Model Year | 2009 | 2017 | |
Model | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.7 in | 103.8 in | 4.9 in |
Length | 182.3 in | 167.5 in | 14.8 in |
Width | 69.7 in | 70.8 in | -1.1 in |
Height | 56.3 in | 57.2 in | -0.9 in |
Curb Weight | 3527 lb. | 2963 lb. | 564 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 17.4 gal. | 13.2 gal. | 4.2 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 37.1 in | 38.4 in | -1.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 54.7 in | 55.9 in | -1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 52.3 in | 0.0 in | 52.3 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.7 in | 41.2 in | 0.5 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 36.9 in | 38.1 in | -1.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.1 in | 53.9 in | 1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 54.9 in | 0.0 in | 54.9 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 33.4 in | 35.6 in | -2.2 in |
Total Legroom | 75.1 in (over 2 rows) | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | -1.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 12.4 ft3 | 22.8 ft3 | -10.4 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 12.4 ft3 | 52.7 ft3 | -40.3 ft3 |
2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
This car has a very small back seat. If you want to carry passengers for a long distance, get an E class. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Mercedes-Benz makes the best seats in the business, period. Even after a 10 hour drive, my back did not hurt. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 228-horsepower 3.0L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
The seat causes no discomfort to my tailbone like many ohter cars. Furthermore, the padding is firm and feels like it will last a long time. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review |
2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan supercharged 181hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Not much leg room when compared to other luxury entries. No flat floor so a 3rd passenger in the rear is not possible. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan supercharged 181hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Center console and stack cut into front side leg room, my left leg is always up against the center console. see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
just ok see full Mercedes-Benz C-Class review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan supercharged 181hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
too tight back there. 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 |