Nobody can touch VW when it comes to small diesels, and the relatively steep admission price ($24,764 for the Golf, $8,000 more than Honda's Fit), pays off in rock-bottom operating costs and high resale value. For the time being, VW is still a minor player in the U.S., so you won't see yourself coming and going in either of these cars, don't expect that to last.
NEXT: Subaru Forester, Legacy, and Outback