Honda Civic (2017) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2017) Specs

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2017 Honda Civic and 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year	2017	2017
Model	Honda Civic	Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 306 hp@6500 295 lb-ft@2500	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD
Body	4dr Hatch	4dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	106.3 in	103.8 in	2.5 in
Length	177.9 in	167.5 in	10.4 in
Width	70.8 in	70.8 in	0 in
Height	56.5 in	57.2 in	-0.7 in
Curb Weight	3117 lb.	3340 lb.	-223 lb.
Fuel Capacity	12.4 gal.	13.2 gal.	-0.8 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.3 in	38.4 in	0.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	57.0 in	55.9 in	1.1 in
Hip Room, Row 1	53.7 in	0.0 in	53.7 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.3 in	41.2 in	1.1 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.4 in	38.1 in	-0.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	55.0 in	53.9 in	1.1 in
Hip Room, Row 2	48.8 in	0.0 in	48.8 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.0 in	35.6 in	0.4 in
Total Legroom	78.3 in (over 2 rows)	76.8 in (over 2 rows)	1.5 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	25.7 ft³	22.8 ft³	2.9 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	46.2 ft³	52.7 ft³	-6.5 ft³

2017 Honda Civic Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2016	From the driver seat the new Honda Civic feels especially roomy. Appearances aren't deceiving: the car has an inch or two more front shoulder room than most other small sedans, and about as much as you'll find in some midsize sedans. On paper the Mazda3 has as much shoulder room, but it feels narrower. Some competitors feel much narrower. In comparison, the new Civic's driving position seems like that of a midsize car. In terms of specs, the Civic's rear seat is also roomier than most others. Owing to a somewhat low cushion and scant toe room beneath the front seats, though, I found it less comfortable than some others. The Elantra isn't among these others. Its rear seat cushion is also too close to the floor to provide thigh support, plus its rear seat back is reclined too much for my taste. Even so, rear headroom is limited. The new Civic's trunk can also hold more than the class average. see full Honda Civic review

2017 Honda Civic Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	Unlike in the Hyundai and Mazda, in the new Honda Civic the lumbar bulge cannot be adjusted. I didn't mind the Touring's front seats. Perhaps my spine was unusually flexible the day I drove it. Or perhaps the cloth seats are slightly different. Whatever the reason, for my upright build the Civic EX's lumbar bulge and headrest both jut too far forward. If your body shape differs from mine, your impressions of the seats might as well. But for years I've heard more complaints about Honda's seats than others. Try extensively before you buy. see full Honda Civic review

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2017 Honda Civic.

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

See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans, Coupes, and Hatchbacks.

See TrueDelta's information for all Honda models.