Model Year | 2017 | 2012 | |
Model | Volkswagen Golf / GTI | Toyota RAV4 | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 292 hp@5400 280 lb-ft@1800 |
3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 269 hp@6200 246 lb-ft@4700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed automated manual | 5-speed automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.5 in | 104.7 in | -1.2 in |
Length | 179.6 in | 181.1 in | -1.5 in |
Width | 70.8 in | 71.5 in | -0.7 in |
Height | 58.3 in | 66.3 in | -8 in |
Curb Weight | 3440 lb. | 3680 lb. | -240 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 15.9 gal. | -2.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.6 in | 40.8 in | -2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 57.1 in | -1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 53.8 in | -53.8 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.2 in | 41.8 in | -0.6 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.6 in | 39.7 in | -1.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 55.3 in | -1.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 52.4 in | -52.4 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.6 in | 38.3 in | -2.7 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 37.2 in | -37.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 52.6 in | -52.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 43.3 in | -43.3 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 30.0 in | -30 in |
Total Legroom | 76.8 in (over 2 rows) | 110.1 in (over 3 rows) | -33.3 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 30.4 ft3 | 12.3 ft3 | 18.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 30.4 | 37.2 ft3 | -6.8 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 66.5 ft3 | 73.0 ft3 | -6.5 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 |
2012 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | The first two generations of the Toyota RAVs were much smaller than contemporaneous Honda CR-Vs. More than perhaps any other difference this one probably explains Toyota's lack of segment leadership. The third-generation RAV4, introduced for the 2006 model year, was much larger, and finally about the same size as the Honda. The new RAV4's body is an inch lower, but also a few inches longer. Compared to the CR-V, it's 1.6 inches longer, an inch wider, and 0.7 inches taller. This translates to a slightly roomier interior, and probably the roomiest in the segment unless one includes the boundary-defying Santa Fe Sport, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I have nearly five inches of knee room in the Honda. Quite good, but I have seven inches in the new RAV4. Beyond sheer space, the RAV4's rear seat cushion is a comfortable height off the floor, and its rear seat back reclines over a relatively wide range. The Honda's rear seat back can be set in only two different positions that aren't far apart. Add a third passenger, though, and the rear seat no longer seems so roomy. My three kids aren't large, but they complained about the amount of room. The reason isn't hard to find: for some reason the new RAV4 only offers 48.8 inches of rear hip room. This is much better than the 43.3 inches in the 2012, but still well short of the 53.3 inches in the CR-V. So, while the RAV4 has the edge in knee room, the Honda easily wins a hip room comparison. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2012 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr SUV 176-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The drivers seat has a really long travel - I normally have the seat far back (5'11" with long legs) but I probably had 6 inches of travel further back I could have gone. The seat isn't overadjustable and not too hard to get into a comfortable position. The fake leather is a reasonable facsimile and has heated seats - would have to see how it does in the direct sun. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2013 | 4dr SUV 176-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Rear seat room is pretty impressive and seating position is nice. Adjustable rake of the rear seat is a nice touch. Appears to have 3 car seat anchors. The rear seat appears to be the same size as, or maybe even larger than the original Highlander / RX300. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2012 Toyota RAV4 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr SUV 179-horsepower 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
I'm about 6'3" and 220lbs so I get cramped on long trips. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2012 | 4dr SUV 179-horsepower 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
I'm about 6'3" and 220lbs so I get cramped on long trips. see full Toyota RAV4 review |
2011 | 4dr SUV 179-horsepower 2.5L I4 4-speed automatic AWD |
back seat is hard, not much leg room see full Toyota RAV4 review |