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2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI and 2011 Kia Soul Specifications
| Model Year | 2016 | 2011 | |
| Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Kia Soul | |
| Engine | |||
| Transmission | |||
| Drivetrain | |||
| Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch | |
| Difference | |||
| Wheelbase | 103.8 in | 100.4 in | 3.4 in |
| Length | 167.5 in | 161.6 in | 5.9 in |
| Width | 70.8 in | 70.3 in | 0.5 in |
| Height | 57.2 in | 63.4 in | -6.2 in |
| Curb Weight | 2963 lb. | 2560 lb. | 403 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 12.7 gal. | 0.5 gal. |
| Headroom, Row 1 | 38.4 in | 40.2 in | -1.8 in |
| Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 55.2 in | 0.7 in |
| Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 53.3 in | -53.3 in |
| Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 42.1 in | -0.9 in |
| Headroom, Row 2 | 38.1 in | 39.6 in | -1.5 in |
| Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 55.1 in | -1.2 in |
| Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 52.7 in | -52.7 in |
| Legroom, Row 2 | 35.6 in | 39.0 in | -3.4 in |
| Total Legroom | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 81.1 in (over 2 rows) | -4.3 in |
| Cargo Volume, Minimum | 22.8 ft3 | 19.3 ft3 | 3.5 ft3 |
| Cargo Volume, Maximum | 52.7 ft3 | 53.4 ft3 | -0.7 ft3 |
TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
| 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 | |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
| 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 |
TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2011 Kia Soul
| 2011 Kia Soul Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
| Year | Comment | |
| The seats are similarly sufficient for casual around-town driving but subpar for even moderate distances. Less than half way through our four-hour drive the hard, flat cushions grew uncomfortable. see full Kia Soul review | ||
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2011 Kia Soul
| 2011 Kia Soul Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 142-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Lots of head, hip, knee, and foot room. The cushions seem to get less comfortable after a solid 2-3 hours driving. But, at least around town, this is one car in which you can ask friends to sit in the back without being ashamed. see full Kia Soul review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 142-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Lots of headroom and legroom. Seat and wheel adjustments easy to make. Feels larger than it actually is. see full Kia Soul review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 142-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Tons of headroom. My daughter has lots of visibility in the back while in her car seat. Full size adults can sit back there in comfort. see full Kia Soul review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 122-horsepower 1.6L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Comfort of an intermediate-size car, with everything in easy reach. Able to maintain comfortable safety belt adjustment. see full Kia Soul review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 122-horsepower 1.6L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Large enought for two adults see full Kia Soul review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 142-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
I am over 6 feet tall and even with the moon roof, I have a ton of headroom and leg room. see full Kia Soul review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 142-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
My kids are tall too and with my seat adjusted to my liking, there is a ton of head room and leg room in the back. Love the folding rear seats. see full Kia Soul review |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 142-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
You can fit another two big people behind you even when you are a 6 footer. Headrests for all passangers. Safety side curtains for all passengers. see full Kia Soul review |
| 2011 Kia Soul Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
| Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
| 2010 | 4dr Hatch 142-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
It felt smaller than the measurements suggested, relative to its competitors. see full Kia Soul review |
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