Model Year | 2009 | 2013 | |
Model | BMW 3-Series | Nissan Altima | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,761 mm | 2,776 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,526 mm | 4,864 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,816 mm | 1,829 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,420 mm | 1,471 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,515 kg | 1,410 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 60 L | 68 L | -8 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 978 mm | 1,016 mm | 977 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,407 mm | 1,433 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0 mm | 1,372 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,054 mm | 1,143 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 953 mm | 942 mm | 11 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,400 mm | 1,433 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0 mm | 1,323 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 879 mm | 917 mm | -38 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,933 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,060 mm (over 2 rows) | -1 mm |
Cargo Volume | 340 L | 436 L | -96 L |
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 |
2013 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | I'm already stuck. In just about every other way aside from fuel economy the Altima is a good, even very good car, yet an unremarkable one. Either this, or a strength must be qualified with a "but." The latter is the case with the front seats. Inspired by the "zero gravity" seats designed by NASA for ultra-long-distance travel, the Altima's buckets feel substantial and fit like a glove. BUT...also check the reasons not to buy an Altima. Move to the back seat, and Nissan's midsize sedan has a clearer advantage. The comfortably padded rear seat cushions in both the Altima and the Fushion provide good thigh support--those in many competitors do not. The Altima's rear seat isn't quite the roomiest, but it is roomier than the Fusion's. see full Nissan Altima review |
2013 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
The NASA-inspired driver's seat is very comfortable and supportive, BUT its headrest juts so far forward that I had to remove it and reinsert it turned around. This severely compromises safety, but otherwise the headrest presses very uncomfortably against the back of my head. For this reason I doubt I could own an Altima. The average person, with a less vertical neck, won't have this problem. Just be sure to pay attention to this during your test drive. see full Nissan Altima review |
2013 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT FWD |
Superb see full Nissan Altima review |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT FWD |
Adequate see full Nissan Altima review |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
The seats are quite comfortable. They feel like they have memory foam in them. see full Nissan Altima review |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT FWD |
best seats... most comfortable! I wont go back to Honda. dang. see full Nissan Altima review |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT FWD |
I bought this car because of the front seat leg room. I'm 6' 5" tall with a 36" inseam. This is the first car I've ever owned that I fit in perfectly. The cloth bucket seats are very comfortable. Every control is in easy reach even though I have the seat as far back as it can go. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel is great. This is the first mid size sedan since I've owned. It has more interior room than a 1999 Buick LeSabre I owned 10 years ago. see full Nissan Altima review |
2013 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT FWD |
The seats are very comfortable, I would have been happy if both the driver and passenger were electronic. The lumbar support is fantastic and the driver seats is 8-way adjustable. For tall people this car will be a great ride. see full Nissan Altima review |
2013 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT FWD |
Huge back seat for a sedan (legroom) and even three abreast is not that terrible. Big guys did not complain. see full Nissan Altima review |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Roomy front seat room. see full Nissan Altima review |
2013 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.5L I4 CVT FWD |
Kids in the back seat love the limoesque space. I do enjoy anchor locks and the well placed seat belts. There is definitely some intelligent design and practice into everything and anything in this car. see full Nissan Altima review |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Very comfortable. see full Nissan Altima review |