Model Year | 2009 | 2014 | |
Model | BMW 3-Series | Mercedes-Benz GL | |
Engine | turbocharged 3.0L I6 Diesel DOHC-4v 265 hp@4200 425 lb-ft@1750 |
turbocharged 3.0L V6 Diesel DOHC-4v 240 hp@3600 455 lb-ft@1600 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 7-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | RWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.7 in | 121.0 in | -12.3 in |
Length | 178.2 in | 201.6 in | -23.4 in |
Width | 71.5 in | 76.4 in | -4.9 in |
Height | 55.8 in | 72.8 in | -17 in |
Curb Weight | 3947 lb. | 5467 lb. | -1520 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 26.4 gal. | -10.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.5 in | 41.2 in | -2.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.4 in | 58.5 in | -3.1 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.5 in | 40.3 in | 1.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.0 in | 40.0 in | -2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.1 in | 58.3 in | -3.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 34.6 in | 38.5 in | -3.9 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 38.9 in | -38.9 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 50.5 in | -50.5 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 35.0 in | -35 in |
Total Legroom | 76.1 in (over 2 rows) | 113.8 in (over 3 rows) | -37.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 24.8 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | 8.8 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 24.8 | 49.4 ft3 | -24.6 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 58.0 ft3 | 93.8 ft3 | -35.8 ft3 |
2009 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Relatively small back seat room. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 414-horsepower 4.0L V8 6-speed manual RWD |
Power seats are very comfortable, even for long hauls. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Sport seats fit me exceptionally well. Plush enough for the wife to enjoy a long drive. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 4dr Wagon 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
I found the sport package seats comfortable see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
tight and not too useful a space see full BMW 3-Series review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 230-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Rear seat room not as expansive as competitors. Trunk capacity could be better. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
Tight for large people. Fine for kids. Smaller than a G37, much smaller than a Maxima. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 414-horsepower 4.0L V8 7-speed automated manual RWD |
Wish the rear seats had 1" more legroom. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 | 2dr Coupe turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Limited for adults see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed manual AWD |
With a 6-foot driver, rear seat room is barely adequate for adults, for short trips. This is typical for this car segment, though. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2009 | 0 | Not much room in rear see if driver is 6 feet tall see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
A bit small for me, both in the seat and in the cabin in general. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
2 small for adults over 6 ft see full BMW 3-Series review |
2008 | 2dr Hardtop conv. turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
It has a back seat, but unless it is a short trip it is very tight for adults. see full BMW 3-Series review |
2014 Mercedes-Benz GL Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is just a little longer than the Audi Q7 (201.6 vs. 200.3 inches), and isn't as wide (76.4 vs. 78.1 inches). But the Mercedes is considerably taller (72.8 vs. 68.4 inches) and not nearly as curvy. Which might explain how it is far roomier than the much sleeker Audi. Combined legroom for all three rows is 107.6 inches in the Q7 vs. 113.8 inches in the GL-Class, a large difference. The Q7's space deficit grows the farther back you sit. For adults to even fit in the Audi's third row without extreme discomfort, those in the second row must slide their seats forward to the point that they are themselves short on knee room. While the new GL350's third row sits too low to provide thigh support, it's not nearly as cramped. Further evidence that Audi didn't intend the Q7's third row for frequent use: the second-row seat doesn't do a good job of getting out of the way, making the path in and out of the way-back perhaps the tightest I've experienced. The second-row seat in the GL-Class tips forward to open up a much wider path. If manually tipping the seat is too much of a chore (perhaps because you'e a five-year-old and haven't yet learned to read this), $400 buys a power assist. But even with this option the seat must be manually returned to its upright position, so the point eludes me. see full Mercedes-Benz GL review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GL.