BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series 2008 Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Beetle 2013

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BMW 3-Series (2008) vs. Volkswagen Beetle (2013) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2008 BMW 3-Series and 2013 Volkswagen Beetle specs.

2008 BMW 3-Series and 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Specifications

Model Year 2008 2013  
Model BMW 3-Series Volkswagen Beetle  
Engine  
Transmission  
Drivetrain  
Body 2dr Hardtop conv. 2dr Convertible  
      Difference
Wheelbase 108.7 in 100.0 in 8.7 in
Length 180.6 in 168.4 in 12.2 in
Width 70.2 in 71.2 in -1 in
Height 54.5 in 58.0 in -3.5 in
Curb Weight 3792 lb. 3162 lb. 630 lb.
Fuel Capacity 16.1 gal. 14.5 gal. 1.6 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 38.0 in 39.3 in -1.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 55.3 in 55.3 in 0 in
Legroom, Row 1 41.8 in 41.3 in 0.5 in
Headroom, Row 2 36.5 in 37.6 in -1.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 49.3 in 43.1 in 6.2 in
Legroom, Row 2 31.9 in 31.4 in 0.5 in
Total Legroom 73.7 in (over 2 rows) 72.7 in (over 2 rows) 1 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 9.0 ft3 7.1 ft3 1.9 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 12.2 ft3 7.1 ft3 5.1 ft3

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2008 BMW 3-Series

2008 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
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
2007 2dr Coupe turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6
6-speed manual RWD
More padding, slightly larger than e46 sport seats, fully adjustable side bolsters and the Dakota leather seems thicker and softer than the e-46 leather. see full BMW 3-Series review
2007 4dr Sedan turbocharged 300hp 3.0L I6
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
back support see full BMW 3-Series review
2008 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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 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 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 2dr Coupe 230-horsepower 3.0L I6
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Too small for most adults. see full BMW 3-Series review
2008 4dr Sedan 230-horsepower 3.0L I6
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
ride is very jiggly, can feel every imperfection in the road. I think the tires may be very poor for this car. 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
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 4dr Wagon 230-horsepower 3.0L I6
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD
Tighter quarters in rear than RX see full BMW 3-Series review
2008 4dr Sedan 230-horsepower 3.0L I6
6-speed manual RWD
With a young family, not much room in the back seat for children in car seats. see full BMW 3-Series review
 

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle

2013 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearComment
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
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle

2013 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
2013 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
 
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