Model Year | 2008 | 2017 | |
Model | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 106.3 in | 103.8 in | 2.5 in |
Length | 176.7 in | 167.5 in | 9.2 in |
Width | 69.0 in | 70.8 in | -1.8 in |
Height | 56.5 in | 57.2 in | -0.7 in |
Curb Weight | 2628 lb. | 2963 lb. | -335 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 13.2 gal. | 0 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.4 in | 38.4 in | 1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 53.7 in | 55.9 in | -2.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 51.9 in | 0.0 in | 51.9 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.2 in | 41.2 in | 1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.4 in | 38.1 in | -0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 52.4 in | 53.9 in | -1.5 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 51.0 in | 0.0 in | 51 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 34.6 in | 35.6 in | -1 in |
Total Legroom | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 0 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 12.0 ft3 | 22.8 ft3 | -10.8 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 12.0 ft3 | 52.7 ft3 | -40.7 ft3 |
2008 Honda Civic Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
unbelievable much room on the rear seats see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 197-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Good lumbar and side support, nicely adjustable seat and wheel. Shifter is very close to the wheel. Fits me like a glove, but my wife does find the seatback slightly tall. see full Honda Civic review |
2007 | 2dr Coupe 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
very comfortable to drive see full Honda Civic review |
2007 | 2dr Coupe 197-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
great support. the sides basically hold you - which is important because the car can generate serious g-forces going around corners see full Honda Civic review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 197-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Frankly, the best seats I have sat in outside of a couple BMW Ms. Supportive, well bolstered with good lateral support. Also good support for the lower back for long drives. see full Honda Civic review |
2008 Honda Civic Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Driver seat is uncomfortable. Not upright enough. Not a great seat for correct posture. see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 110-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid CVT FWD |
No access from trunk area. Also, very strong chemical smell in vehicle...off gassing from fabrics. The prius did not have near the smell. see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Seats were rock hard(in summer) see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
very poor AC performance during hot weather see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
not able to fit a rear facing child seat, or very difficult to fit it. we had to even find a small size one. see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
It took me a long time to find a comfortable driving position in this car. It may because of the low seat. I was finally (mostly) successful, but it took a long time to find it, and it is very different than my typical driving position. Also, not great on long trips -- the seat is generally supportive, but it starts to break down a few hours in. see full Honda Civic review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 110-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid CVT FWD |
Rear seat does not fold down see full Honda Civic review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
merely adequate although better than in the past see full Honda Civic review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
merely adequate, seats could have more support see full Honda Civic review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 197-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Seat needs an adjustable lumber support. see full Honda Civic 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 |