Model Year | 2017 | 2010 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Subaru Forester | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.5 in | 103.0 in | 0.5 in |
Length | 179.6 in | 179.5 in | 0.1 in |
Width | 70.8 in | 70.1 in | 0.7 in |
Height | 58.3 in | 65.9 in | -7.6 in |
Curb Weight | 3063 lb. | 3250 lb. | -187 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 16.9 gal. | -3.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.6 in | 41.6 in | -3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 56.1 in | -0.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 43.1 in | -1.9 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.6 in | 40.0 in | -1.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 55.6 in | -1.7 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.6 in | 38.0 in | -2.4 in |
Total Legroom | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 81.1 in (over 2 rows) | -4.3 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 30.4 ft3 | 33.5 ft3 | -3.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 66.5 ft3 | 68.3 ft3 | -1.8 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 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The rear seat room is generous. see full Subaru Forester review |
2010 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Enough room to feel comfortable, even at 6 feet tall. The fact that the Premium Trim package allows rear seats to recline a bit helps a lot as well. see full Subaru Forester review |
2010 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
leather seat "baquet" has very good lateral control, but leather is slippery on braking see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
ample rear seat room for car seats and adults alike see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
well padded and shaped, power seat controls allows good positioning. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Lost of room for the kids. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
It fits my kids (three) better than 2001 Outback, the rear seat "hump" is less proeminent than in other Subaru models (Outback namely), good hip and shoulder room see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Big enough for growing children; enough leg room for tall driver see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Easily fits people over 6 foot in fron with plenty of room in back for passengers - much better than previous generation Forester. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Rear seats are very comfortable, lots of space, excellent for wife and kid. see full Subaru Forester review |
2010 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Great for an average women. Too narrow for fit 6 foot man, especially in the back cushion. see full Subaru Forester review |