Volkswagen Beetle (2014) vs. Mazda Mazda3 (2014) Specs

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle and 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Specifications

Model Year	2014	2014
Model	Volkswagen Beetle	Mazda Mazda3
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 210 hp@5300 207 lb-ft@1700	2.5L I4 DOHC-4v 184 hp@5700 185 lb-ft@3250
Transmission	6-speed automated manual	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	2dr Hatch	4dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	100.0 in	106.3 in	-6.3 in
Length	168.4 in	175.6 in	-7.2 in
Width	71.2 in	70.7 in	0.5 in
Height	58.5 in	57.3 in	1.2 in
Curb Weight	3104 lb.	3002 lb.	102 lb.
Fuel Capacity	14.5 gal.	13.2 gal.	1.3 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.4 in	38.6 in	0.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	55.3 in	57.2 in	-1.9 in
Hip Room, Row 1	0.0 in	55.5 in	-55.5 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.3 in	42.2 in	-0.9 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.1 in	37.6 in	-0.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	49.0 in	54.4 in	-5.4 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	53.5 in	-53.5 in
Legroom, Row 2	31.4 in	35.8 in	-4.4 in
Total Legroom	72.7 in (over 2 rows)	78 in (over 2 rows)	-5.3 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.4 ft³	20.2 ft³	-4.8 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	29.9 ft³	47.1 ft³	-17.2 ft³

2014 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	Back in the 1960s VW entreated Americans to "think small." Lately, though, the German manufacturers cars have been getting bigger and bigger. The latest redesign added over two inches to the car's length (now 168 inches) and over two inches to its width (now a midsize-like 71.2 inches. Compared to the 146-by-66-inch, 2,822-pound Mini and the 140-by-64-inch, 2,434-pound Fiat, the 3,340-pound Beetle TDI convertible is a big, heavy car. As noted earlier, solidity and ride quality benefit from this additional bulk. But rear seat room does not. Sure, the Beetle Convertible's rear seat is more viable than the MINI's, but bars to clear rarely come lower. The Fiat is in the same (adults-in-a-pinch) ballpark. In addition to the space shortage, the VW's rear seat back is uncomfortably upright. see full Volkswagen Beetle review

2014 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	2dr Convertible 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	The back seat, if you could really call it that, leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe another 3 in. That being said it fits a car seat with my 6' frame in the front seat ahead of it, so it gets the job done. Once the top goes down the interior space seems adequate. see full Volkswagen Beetle review

2014 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	The Mazda3 also isn't a clear choice if a roomy rear seat is a top priority. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I had little room to spare. The rear seat in the Ford Focus is at least as tight, but has a more comfortably positioned cushion. A Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, or Toyota Corolla has far more rear seat room. If you like how the Mazda3 looks and drives, but need more rear seat legroom, the Mazda6 offers another three inches for another $2,100 to $3,700 (depending on trim level). see full Mazda Mazda3 review

2014 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Nice contoured, form fitting seats offer plenty of support, quite comfortable. see full Mazda Mazda3 review

2014 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Rear seat a bit tight, needs more room back there. see full Mazda Mazda3 review

See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks and Convertibles.

See TrueDelta's information for all Volkswagen models.