Model Year | 2006 | 2015 | |
Model | Toyota RAV4 | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 269 hp@6200 246 lb-ft@4700 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
|
Transmission | 5-speed automatic | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Wagon | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 104.7 in | 103.5 in | 1.2 in |
Length | 181.1 in | 179.6 in | 1.5 in |
Width | 71.5 in | 70.8 in | 0.7 in |
Height | 66.3 in | 58.3 in | 8 in |
Curb Weight | 3655 lb. | 3440 lb. | 215 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 13.2 gal. | 2.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.8 in | 38.6 in | 2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.1 in | 55.9 in | 1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.8 in | 0.0 in | 53.8 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.8 in | 41.2 in | 0.6 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.7 in | 38.6 in | 1.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.3 in | 53.9 in | 1.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 52.4 in | 0.0 in | 52.4 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.3 in | 35.6 in | 2.7 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 37.2 in | 0.0 in | 37.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 52.6 in | 0.0 in | 52.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 43.3 in | 0.0 in | 43.3 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 30.0 in | 0.0 in | 30 in |
Total Legroom | 110.1 in (over 3 rows) | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 33.3 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 12.3 ft3 | 30.4 ft3 | -18.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 37.2 ft3 | 30.4 | 6.8 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 73.0 ft3 | 66.5 ft3 | 6.5 ft3 |
2006 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr SUV 269-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed automatic AWD |
Seat fits. Bottom long enough to support legs. Molded to body style. Not flat and short. Noticeably better feel to seat than any other vehicle. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 166-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic AWD |
Plenty of space to stretch out in, and has sliding seats to adjust the legroom or rear cargo capactity. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 269-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed automatic AWD |
Leg room is confortable for large people, not croweded see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 269-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed automatic AWD |
Excellent rear seat room with sliding rear seat. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2006 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr SUV 166-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic AWD |
Has less legroom for second seat passengers compared to CR-V. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 269-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed automatic AWD |
Not quite enough steering wheel room. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 269-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed automatic AWD |
Needs a little more front seat travel see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 269-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed automatic FWD |
Interior seems a little more cramped than competing models. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2015 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 |
2015 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 |