Model Year | 2014 | 2009 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Ford Fusion | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 147 kW@5100 281 Nm@1700 |
3.0L V6 DOHC-4v 165 kW@6250 278 Nm@4800 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed automated manual | 6-speed automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,578 mm | 2,728 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,201 mm | 4,831 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,786 mm | 1,834 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,481 mm | 1,453 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,402 kg | 1,488 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 55 L | 66 L | -11 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 998 mm | 983 mm | 15 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,389 mm | 1,458 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0 mm | 1,372 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,046 mm | 1,074 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 978 mm | 960 mm | 18 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,341 mm | 1,435 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0 mm | 1,361 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 902 mm | 940 mm | -38 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,948 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,014 mm (over 2 rows) | -1 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 425 L | 447 L | -22 L |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 1,303 L | 15.8 | -14.8 L |
2014 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 |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 Volkswagen Golf / GTI.
2009 Ford Fusion Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
All passengers have commented about the generous space and overall comfort of the rear seat. see full Ford Fusion review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
Controls are easily adjusted to fit any driver. Lateral support is good without feeling pinched into the seat. Dead pedal is perfectly positioned. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic AWD |
The power drivers seat makes it easy to find a seating position suitable to any driver. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic FWD |
Lots of leg room. see full Ford Fusion review |
2009 Ford Fusion Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic FWD |
Limited legroom. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
The roofline should be a few inches higher, and the lower section of the centre stack should be narrower to provide more room for the right knee. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
not for full size adults, but good for pre-teens see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic FWD |
Seat support seemed to break down over the 2 years I drove this vehicle. Window was very high in relation to the seat. see full Ford Fusion review |