Model Year | 2014 | 2012 | |
Model | Hyundai Elantra GT | Volkswagen Beetle | |
Engine | 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 173 hp@6500 154 lb-ft@4700 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 104.3 in | 99.9 in | 4.4 in |
Length | 169.3 in | 168.4 in | 0.9 in |
Width | 70.1 in | 71.2 in | -1.1 in |
Height | 57.9 in | 58.5 in | -0.6 in |
Curb Weight | 2908 lb. | 3089 lb. | -181 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 14.0 gal. | 14.5 gal. | -0.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.1 in | 39.4 in | 0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 55.3 in | 0.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.1 in | 0.0 in | 53.1 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.0 in | 41.3 in | 0.7 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.9 in | 37.1 in | 0.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.9 in | 49.0 in | 5.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 51.0 in | 0.0 in | 51 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 34.6 in | 31.4 in | 3.2 in |
Total Legroom | 76.6 in (over 2 rows) | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 3.9 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 23.0 ft3 | 15.4 ft3 | 7.6 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 51.0 ft3 | 29.9 ft3 | 21.1 ft3 |
2014 Hyundai Elantra GT Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | Like the Elantra Touring which it replaced, the Elantra GT shares few if any visible parts with the Elantra coupe and sedan. Instead, both cars are essentially the European-market Hyundai i30 rebadged and slightly retuned for North American consumption. In Europe, the i30 is offered in two lengths, a hatch and an estate (the Queen's English for "wagon"). With the Elantra Touring, we got the estate. Perhaps because not enough people bought an Elantra Touring, Hyundai decided we'd readily trade functionality for styling. So with the Elantra GT we get the hatchback. While adults no longer have room to stretch, the Elantra GT's rear seat remains roomier than those in the Mazda3 and Ford Focus, but can't quite match the Kia Forte5's interior dimensions. Actually, Mazda claims more rear legroom in its car, but this particular spec seems well out of sync with reality. Even if this wasn't the case, specs aren't everything. Owing to a healthy height off the floor, the Hyundai's rear seat might be the most comfortable in the segment (unless you're tall enough to require more than the modest amount of headroom). A bonus for rear-seat passengers: the Tech Package includes the segment's only panoramic sunroof. see full Hyundai Elantra GT review |
2014 Hyundai Elantra GT Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Room enough for up to 6 foot adults. see full Hyundai Elantra GT review |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
A comfortable ride. We drove over 500 miles each way on spring break and had no complaints. see full Hyundai Elantra GT review |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Coming from a Volvo the seats are firm in comparison. They aren't the hard pans Honda seems to favor though with good side bolsters, quality cloth that should wear well and decent lumbar support(not adjustable in base). Headrests are adjustable for vertical movement but not forward or back. Driving & Visibility see full Hyundai Elantra GT review |
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2012 | 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 |
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 0 | The rear seat is also surprisingly roomy. My 6'2" father was able to sit comfortably in the back for ~30 min hops around town. see full Volkswagen Beetle review |
2012 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 |
2012 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
I love my Beetle, but the rear seat legspace is not so good. For me its no problem at all, since normally only my wife and i drive the car, but when you normally have to drive with 4 adults, it can become crampy at the back. If the driver and front passenger are not that tall, the rear legspace is quite good. Even the headspace is ok. see full Volkswagen Beetle review |