Model Year | 2017 | 2017 | |
Model | Audi A3 / S3 / RS3 | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.5L I5 DOHC-4v 400 hp@5850 354 lb-ft@1700 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
|
Transmission | 7-speed automated manual | 6-speed manual | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.5 in | 103.8 in | -0.3 in |
Length | 169.8 in | 167.5 in | 2.3 in |
Width | 70.3 in | 70.8 in | -0.5 in |
Height | 56.1 in | 57.2 in | -1.1 in |
Curb Weight | 4012 lb. | 3283 lb. | 729 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 10.6 gal. | 13.2 gal. | -2.6 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 36.9 in | 38.4 in | -1.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 54.8 in | 55.9 in | -1.1 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 41.2 in | 0 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.5 in | 38.1 in | -0.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 52.9 in | 53.9 in | -1 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.4 in | 35.6 in | -0.2 in |
Total Legroom | 76.6 in (over 2 rows) | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | -0.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 9.9 ft3 | 22.8 ft3 | -12.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 39.5 ft3 | 52.7 ft3 | -13.2 ft3 |
2017 Audi A3 / S3 / RS3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Same goes for rear seat room. The Audi S3's rear seat can be a tight fit for adults, especially if those in the front seats are tall. But at least most adults will fit. My adult-sized children rode in the back seat from Detroit to Nashville and back without complaining about the amount of space. (It helped that none of us are tall; I'm 5-9.) The back seat in the CLA provides far less room for heads and legs. Mercedes markets it as a coupe for a reason. see full Audi A3 / S3 / RS3 review |
2017 Audi A3 / S3 / RS3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2016 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 292hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual AWD |
very tight see full Audi A3 / S3 / RS3 review |
2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2016 | As I've noted before (when reviewing the e-Golf), the seventh-generation Golf's front seats are shaped and padded to provide nearly ideal comfort and support in daily driving. The CX-5's driver seat also fit me well, but not quite as well as the Volkswagen's. Compared to other compact hatchbacks and its ancestors, the current Golf has a roomy rear seat. I can sit behind my 5-9 self with about five inches of air ahead of my knees. Unless unusually tall people populate both rows, the amount of space should be beyond adequate. Compare the Golf SportWagen's rear seat to that in the CX-5, and a funny thing happens. On paper, the Mazda provides about 3.5 more inches of legroom. When sitting behind myself in both vehicles, though, I had about half as much space ahead of my knees in the CX-5. I've noticed in the past that VW measures rear legroom very conservatively, and apparently they continue to do so. The Golf's interior is roomier than the official specs suggest. Plus its rear seat passengers get air vents. The Mazda's do not. This said, I'm not entirely comfortable in the Golf SportWagen's rear seat. To me it feels overly reclined. In neither the GSW nor the CX-5 is the degree of recline adjustable. It is in some compact crossovers. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2017 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 |