | |||||
| 1.8T S Manual | 4-Door Sedan 1.4L L w/1SM | LX Manual | Sport Manual | N/A | Oxford Edition FWD |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | N/A | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | N/A | 4 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Hatchback | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | N/A | Hatchback |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | N/A | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2018 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2018 Chevrolet Cruze | 2018 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2018 Honda Civic | 2018 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2018 Mazda MAZDA3 | 2018 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2018 Subaru Impreza | 2018 Volkswagen Golf vs. 2018 MINI Cooper | |
