Model Year | 2016 | 2007 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Ford Focus | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr Wagon | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,629 mm | 2,614 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,562 mm | 4,531 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,798 mm | 1,694 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,481 mm | 1,511 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,389 kg | 1,262 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 50 L | 53 L | -3 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 980 mm | 993 mm | -13 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,420 mm | 1,359 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0 mm | 1,255 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,046 mm | 1,034 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 980 mm | 1,011 mm | 979 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,369 mm | 1,361 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0 mm | 1,293 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 904 mm | 955 mm | -51 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,951 mm (over 2 rows) | 1,989 mm (over 2 rows) | 0 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 861 L | 997 L | -136 L |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 1,883 L | 2,070 L | -1 L |
2016 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 |
2016 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 |
2007 Ford Focus Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
It was a pleasant surprise when we discovered how comfortable the front seats were for long road trips. They are contoured enough so I can lay the seat back, with a small pillow and take a nice long nap. This is probably highly subjective, but for us, the car seats have been just what we wanted. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
The front seat has more room than one would expect. I have yet to encounter someone who has not fit inside comfortably, despite their size. Being over 6ft tall, I drive daily without feeling cramped or enclosed. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 | 4dr Wagon 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
The first-generation Focus has great seats -- cushy, well-bolstered, and high off the floor. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Lots of room for a big guy like me. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Can drive for long distances without succuming to fatigue. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Ample room. see full Ford Focus review |
2006 | 2dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Regular sized adults can fit in the back seat without too many problems. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 Ford Focus Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 151-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Another two inches of legroom sure would be nice. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 151-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Very average for its class. Not a place for grownups for long. see full Ford Focus review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Not the best, but ok for a 2 door hatch. see full Ford Focus review |
2006 | 2dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Short seat track makes it tight for tall drivers and there is no "dead pedal" to rest your left foot on. see full Ford Focus review |