Model Year | 2015 | 2010 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Ford Fiesta | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | |||
Difference | |||
Total Legroom | 0 mm (over 1 row) | 0 mm (over 1 row) | 0 mm |
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 |
2010 Ford Fiesta Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Rear seat narrow and limited headroom see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
Its cramped, but seems about the same as any other car in its size range. It was easier to get in and out of compared to a Mazda 2 and about the same as current generation Prius C. I wouldn't take anyone long distances in the rear, but I didn't expect to. We have a 2009 Prius which is our long distance carry people car. I wanted something with good handling and economy that was well built and that's what I got. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
Smallish like all b-segment cars. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
I was told that it is comfortable for a short ride but after 45 minutes my passengers were complaining about lack of room and comfort. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
while it felt my family of 5 comfortably, it might not fit others.... see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
Rear seat legroom is limited, especially if front seat passengers adjust their seats rearward. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Basically, it is a two seater. Car seats and small children will fit ok in the back. Essentially it is a great commuter car. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
rear seat leg room is tight. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2011 | 4dr Hatch 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
Very tiny. Had to squeeze in. Not very comfortable for long term. Feels a bit crowded. see full Ford Fiesta review |