Mazda RX-8 (2008) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2017) Specs

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2008 Mazda RX-8 and 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year	2008	2017
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

2008 Mazda RX-8 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
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

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

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