Model Year | 2015 | 2009 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Mini Hardtop | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
turbocharged 1.6L I4 DOHC-4v 208 hp@6000 192 lb-ft@1850 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed automated manual | 6-speed manual | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | |
Body | 2dr Hatch | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.8 in | 97.1 in | 6.7 in |
Length | 167.5 in | 145.6 in | 21.9 in |
Width | 70.5 in | 66.3 in | 4.2 in |
Height | 57.2 in | 55.4 in | 1.8 in |
Curb Weight | 3278 lb. | 2668 lb. | 610 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 10.6 gal. | 2.6 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.4 in | 38.8 in | -0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 50.3 in | 5.6 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 41.4 in | -0.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.1 in | 37.6 in | 0.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 44.7 in | 9.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.6 in | 29.9 in | 5.7 in |
Total Legroom | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 71.3 in (over 2 rows) | 5.5 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 22.8 ft3 | 5.7 ft3 | 17.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 52.7 ft3 | 24.0 ft3 | 28.7 ft3 |
2015 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 |
2015 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 |
2009 Mini Hardtop Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 2dr Hatch 118-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
nevr a backache, I am a six footer that arrives refreshed and never feel cramped. see full Mini Hardtop review |
2009 | 2dr Hatch 118-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
heated seats, great driving position, great visability see full Mini Hardtop review |
2009 Mini Hardtop Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 172hp 1.6L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Smallish seats made the front feel kinda cheap. The middle armrest was also a very hard plastic, but the door was slightly softer plastic. see full Mini Hardtop review |
2009 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 172hp 1.6L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Despite being a hatchback, not a lot of headroom in the back, almost as same as the Mustang. Seats were more upright and headrest should have been integrated into seatbacks; rather, it was mostly a nuisance. see full Mini Hardtop review |
2009 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 172hp 1.6L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
There is no room for anyone other than a child see full Mini Hardtop review |
2009 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 172hp 1.6L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
I drove a John Cooperworks MINI and I found the front seat to be incredibly flat and unsupportive. It was the complete opposite of the GTI seats, and a big part of why I purchased the GTI instead see full Mini Hardtop review |
2008 | 2dr Hatch 118-horsepower 1.6L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The roof line is so low that tall people do not fit. When I tested the car my head was touching the roofliner. see full Mini Hardtop review |
2008 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 172hp 1.6L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
too small for adults see full Mini Hardtop review |