Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2006) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2017) Specs

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2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year	2006	2017
Model	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Engine	5.4L V8 OHC-3v 362 hp@5750 376 lb-ft@4000	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800
Transmission	5-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	RWD	AWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	106.9 in	103.8 in	3.1 in
Length	178.4 in	167.5 in	10.9 in
Width	68.0 in	70.8 in	-2.8 in
Height	55.6 in	57.2 in	-1.6 in
Curb Weight	3540 lb.	3340 lb.	200 lb.
Fuel Capacity	16.4 gal.	13.2 gal.	3.2 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.9 in	38.4 in	0.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	53.1 in	55.9 in	-2.8 in
Hip Room, Row 1	51.9 in	0.0 in	51.9 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.7 in	41.2 in	0.5 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.3 in	38.1 in	-0.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	54.3 in	53.9 in	0.4 in
Hip Room, Row 2	54.5 in	0.0 in	54.5 in
Legroom, Row 2	33.0 in	35.6 in	-2.6 in
Total Legroom	74.7 in (over 2 rows)	76.8 in (over 2 rows)	-2.1 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	12.2 ft³	22.8 ft³	-10.6 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	12.2 ft³	52.7 ft³	-40.5 ft³

2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2005	4dr Sedan 168-horsepower 2.6L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Easy to drive for many hours at as time, good trip car. Very comfortable, smooth ride. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review

2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2006	4dr Sedan supercharged 154hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD	Rear seats are narrow and hard. The centre seat is only usable for very small people on very short trips. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review
2006	4dr Sedan 201-horsepower 2.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD	There is no rear seat room. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review
2006	4dr Sedan 228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD	fake leather is too cheap for a m-b. seats too hard. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class 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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