Model Year | 2015 | 2009 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Chevrolet Equinox | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,629 mm | 2,858 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,562 mm | 4,796 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,798 mm | 1,814 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,481 mm | 1,760 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,389 kg | 1,634 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 50 L | 64 L | -14 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 980 mm | 1,039 mm | 979 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,420 mm | 1,415 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0 mm | 1,298 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,046 mm | 1,046 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 980 mm | 1,019 mm | 979 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,369 mm | 1,420 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0 mm | 1,303 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 904 mm | 1,046 mm | 903 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,951 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,093 mm (over 2 rows) | -1 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 861 L | 1,011 L | 860 L |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 1,883 L | 1,900 L | 0 L |
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 |
2009 Chevrolet Equinox Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr SUV 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Front seat comfort and room is great. Driver side lumbar support continues to work great. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2010 | 4dr SUV 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
We really like the track sliding nature of the rear seat. Give passengers in the back plenty of leg room. Also, the large rear doors make it quite easy for our aging parents to get in and out of this vehicle. This feature, more than any other, really "sold" us on the Chevy Equinox. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2010 | 4dr SUV 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The equinox was one of the very few cars that could swallow both a double stroller and two infant seats with ease. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 185-horsepower 3.4L V6 5-speed automatic FWD |
The bucket seats are at a perfect height for easy entry and exit. Also there is a liftable arm rest between the seats for storing purse, etc. which eliminates the need for reaching to the back when the passenger seat is occupied. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 185-horsepower 3.4L V6 5-speed automatic FWD |
Ample leg and hip room. I am only 5foot 4 inches but have a wide posterior. Seat is comfortable for me. My son is 6 foot 3 inches and medium build. He has ample leg and body room. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 185-horsepower 3.4L V6 5-speed automatic FWD |
The rear bench seat can slide forward or back. When slid back, there is ample leg room for even the tallest of passengers. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2008 | 4dr SUV 264-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The rear seat can slide forward and back 8" providing generous leg room for rear passengers. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2009 Chevrolet Equinox Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr SUV 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I like the firmness of the front seats, but others may have an issue with it. Seat width leans to the narrow side however, and shoulder room is merely adequate. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |
2010 | 4dr SUV 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear seat legroom is phenominal (and one of the big reasons I chose the Equinox) when you slide it all the way back. This is the first vehicle I've owned where you can fit 4 6'+ people without anyone having to readjust their seats or compromise in any way. The rear seats also recline to a small degree which is an added bonus. see full Chevrolet Equinox review |