Model Year | 2017 | 2010 | |
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 |
2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2016 | As I've noted before (when reviewing the e-Golf), the seventh-generation Golf's front seats are shaped and padded to provide nearly ideal comfort and support in daily driving. The CX-5's driver seat also fit me well, but not quite as well as the Volkswagen's. Compared to other compact hatchbacks and its ancestors, the current Golf has a roomy rear seat. I can sit behind my 5-9 self with about five inches of air ahead of my knees. Unless unusually tall people populate both rows, the amount of space should be beyond adequate. Compare the Golf SportWagen's rear seat to that in the CX-5, and a funny thing happens. On paper, the Mazda provides about 3.5 more inches of legroom. When sitting behind myself in both vehicles, though, I had about half as much space ahead of my knees in the CX-5. I've noticed in the past that VW measures rear legroom very conservatively, and apparently they continue to do so. The Golf's interior is roomier than the official specs suggest. Plus its rear seat passengers get air vents. The Mazda's do not. This said, I'm not entirely comfortable in the Golf SportWagen's rear seat. To me it feels overly reclined. In neither the GSW nor the CX-5 is the degree of recline adjustable. It is in some compact crossovers. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review |
2017 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 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 headroom and legroom. Seat and wheel adjustments easy to make. Feels larger than it actually is. 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 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 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 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 |
2010 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 |