Model Year | 2017 | 2014 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Chevrolet SS | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
6.2L V8 OHV-2v 415 hp@5900 415 lb-ft@4600 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | RWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.8 in | 114.8 in | -11 in |
Length | 167.5 in | 195.5 in | -28 in |
Width | 70.8 in | 74.7 in | -3.9 in |
Height | 57.2 in | 57.9 in | -0.7 in |
Curb Weight | 3283 lb. | 3975 lb. | -692 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 19.0 gal. | -5.8 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.4 in | 38.7 in | -0.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 59.1 in | -3.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 57.2 in | -57.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 42.3 in | -1.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.1 in | 38.0 in | 0.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 59.0 in | -5.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 58.0 in | -58 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.6 in | 39.7 in | -4.1 in |
Total Legroom | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 82 in (over 2 rows) | -5.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 22.8 ft3 | 16.4 ft3 | 6.4 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 52.7 ft3 | 16.4 ft3 | 36.3 ft3 |
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 |
2014 Chevrolet SS Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2015 | Despite its slightly more compact exterior, the Chevrolet SS has a roomier back seat than the Dodge Charger. Rear headroom is in unexpectedly short supply in the latter. The Chevrolet also has a couple more inches of rear hiproom, so three adults won't have to get quite as cozy in its back seat. Both cars have about 16 cubic feet of trunk space. A good amount, but you'll find as much in most midsize sedans. Unlike the Charger's, the SS's rear seat cannot fold to expand the trunk. But a pass-through in the center is far larger than most. see full Chevrolet SS review |
2014 Chevrolet SS Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
The front seats in the Chevrolet SS are comfortable. They also look like they'd provide generous lateral support, but don't, at least not for those of us who aren't built like linebackers. Thankfully the upper seat back features some synthetic suede trim, and this prevents sliding in hard turns. Still, a car with such high handling limits should have seats with much larger and more effective side bolsters--like those available in the Dodge Charger. see full Chevrolet SS review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 Chevrolet SS.