| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2013 Specs - Exterior and Interior Dimensions
| Body |
TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013
| 2013 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 review | |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2013 .
TrueDelta Reviews the Powertrain of the 2013
| 2013 Powertrain: Pros | ||
| Year | Comment | |
| 2014 | Theoretically, the Mercedes-Benz E350 wagon's 3.5-liter V6 engine has a slight edge in horsepower over the BMW 335i Gran Touring's turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six, 302 to 300. In reality, the two aren't so close. Part of the reason: the Benz V6 has to motivate a couple hundred more pounds. Most of the reason: the BMW mill is under-rated--it produces more than its stated horsepower. Even if this weren't the case, turbocharged engines are stronger at low-to-middling engine speeds. They've got more grunt down low (at least once the turbo spools up, a blink or two these days). In Car and Driver's testing the BMW with a "street start" (no burning rubber) got to 60 in 6.1 seconds, the Mercedes in 6.6. Not a huge difference, but a significant one. More indicative of the difference between the two engines is what happens over 60: the BMW was three seconds quicker to 100, five seconds quicker to 120. You don't drive this fast? Me, either. But these stats indicate how much more powerful the BMW really is. The inline six sounds sweeter when revved, too. Frankly, few people will often tap the full potential of the boosted six. If you won't, and can also live with a lumpier idle and somewhat dieselish engine noises, I'd suggest saving $4,100 and getting the 328i Gran Turismo instead. With the 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine the 3 GT should still be about as quick as the Mercedes. Both cars have responsive, well-behaved automatic transmissions, with the eight-speed in the BMW having a slight edge over the older seven-speed in the Mercedes. A manual transmission is available in neither car. see full review | |
What Our Members Are Saying about the Powertrain of the 2013
None of our members have yet commented on the powertrain of the 2013 .
What Our Members Are Saying about the Tires of the 2013
None of our members have yet commented on the tires of the 2013 .
See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks
See TrueDelta's information for all BMW models.
