Mazda RX-8 Mazda RX-8 2008 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2015

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Mazda RX-8 (2008) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2015) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2008 Mazda RX-8 and 2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI specs.

2008 Mazda RX-8 and 2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year 2008 2015  
Model Mazda RX-8 Volkswagen Golf / GTI  
Engine 1.3L R2
OHV-2v
232 hp@8500
159 lb-ft@5500
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 4dr Coupe 2dr Hatch  
      Difference
Wheelbase 106.4 in 103.8 in 2.6 in
Length 174.3 in 167.5 in 6.8 in
Width 69.7 in 70.5 in -0.8 in
Height 52.8 in 57.2 in -4.4 in
Curb Weight 3045 lb. 3278 lb. -233 lb.
Fuel Capacity 15.9 gal. 13.2 gal. 2.7 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 38.2 in 38.4 in -0.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 54.8 in 55.9 in -1.1 in
Hip Room, Row 1 53.3 in 0.0 in 53.3 in
Legroom, Row 1 42.7 in 41.2 in 1.5 in
Headroom, Row 2 36.8 in 38.1 in -1.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 54.9 in 53.9 in 1 in
Hip Room, Row 2 48.1 in 0.0 in 48.1 in
Legroom, Row 2 32.2 in 35.6 in -3.4 in
Total Legroom 74.9 in (over 2 rows) 76.8 in (over 2 rows) -1.9 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 7.6 ft3 22.8 ft3 -15.2 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 7.6 ft3 52.7 ft3 -45.1 ft3

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2008 Mazda RX-8

2008 Mazda RX-8 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2009 4dr Coupe 232-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed manual RWD
Very comfortable Recaro seats, even on long drives. Larger people may not be comfortable so beware. see full Mazda RX-8 review
2009 4dr Coupe 232-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed manual RWD
Given the RX-8's compact dimensions, you wouldn't expect rear seat space to be a strength. But thanks to clever packaging and a subtly high roofline, there is actually space for real adults in back, provided those up front are short or move their seats up somewhat. With a pair of pickup-like rear-opening "half" rear doors, ingress and egress for rear seat passengers is a snap. For those who want a sports car but have children or need to transport a few friends occassionally, the RX-8 fits the bill nicely. see full Mazda RX-8 review
2007 4dr Coupe 212-horsepower 1.3L R2
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
Excellent for long trips. Even though I suffer from spinal stenosis, I did a two-day 1800 mile trip with no troubles and felt great on arrival. Most modern cars have comfortable seats, but these also make me feel like I am part of the car. see full Mazda RX-8 review
 

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
2015 The original Golf revolutionized the automotive world by demonstrating how practical a small car could be. Though the latest, seventh-generation Golf is much larger than the original, and every major auto maker now offers a Golf-like compact, the Volkswagen continues to impress with its practicality. Let's start with the front seat. The seat itself is shaped and padded to provide nearly ideal comfort and support in daily driving. The performance buckets in the GTI and R have firmer bolsters that provide more lateral support, but the regular Golf's buckets are cushier and more comfortably contoured. The e-Golf uses the same exemplary seats. In comparison, the seats in the Soul EV are merely okay. The view forward from the e-Golf's driver seat is also about as good as it gets in a current compact, with a reasonably-sized instrument panel and an expansive, comfortably raked windshield flanked by relatively thin pillars. This said, some people might prefer the higher driving position in the quasi-crossover Soul EV. For me, a conventional car's lower position continues to feel more natural, especially in turns. Battery packs take up space. Even with the (roughly) 1.5-kWh battery packs used by hybrids cargo capacity usually takes a hit. In the Soul EV, rear seat legroom suffers a three-inch reduction due to the underfloor location of the car's 27-kWh battery pack. But VW engineers managed to design and package a 24-kWh battery pack so cleverly that the e-Golf's passenger and cargo room are identical to those of a regular Golf. Adults will comfortably fit in the car's back seat. The same can't be said about most other EVs--the Soul being a second exception. Even with the three-inch cut, the Kia's back seat is about as roomy as the Golf's. The i3's back seat is far tighter. Which EV treats its passengers best depends on the season. The e-Golf includes rear air vents, while the Soul EV+ includes rear seat bun warmers. Moving to the cargo area, the Soul EV's battery pack eats up a dozen cubic feet, leaving just under 50. The uncompromised e-Golf can contain a couple more. But these figures don't convey the differing proportions of the cars' cargo holds. The e-Golf's is a few inches longer, while the Soul EV's is a few inches taller. Which is the better cargo hauler depends on the shape of your cargo. The much larger Tesla Model S can hold a few more cubic feet, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class about the same as the e-Golf. No other EV comes close, especially not the 12-cube BMW i3. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2016 2dr Hatch turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4
6-speed manual FWD
Difficult ingress and egress see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
 
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