Model Year | 2013 | 2014 | |
Model | Audi A7 / S7 | BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo | |
Engine | turbocharged 4.0L V8 DOHC-4v 420 hp@5500 406 lb-ft@1400 |
turbocharged 3.0L I6 DOHC-4v 300 hp@5800 300 lb-ft@1300 |
|
Transmission | 7-speed automated manual | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 114.7 in | 115.0 in | -0.3 in |
Length | 195.6 in | 190.0 in | 5.6 in |
Width | 75.2 in | 72.0 in | 3.2 in |
Height | 55.9 in | 59.4 in | -3.5 in |
Curb Weight | 4508 lb. | 4010 lb. | 498 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 19.8 gal. | 15.8 gal. | 4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 36.9 in | 41.3 in | -4.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.2 in | 55.2 in | 2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.3 in | 42.0 in | -0.7 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 36.6 in | 38.3 in | -1.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.9 in | 54.1 in | 1.8 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.0 in | 39.2 in | -2.2 in |
Total Legroom | 78.3 in (over 2 rows) | 81.2 in (over 2 rows) | -2.9 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 24.5 ft3 | 18.3 ft3 | 6.2 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 24.5 | 18.4 ft3 | 6.1 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 56.0 ft3 | 56.5 ft3 | -0.5 ft3 |
2013 Audi A7 / S7 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Among luxury cars, Audis have my least favorite seats. They're less cushy and less coddling than the others. They're firm, and seem to want your body to adapt to them rather than the other way around. In the A7, seat adjustments are limited to the usual plus four-way lumbar. The seat's smallish bolsters are spaced fairly widely, and only frequenting all-you-can-eat buffets can bring them closer. This said, one day I drove the A7 for 600 miles and emerged without a hint of back soreness. So maybe the seats do know what's best for me. Perhaps they could teach a thing or two to the door-mounted arm rest. It's overly firm, and my left elbow did get sore. see full Audi A7 / S7 review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2013 Audi A7 / S7.
2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | Though the latest 3-Series has a much roomier back seat than its predecessors, many people still find it insufficient for their needs, and step up to a midsize sedan or wagon such as the 5-Series or E-Class. Well, most of the 3-Series Gran Turismo's wheelbase stretch was put towards rear seat legroom, bumping it from 35.0 to 37.9 inches. Though a larger car, the E-Class has nearly four inches less total legroom--barely more than the 3 wagon, in fact. (But with a more comfortably positioned rear seat than the 3 wagon.) What the specs don't tell you is that the 3 GT's rear seat cushion, since it is positioned much higher than that in the wagons, provides better thigh support and a much more open view forward. To top it off, the 3 GT's rear seat back reclines. Here again, though, the E-Class wagon has a trick bonus: a rear-facing third-row seat. Though there's not enough headroom back there for anyone over 5-4, the seat is well-padded. If you want to seat seven in a pinch, the E-Class wagon is your only option with a sedan-like driving position (aside from the Tesla Model S). Update: this review originally stated that the 3GT has much more shoulder room than the regular 3-Series, and about as much as the E-Class. But it seems that the initial specs were inaccurate. The latest specs suggest shoulder room in the 3GT is about the same as that in the regular 3-Series. Its interior does feel significantly roomier, though, so the initial specs could yet provide the more accurate set. see full BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo.