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2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI and 2011 Mazda Mazda3 Specifications
| Model Year | 2016 | 2011 | |
| Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Mazda Mazda3 | |
| Engine | |||
| Transmission | |||
| Drivetrain | |||
| Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch | |
| Difference | |||
| Wheelbase | 103.8 in | 103.9 in | -0.1 in |
| Length | 167.5 in | 177.4 in | -9.9 in |
| Width | 70.8 in | 69.1 in | 1.7 in |
| Height | 57.2 in | 57.9 in | -0.7 in |
| Curb Weight | 2963 lb. | 3005 lb. | -42 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 15.9 gal. | -2.7 gal. |
| Headroom, Row 1 | 38.4 in | 38.9 in | -0.5 in |
| Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 54.9 in | 1 in |
| Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 42.0 in | -0.8 in |
| Headroom, Row 2 | 38.1 in | 38.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 54.0 in | -0.1 in |
| Legroom, Row 2 | 35.6 in | 36.2 in | -0.6 in |
| Total Legroom | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 78.2 in (over 2 rows) | -1.4 in |
| Cargo Volume, Minimum | 22.8 ft3 | 17.0 ft3 | 5.8 ft3 |
| Cargo Volume, Maximum | 52.7 ft3 | 43.8 ft3 | 8.9 ft3 |
TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
| 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
| Year | Comment | |
| 2015 | The original Golf revolutionized the automotive world by demonstrating how practical a small car could be. Though the latest, seventh-generation Golf is much larger than the original, and every major auto maker now offers a Golf-like compact, the Volkswagen continues to impress with its practicality. Let's start with the front seat. The seat itself is shaped and padded to provide nearly ideal comfort and support in daily driving. The performance buckets in the GTI and R have firmer bolsters that provide more lateral support, but the regular Golf's buckets are cushier and more comfortably contoured. The e-Golf uses the same exemplary seats. In comparison, the seats in the Soul EV are merely okay. The view forward from the e-Golf's driver seat is also about as good as it gets in a current compact, with a reasonably-sized instrument panel and an expansive, comfortably raked windshield flanked by relatively thin pillars. This said, some people might prefer the higher driving position in the quasi-crossover Soul EV. For me, a conventional car's lower position continues to feel more natural, especially in turns. Battery packs take up space. Even with the (roughly) 1.5-kWh battery packs used by hybrids cargo capacity usually takes a hit. In the Soul EV, rear seat legroom suffers a three-inch reduction due to the underfloor location of the car's 27-kWh battery pack. But VW engineers managed to design and package a 24-kWh battery pack so cleverly that the e-Golf's passenger and cargo room are identical to those of a regular Golf. Adults will comfortably fit in the car's back seat. The same can't be said about most other EVs--the Soul being a second exception. Even with the three-inch cut, the Kia's back seat is about as roomy as the Golf's. The i3's back seat is far tighter. Which EV treats its passengers best depends on the season. The e-Golf includes rear air vents, while the Soul EV+ includes rear seat bun warmers. Moving to the cargo area, the Soul EV's battery pack eats up a dozen cubic feet, leaving just under 50. The uncompromised e-Golf can contain a couple more. But these figures don't convey the differing proportions of the cars' cargo holds. The e-Golf's is a few inches longer, while the Soul EV's is a few inches taller. Which is the better cargo hauler depends on the shape of your cargo. The much larger Tesla Model S can hold a few more cubic feet, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class about the same as the e-Golf. No other EV comes close, especially not the 12-cube BMW i3. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review | |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
| 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2016 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Difficult ingress and egress see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2011 Mazda Mazda3
| 2011 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Tilt and telescopic wheel plus the adjustments with the drivers seat had me in a very good/comfortable driving position. Being comfortable allows me to concentrate on the drive ahead instead of being distracted by squirming around in the seat. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Being a 5 door hatch, there is plenty of room back for 2 full size adults or 3 kids/teenagers. The versatility of the hatch makes it feel like a Mini SUV. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Very comfortable and form fitting. My butt and back feel supported. Leg room is great. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2011 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2012 | 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
It's a joke. You can't fit anything in the back seat aside from children and/or groceries/shopping. Putting an adult back there will require a sincere apology, and possibly a written note and gift bottle of wine. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2012 | 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Rear seat is rather tight, worse than my old Protege5 see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2012 | 4dr Sedan 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I bought this car to replace a 2004 Mazda 6i Hatchback that I truly loved (got rear-ended and totaled). I did not like the 2012 Mazda 6 at all (or the milage it got), so I went the 3 with Skyactiv. The rear seat and rear legroom is just a bit too small. If it were a tad larger, this would be a awesome car, but the great mileage I get offsets this to a certain degree. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2012 | 4dr Sedan 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Non of either if the front seats are all the way back, but rear seat room is NOT a factor for me. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2011 | 4dr Sedan 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The Mazda3 is not a vehicle for transporting more than 2 people. The backseat is cramped for a full-size adult. However, when required, they will fit. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2011 | 4dr Sedan 104-horsepower 1.6L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Seating room is borderline for 2 adults, particularly leg room. 3 adults virtually impossible. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
| 2010 | 4dr Sedan 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Rear seat space can be tight see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
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