Model Year | 2006 | 2017 | |
Model | BMW Z4 | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | 3.2L I6 DOHC-4v 330 hp@7900 262 lb-ft@4900 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD | |
Body | 2dr Hatch | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 98.2 in | 103.8 in | -5.6 in |
Length | 161.9 in | 167.5 in | -5.6 in |
Width | 70.1 in | 70.5 in | -0.4 in |
Height | 49.9 in | 57.2 in | -7.3 in |
Curb Weight | 3219 lb. | 3278 lb. | -59 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gal. | 13.2 gal. | 1.3 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 37.3 in | 38.4 in | -1.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 52.5 in | 55.9 in | -3.4 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.0 in | 41.2 in | 0.8 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 38.1 in | -38.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 53.9 in | -53.9 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 35.6 in | -35.6 in |
Total Legroom | 42 in (over 1 rows) | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | -34.8 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 11.9 ft3 | 22.8 ft3 | -10.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 11.9 ft3 | 52.7 ft3 | -40.8 ft3 |
2006 BMW Z4 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
Adjustable thigh bolster and seat back bolsters offer great support and the Nappa leather is grippy to prevent sliding around. see full BMW Z4 review |
2006 | 2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
I find the front seat, even heated, to have great lumbar support, my sciatica does not bother me even when I have to use the clutch. Those with long legs are amazed at all the leg room available. see full BMW Z4 review |
2005 | 2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
enough leg room for a six-footer (unlike the Miata we almost bought) see full BMW Z4 review |
2006 BMW Z4 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
low roof line, long doors make entryb and exit difficult see full BMW Z4 review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
There is no rear seat. see full BMW Z4 review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
I would not recommend the car for EXTREMELY long road trips or the like. Comfort wise, if you used to something that is very plush or soft the car will feel too hard on badly paved roads. see full BMW Z4 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 |