TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
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
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI
2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Subaru Forester
2016 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2015
4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD
I'm 6'3" and often don't fit comfortable in vehicles. I found this had a very nice amount of front seat room. The center console tends to stay out of the way as well, some newer designs have the center stack moving into where my right knee would be. It's a very noticeable improvement over my previous 2009 Escape. I actually found the Forester more comfortable for me than the Outback. I was expecting the opposite.
see full Subaru Forester review
2015
4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD
After looking at Explorer's, I was surprised how much more room the Forester had in the back seat. Granted it doesn't have a third row, but if you don't need a 3rd row, the Forester is hard to beat in this segment for rear seat room. We can put a forward facing child seat in the back, move the front seat up a about 2 inches from all the way back and there's still plenty of front passenger room and my 1.5 year old son can't kick the back of the seat.
see full Subaru Forester review
2016 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year
Body/Powertrain
Comment
2017
4dr SUV turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
- Terrible front seat support - The cushions are too short - It's not noticeable on a test drive right away. I would not have bought the car! Test drive extensively!
- Surfaces where your elbows would lay are too hard - I purchased foam pads to make it feel better.
- Tall drivers like myself will struggle with the telescoping wheel's short extension range.
- It is hard to get into a fully comfortable driving position. The memory seats in the XT help somewhat by retaining your seat settings if moved.
- Front seat cushions are too short - Yes I said this twice
- Front seat cushions are too short - Yes I said this THREE times!
Subaru are you listening? The front seat cushions are WAY TOO SHORT!
see full Subaru Forester review
