Model Year | 2008 | 2017 | |
Model | BMW 3-Series | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | 4.0L V8 DOHC-4v 414 hp@8300 295 lb-ft@3900 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
|
Transmission | 7-speed automated manual | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr Wagon | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.7 in | 103.5 in | 5.2 in |
Length | 178.2 in | 179.6 in | -1.4 in |
Width | 71.5 in | 70.8 in | 0.7 in |
Height | 55.8 in | 58.3 in | -2.5 in |
Curb Weight | 3815 lb. | 3440 lb. | 375 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 13.2 gal. | 2.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.5 in | 38.6 in | -0.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.4 in | 55.9 in | -0.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.5 in | 41.2 in | 0.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.0 in | 38.6 in | -0.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.1 in | 53.9 in | 1.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 34.6 in | 35.6 in | -1 in |
Total Legroom | 76.1 in (over 2 rows) | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | -0.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 24.8 ft3 | 30.4 ft3 | -5.6 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 58.0 ft3 | 66.5 ft3 | -8.5 ft3 |
2008 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Sport seats fit me exceptionally well. Plush enough for the wife to enjoy a long drive. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 4dr Wagon 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
I found the sport package seats comfortable see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD |
Power seats are very comfortable, even for long hauls. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2007 | 2dr Coupe turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
More padding, slightly larger than e46 sport seats, fully adjustable side bolsters and the Dakota leather seems thicker and softer than the e-46 leather. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
back support see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 2dr Coupe turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Limited for adults see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD |
Wish the rear seats had 1" more legroom. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD |
With a 6-foot driver, rear seat room is barely adequate for adults, for short trips. This is typical for this car segment, though. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 | 0 | Not much room in rear see if driver is 6 feet tall see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Too small for most adults. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
ride is very jiggly, can feel every imperfection in the road. I think the tires may be very poor for this car. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
It has a back seat, but unless it is a short trip it is very tight for adults. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
A bit small for me, both in the seat and in the cabin in general. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 4dr Wagon 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Tighter quarters in rear than RX see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
With a young family, not much room in the back seat for children in car seats. see full BMW 3-Series 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 |