Model Year | 2008 | 2014 | |
Model | Saab 9-3 | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.8L V6 DOHC-4v 255 hp@5000 258 lb-ft@1900 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 105.3 in | 101.5 in | 3.8 in |
Length | 183.2 in | 165.4 in | 17.8 in |
Width | 69.4 in | 70.3 in | -0.9 in |
Height | 60.6 in | 58.3 in | 2.3 in |
Curb Weight | 3530 lb. | 3046 lb. | 484 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 16.4 gal. | 14.5 gal. | 1.9 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.9 in | 39.3 in | -0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 56.3 in | 54.7 in | 1.6 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.3 in | 41.2 in | 1.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.0 in | 38.5 in | -1.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.1 in | 52.8 in | 2.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.1 in | 35.5 in | -0.4 in |
Total Legroom | 77.4 in (over 2 rows) | 76.7 in (over 2 rows) | 0.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 29.7 ft3 | 15.0 ft3 | 14.7 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 72.3 ft3 | 46.0 ft3 | 26.3 ft3 |
2008 Saab 9-3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Great seats! see full Saab 9-3 review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Great seats. Very supportive of back and upper thighs. Don't have tightness in shoulders and neck anymore on long drives. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I can drive this car further than any other car I have driven and still be comfortable see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Very, very confortable seats. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Front seat was firm and comfortable in recent 3 hour rides. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Particularly comfortable for tall drivers see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Plenty of shoulder and leg room. Seats are deep enough. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Saabs have had great seats forever. Nothing has changed... nice and firm, perfect bolstering. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Big seats that support long legged people, and comfortable on long drives. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2008 Saab 9-3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Limited knee room in front with rear facing car seat behind. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
The seats are very comfortable, but those with longer legs (especially thighs) might have trouble getting in a comfortable position. Tall drivers may find some awkwardness with all around reach. I.E. The steering wheel doesn't telescope far enough f see full Saab 9-3 review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 280hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual AWD |
No space. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 2dr Convertible turbocharged 250hp 2.8L V6 6-speed manual FWD |
not bad for a convertible but if you regularly have more than 2 passengers rear seat is tight to get in and out with top up. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Seemed narrow and cramped. see full Saab 9-3 review |
2014 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. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 Volkswagen Golf / GTI.