TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2014 Nissan Rogue
2014 Nissan Rogue Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Comment
2014
Both the Rogue and the Forester have roomy rear seats mounted higher off the floor than most, and thus better suited for adult comfort and non-adult outward visibility. But only the Nissan has air vents back there.
The Rogue is also one of the only members of the segment to offer a third-row seat, the others being the Mitsubishi Outlander and the Kia Sorento (which in width and price actually falls between compact and midsize). Unlike in the others, though, you cannot get a third-row seat with the Rogue's top trim level. So you must choose between the third-row seat on the one hand and the SL's additional features (heated leather seats, Bose audio system, forward collision alert, LED headlights) on the other. You also cannot get the third-row seat with the panoramic sunroof.
The tested vehicle was the SL, so no third-row seat. Judging from the specs, it should be roomier than that in the Outlander, and about a match for that in the Sorento. Adults might fit in a pinch, but it's probably best to think of the seat as kids-only.
Combine this third-row seat availability with the Rogue's EPA ratings, and you have the most fuel-efficient vehicle that can seat seven (but not on leather).
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2014 Nissan Rogue Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year
Comment
The Rogue SL's leather-trimmed seats appear luxurious, but like those in some other recent Nissans (with the notable exception of the Altima) feel flat and overly firm. The power seat adjustments include height, but not tilt. Mazda has also started deleting the driver seat tilt adjustment, and both automakers deserve to be taken to task for this. Those with upright builds (including me) will find that the Rogue's front seat headrests jut too far forward. The Forester's front seats are more comfortable.
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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2014 Nissan Rogue
2014 Nissan Rogue Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2014
4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT AWD
In previous car, I had problems with leg pain after 2.5 hours. No such problem after multi-hour drives now. Still need an insert for back support.
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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Comment
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.
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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Cons