Saab 9-3 (2009) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2017) Specs

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2009 Saab 9-3 and 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year	2009	2017
Model	Saab 9-3	Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Engine	turbocharged 2.8L V6 DOHC-4v 280 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@2150	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800
Transmission	6-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD
Body	4dr Wagon	4dr Wagon
			Difference
Wheelbase	105.3 in	103.5 in	1.8 in
Length	183.2 in	179.6 in	3.6 in
Width	69.4 in	70.8 in	-1.4 in
Height	60.6 in	58.3 in	2.3 in
Curb Weight	3730 lb.	3440 lb.	290 lb.
Fuel Capacity	16.4 gal.	13.2 gal.	3.2 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.9 in	38.6 in	0.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.3 in	55.9 in	0.4 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.3 in	41.2 in	1.1 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.0 in	38.6 in	-1.6 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	55.1 in	53.9 in	1.2 in
Legroom, Row 2	35.1 in	35.6 in	-0.5 in
Total Legroom	77.4 in (over 2 rows)	76.8 in (over 2 rows)	0.6 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	29.7 ft³	30.4 ft³	-0.7 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	72.3 ft³	66.5 ft³	5.8 ft³

2009 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

2009 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

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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