Toyota RAV4 Toyota RAV4 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2016

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Toyota RAV4 (2012) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2016) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2012 Toyota RAV4 and 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI specs.

2012 Toyota RAV4 and 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year 2012 2016  
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 3680 lb. 3440 lb. 240 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

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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Toyota RAV4

2012 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
2013 The first two generations of the Toyota RAVs were much smaller than contemporaneous Honda CR-Vs. More than perhaps any other difference this one probably explains Toyota's lack of segment leadership. The third-generation RAV4, introduced for the 2006 model year, was much larger, and finally about the same size as the Honda. The new RAV4's body is an inch lower, but also a few inches longer. Compared to the CR-V, it's 1.6 inches longer, an inch wider, and 0.7 inches taller. This translates to a slightly roomier interior, and probably the roomiest in the segment unless one includes the boundary-defying Santa Fe Sport, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I have nearly five inches of knee room in the Honda. Quite good, but I have seven inches in the new RAV4. Beyond sheer space, the RAV4's rear seat cushion is a comfortable height off the floor, and its rear seat back reclines over a relatively wide range. The Honda's rear seat back can be set in only two different positions that aren't far apart. Add a third passenger, though, and the rear seat no longer seems so roomy. My three kids aren't large, but they complained about the amount of room. The reason isn't hard to find: for some reason the new RAV4 only offers 48.8 inches of rear hip room. This is much better than the 43.3 inches in the 2012, but still well short of the 53.3 inches in the CR-V. So, while the RAV4 has the edge in knee room, the Honda easily wins a hip room comparison. see full Toyota RAV4 review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Toyota RAV4

2012 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2013 4dr SUV 176-horsepower 2.5L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
The drivers seat has a really long travel - I normally have the seat far back (5'11" with long legs) but I probably had 6 inches of travel further back I could have gone. The seat isn't overadjustable and not too hard to get into a comfortable position. The fake leather is a reasonable facsimile and has heated seats - would have to see how it does in the direct sun. see full Toyota RAV4 review
2013 4dr SUV 176-horsepower 2.5L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Rear seat room is pretty impressive and seating position is nice. Adjustable rake of the rear seat is a nice touch. Appears to have 3 car seat anchors. The rear seat appears to be the same size as, or maybe even larger than the original Highlander / RX300. see full Toyota RAV4 review
2012 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2012 4dr SUV 179-horsepower 2.5L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
I'm about 6'3" and 220lbs so I get cramped on long trips. see full Toyota RAV4 review
2012 4dr SUV 179-horsepower 2.5L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
I'm about 6'3" and 220lbs so I get cramped on long trips. see full Toyota RAV4 review
2011 4dr SUV 179-horsepower 2.5L I4
4-speed automatic AWD
back seat is hard, not much leg room see full Toyota RAV4 review
 

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
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
 

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
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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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