TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
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.
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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
2015 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2014 Dodge Challenger
2014 Dodge Challenger Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2013
2dr Coupe 375-horsepower 5.7L V8 6-speed manual RWD
I am a large person, being 6'4" tall and about 250 lbs. This car fits me great, with plenty of room and comfort. I am the driver always (I live alone) and don't often have anyone else with me, although on occasion, I have a passenger. Even with large passengers there is plenty of room in the interior. I have a couple of inches of head room, which is pretty unique. Most cars require me to recline the seat a notch or two in order to avoid having my head in the headliner. I DID NOT purchase a vehicle with a sunroof. That device eats up 2 inches of head room, and I would be right there. Besides, we get a lot of rain here on the coast and I would be afraid of leaks.
The seats are supportive, and I have the 6 way power driver's seat. It is easily adjustable for position and has the adjustable lumbar support. I cannot imagine anyone not being able to be comfortable. There is also plenty of leg room in the front seats. The back seats are useful in a pinch, but if I had a family, this would likely not be the best choice of vehicle for me. Although I love driving it, and looking at it!
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