Model Year | 2009 | 2017 | |
Model | Chevrolet Impala | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | 5.3L V8 OHV-2v 303 hp@5600 323 lb-ft@4400 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
|
Transmission | 4-speed automatic | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 110.5 in | 103.8 in | 6.7 in |
Length | 200.4 in | 167.5 in | 32.9 in |
Width | 72.9 in | 70.8 in | 2.1 in |
Height | 58.7 in | 57.2 in | 1.5 in |
Curb Weight | 3711 lb. | 3340 lb. | 371 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 17.0 gal. | 13.2 gal. | 3.8 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.4 in | 38.4 in | 1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 58.7 in | 55.9 in | 2.8 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.4 in | 0.0 in | 56.4 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.3 in | 41.2 in | 1.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.8 in | 38.1 in | -0.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 58.6 in | 53.9 in | 4.7 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 57.2 in | 0.0 in | 57.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.6 in | 35.6 in | 2 in |
Total Legroom | 79.9 in (over 2 rows) | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 3.1 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 18.6 ft3 | 22.8 ft3 | -4.2 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 18.6 ft3 | 52.7 ft3 | -34.1 ft3 |
2009 Chevrolet Impala Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Perhaps the largest rear seat in a sedan. Can squeeze three normal adults. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Large seat for my large seat, very good lumbar support, good power adjustments. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 233-horsepower 3.9L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Good support for legs and back. Seat adjusts to fit most people. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Wide open... see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 233-horsepower 3.9L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Very easy to get in and out of this car. Front seat is roomy and fairly comfortable. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2009 Chevrolet Impala Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Large trunk space seems to sacrifise rear seat area. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Not enough leg room. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 233-horsepower 3.9L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
When the drivers seat is all the way back there is little rear seat legroom for tall folks. see full Chevrolet Impala 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 |