2020 Golf vs 2020 Corolla Hatch

2020 Volkswagen Golf vs 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Here at Capo VW, we love a good hatchback. Which is great because the Volkswagen makes one of the most iconic hatches around: the Golf. But “most iconic” doesn’t always mean it’s the best choice. Competition is fierce and the Golf has many worth challengers. Today, we’ll look at one of them.

Here’s our comparison of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI and the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE. Take a look below to see which is right for you.

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2020 Volkswagen Golf TSI

vs

2020 Toyota Corolla XSE

$23,995

MSRP

$24,340

1.4L turbo 4-cyl

Engine

2.0L 4-cyl

147 hp / 184 lb-ft

Horsepower / Torque

168 hp / 151 lb-ft

8-speed auto or 6-speed manual

Transmission

CVT or 6-speed manual

FWD

Drivetrain

FWD

29/35/32

Fuel Economy

30/38/33

 

New Hatchback near Orange County, CA

2020 Golf cargo bay showcase

Spacious Cargo Area

The 2020 Golf is a thoroughbred hatchback and that means it has lots of space. It has a 16.5 cu-ft cargo bay (22.8 cu-ft with the cargo shelf in place) that can be expanded to 52.7 cu-ft thanks to the 60/40-split rear seats. That’s as much as some crossovers! The 2020 Corolla hatchback is very cramped by comparison. The 17.8 cu-ft behind the rear seats is good. But with the rear row folded down, the Corolla only gets a measly 5.5 cu-ft, coming out to just 23.3 cu-ft, less than half of the what the Golf has.

Better Driving Experience

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf has a smoother ride than the Corolla due to its two excellent transmission options. The 8-speed automatic is one of the smoothest automatics in recent memory, with barely perceptible shifts. However, those shifts are responsive and well-timed. The transmission never hunts for gears and is quick to downshift. The 2020 Corolla has a CVT, which is plagued by stuttering during heavy acceleration and winding out the engine with odd gear ratios. Both the Golf and the Corolla have great six-speed manual variants for those that prefer it, but the clutch on the Golf is one of, if not the, smoothest on the market.  

2020 Golf cockpit showcase
2020 Golf full seating showcase
2020 Golf infotainment showcase

Want to learn more about the 2020 Golf? Give Capistrano Volkswagen a call.

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