Model Year | 2014 | 2009 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,578 mm | 2,619 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,201 mm | 4,415 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,786 mm | 1,740 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,481 mm | 1,486 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,346 kg | 1,395 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 55 L | 64 L | -9 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 998 mm | 1,024 mm | 997 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,389 mm | 1,392 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,046 mm | 1,105 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 978 mm | 955 mm | 23 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,341 mm | 1,351 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 902 mm | 851 mm | 51 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,948 mm (over 2 rows) | 1,956 mm (over 2 rows) | 0 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 425 L | 538 L | -113 L |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 1,303 L | 1,257 L | 0 L |
2014 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 |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 Volkswagen Golf / GTI.
2009 Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
The seats are bolstered in the right spots, firm and not mushy. see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
very spacious for a car in this category and much better than many luxury brands i.e. lexus is250 see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
The seats are relatively comfortable and the fabric is fair to good quality and feel. Definitely felt more comfortable to drive then a Lancer. see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |
2009 Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 305hp 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
The car was too small to drive comfortably. see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 305hp 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
My growing children could not ride comfortably for any length of time in this backseat. see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 305hp 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
Too small to drive comfortably for long distances. see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 305hp 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD |
My children did not fit comfortably. see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Small car, little room, nuff said. see full Subaru Impreza / WRX / Outback Sport review |