Useful Cargo Space - 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Useful Cargo Space - 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Long-Term Road Test

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI leads the hot hatch class in useful cargo space. Seats that fold nearly flat and a boxy design make this lively compact car practical too.

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kurtamaxxxguy

Fascinating that the GTI'S cargo space is only half a cubic foot less than the 1 foot longer Porsche Macan S.

adamb1

When my son and I go whitewater canoeing, we leave my pickup at the takeout and are able to haul 2, 8.5' canoes sticking out of the back of his '12 Focus hatchback when we drive to the put in. Hatches > sedans. Pickups > hatches.

swib

Fun fact - the Focus ST's rear seats do indeed fold completely flat. I don't know how you guys missed that when you owned one but you can easily flip up the seat bottoms and fold the seat backs down flat. That said, I'm impressed the GTI has 8 more cu ft than the ST

fordson1

I agree that the GTI has more space than the ST...but I also agree that the ST's rear seat does fold flat...they apparently went through 20,000 miles with their ST without noticing this. Amusingly, even the September 2013 post that Travis links to in this post has a couple of comments in it informing Edmunds of that fact.

We can point out errors all we like, but they're pretty information-proof sometimes.

bc1960

I'm looking at the pic and seeing the seats are not flat and level with the cargo floor, just like the previous couple Golf generations. Given that the Jetta/Golf Variant/SportWagon uses the same method as the Focus and some other European and Asian 5-doors and wagons to make a flatter floor, it baffles me that the Golf does not. The Mazda3 is, I think, a bit flatter with its sliding bottom cushions allowing space for the back cushions to sit lower, but I haven't taken a protractor to both cars. I don't carry loads higher than the seatbacks (which by SAE spec isn't officially cargo volume, although manufacturers may count it, and different manufacturers may choose to use older, different editions of SAE J1100 to manipulate listed cargo volume) so the Mazda3's more stylish back light didn't deter me.

darex

MINI Cooper's cargo area folds completely flat, thanks to the 3-position cargo shelf.

http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/mini/cooper/2014/lt/2014_mini_cooper_det_lt_1010141_600.jpg

I hate it when car's do not. Could be a deal-breaker for me!