Toyota Avalon (2006) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2017) Specs

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2006 Toyota Avalon and 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year	2006	2017
Model	Toyota Avalon	Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Engine	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 268 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800
Transmission	5-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	111.0 in	103.8 in	7.2 in
Length	197.2 in	167.5 in	29.7 in
Width	72.8 in	70.8 in	2 in
Height	58.5 in	57.2 in	1.3 in
Curb Weight	3490 lb.	3340 lb.	150 lb.
Fuel Capacity	18.5 gal.	13.2 gal.	5.3 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.8 in	38.4 in	0.4 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	59.4 in	55.9 in	3.5 in
Hip Room, Row 1	55.8 in	0.0 in	55.8 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.3 in	41.2 in	0.1 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.5 in	38.1 in	-0.6 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	58.2 in	53.9 in	4.3 in
Hip Room, Row 2	56.2 in	0.0 in	56.2 in
Legroom, Row 2	40.9 in	35.6 in	5.3 in
Total Legroom	82.2 in (over 2 rows)	76.8 in (over 2 rows)	5.4 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	14.4 ft³	22.8 ft³	-8.4 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	14.4 ft³	52.7 ft³	-38.3 ft³

2006 Toyota Avalon Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2007	4dr Sedan 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Limo like rear seat that actually reclines. see full Toyota Avalon review
2007	4dr Sedan 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Plenty of room. see full Toyota Avalon review
2007	4dr Sedan 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Very adequate as is the back see full Toyota Avalon review
2006	4dr Sedan 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	very comfortable see full Toyota Avalon review
2005	4dr Sedan 280-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	My kids loved the roominess of the back seat which made easier transition from the former minivan. see full Toyota Avalon 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

See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans

See TrueDelta's information for all Toyota models.