- Volkswagen is the latest of a group of automakers to announce price hikes in recent weeks
- The move comes after the White House signed long-term trade deals locking in heavy tariffs
Volkswagen raised some prices between 3% and 6.5% this week. The automaker released new pricing this week for the 2026 editions of its Jetta sedan, Taos, Atlas, and Atlas Sport SUVs, and Golf GTI and Golf R hatchbacks. All showed higher price increases than we typically see with a new model year.
The move comes shortly after similar price hikes from Nissan and Volkswagen-owned Audi.
Like most automakers, VW had resisted raising prices significantly through the summer despite punishing new tariffs set as high as 25%. Many automakers appear to have held off price hikes while tariffs seemed uncertain and under negotiation.
However, in July, the Trump administration announced a long-term agreement setting tariff rates on cars from the European Union at 15% indefinitely. When that happened, automakers began warning that they couldn’t absorb the cost of tariffs themselves for long.
They appear to be settling in for long-term tariffs now.
| Model | 2025 starting price with destination charge | 2026 starting price with destination charge | Percentage change |
| Jetta | $23,720 | $25,270 | +6.5% |
| Taos | $26,420 | $27,975 | +5.9% |
| Golf GTI | $33,670 | $35,865 | +6.5% |
| Golf R | $48,325 | $50,730 | +5.0% |
| Atlas | $39,625 | $40,785 | +2.9% |
| Atlas Sport | $38,615 | $39,775 | +3.0% |
