Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2011) vs. Mercedes-Benz GLK (2012) Specs

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2011 Volkswagen Golf / GTI and 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Specifications

Model Year	2011	2012
Model	Volkswagen Golf / GTI	Mercedes-Benz GLK
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1800	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 268 hp@6000 258 lb-ft@2400
Transmission	6-speed automated manual	7-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	RWD
Body	4dr Hatch	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	101.5 in	108.5 in	-7 in
Length	165.4 in	178.3 in	-12.9 in
Width	70.3 in	72.4 in	-2.1 in
Height	58.3 in	66.9 in	-8.6 in
Curb Weight	3090 lb.	3884 lb.	-794 lb.
Fuel Capacity	14.5 gal.	17.4 gal.	-2.9 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.3 in	39.8 in	-0.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	54.7 in	55.2 in	-0.5 in
Hip Room, Row 1	0.0 in	53.2 in	-53.2 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.2 in	41.8 in	-0.6 in
Headroom, Row 2	38.5 in	39.7 in	-1.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	52.8 in	55.4 in	-2.6 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	52.5 in	-52.5 in
Legroom, Row 2	35.5 in	35.1 in	0.4 in
Total Legroom	76.7 in (over 2 rows)	76.9 in (over 2 rows)	-0.2 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.0 ft³	23.3 ft³	-8.3 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	46.0 ft³	54.7 ft³	-8.7 ft³

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2011 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

2011 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2012	4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Four adults can easily and comfortably fit in this car, with plenty of room for luggage. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2011	2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD	I have MS, so comfortable seats are a must. This is the only car that I've been in where I could do a non-stop trip from Michigan to Washington DC in. No fatigue, no stopping for a stretch. It's that good, and VW throws in standard heated seats for the GTI. And they do mean "heated" seats, not "warmed" seats, not "take-the-edge-off" seats. Turn them on full and your bum will be roasting with in a few minutes. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2011	2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 5-speed manual FWD	Seats actually fit your body and have proper bolstering, unlike most other seats in this price range which are more like shelves for oversized American behinds. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2011	4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD	Good leg room and supportive seats. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2011	4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD	Good leg room for a small car. Supportive seats. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2011	4dr Hatch turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD	Firm, supportive seats. Not too hard. Should be excellent for long road trips. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2011	4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD	Firm, yet comfortable. Excellent lateral support in the turns. Excellent thigh support fro taller driver. Can sit for hours and still feel comfortable. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2010	4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD	They are supportive with good leg support. The seat side bolsters hold driver in place. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2010	4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD	Good room for a small car. Four adults can ride comfortably. Plenty of cargo room with the rear seats down. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
2010	4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD	A lot of rear leg rrom when compared to the Mazda3 and A3 which I also looked at. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
2011	Expect the GLK to grow when it is next fully redesigned. A smaller MLK is on the way to battle the upcoming Audi Q3 and just-arrived BMW X1. For 2013, the GLK's body structure remains essentially the same, so rear seat knee room remains just sufficient for a man of average height sitting behind another such man. (Headroom, on the other hand, is abundant.) Among competitors, only the Infiniti EX37 has a tighter rear seat. The Audi, BMW, and Volvo all offer knees another inch or three. Seat comfort is debatable. To my bottom, the GLK's seats feel overly firm. Cargo space is similarly short of the segment average. The GLK's 54.7 cubic feet isn't far behind the Audi's 57.3 but well below the X3's 63.3. That truncated tail has a downside beyond aesthetics. But do these shortcomings really matter? For most people nearly all of the time, there's enough space. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2011	4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD	I have a problem with headroom. So many cars give me less than a half inch from my scalp to the frame on the sunroof. That hurts over bumps, not to mention what my hair looks like when I get out. GLK has over an inch of space for me. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr SUV turbocharged 168hp 2.1L I4 Diesel 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD	We are a couple with no kids and we rarely have visitors so the cramped rear seating is not a problem. Someone with teenage kids will want to seriously reconsider before getting a GLK. I know my Mom would not appreciate the ingress/egress ease as she has some limited mobility. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
2011	4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD	If you are 6' plus like me, you will have to adjust the front seat forward if you want passengers to ride with you unless they are quite small. But this is a perfect city hauler for a single or couple. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review

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