Model Year | 2011 | 2015 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1800 |
turbocharged 3.0L I6 DOHC-4v 300 hp@5800 300 lb-ft@1300 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 101.5 in | 115.0 in | -13.5 in |
Length | 165.4 in | 190.0 in | -24.6 in |
Width | 70.3 in | 72.0 in | -1.7 in |
Height | 58.3 in | 59.4 in | -1.1 in |
Curb Weight | 3046 lb. | 4010 lb. | -964 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gal. | 15.8 gal. | -1.3 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.3 in | 41.3 in | -2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 54.7 in | 55.2 in | -0.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 42.0 in | -0.8 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.5 in | 38.3 in | 0.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 52.8 in | 54.1 in | -1.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.5 in | 39.2 in | -3.7 in |
Total Legroom | 76.7 in (over 2 rows) | 81.2 in (over 2 rows) | -4.5 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.0 ft3 | 18.3 ft3 | -3.3 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 15.0 | 18.4 ft3 | -3.4 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 46.0 ft3 | 56.5 ft3 | -10.5 ft3 |
2011 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Four adults can easily and comfortably fit in this car, with plenty of room for luggage. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2011 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
I have MS, so comfortable seats are a must. This is the only car that I've been in where I could do a non-stop trip from Michigan to Washington DC in. No fatigue, no stopping for a stretch. It's that good, and VW throws in standard heated seats for the GTI. And they do mean "heated" seats, not "warmed" seats, not "take-the-edge-off" seats. Turn them on full and your bum will be roasting with in a few minutes. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2011 | 2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD |
Seats actually fit your body and have proper bolstering, unlike most other seats in this price range which are more like shelves for oversized American behinds. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Good leg room and supportive seats. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Good leg room for a small car. Supportive seats. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Firm, supportive seats. Not too hard. Should be excellent for long road trips. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Firm, yet comfortable. Excellent lateral support in the turns. Excellent thigh support fro taller driver. Can sit for hours and still feel comfortable. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2010 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
They are supportive with good leg support. The seat side bolsters hold driver in place. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2010 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Good room for a small car. Four adults can ride comfortably. Plenty of cargo room with the rear seats down. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2010 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
A lot of rear leg rrom when compared to the Mazda3 and A3 which I also looked at. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2015 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | Though the latest 3-Series has a much roomier back seat than its predecessors, many people still find it insufficient for their needs, and step up to a midsize sedan or wagon such as the 5-Series or E-Class. Well, most of the 3-Series Gran Turismo's wheelbase stretch was put towards rear seat legroom, bumping it from 35.0 to 37.9 inches. Though a larger car, the E-Class has nearly four inches less total legroom--barely more than the 3 wagon, in fact. (But with a more comfortably positioned rear seat than the 3 wagon.) What the specs don't tell you is that the 3 GT's rear seat cushion, since it is positioned much higher than that in the wagons, provides better thigh support and a much more open view forward. To top it off, the 3 GT's rear seat back reclines. Here again, though, the E-Class wagon has a trick bonus: a rear-facing third-row seat. Though there's not enough headroom back there for anyone over 5-4, the seat is well-padded. If you want to seat seven in a pinch, the E-Class wagon is your only option with a sedan-like driving position (aside from the Tesla Model S). Update: this review originally stated that the 3GT has much more shoulder room than the regular 3-Series, and about as much as the E-Class. But it seems that the initial specs were inaccurate. The latest specs suggest shoulder room in the 3GT is about the same as that in the regular 3-Series. Its interior does feel significantly roomier, though, so the initial specs could yet provide the more accurate set. see full BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo.