Model Year | 2009 | 2007 | |
Model | BMW 3-Series | Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,761 mm | 2,578 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,526 mm | 4,554 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,816 mm | 1,781 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,420 mm | 1,458 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,515 kg | 1,465 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 60 L | 55 L | 5 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 978 mm | 978 mm | 0 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,407 mm | 1,392 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,054 mm | 1,046 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 953 mm | 945 mm | 8 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,400 mm | 1,349 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 879 mm | 899 mm | -20 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,933 mm (over 2 rows) | 1,946 mm (over 2 rows) | 0 mm |
Cargo Volume | 340 L | 453 L | -113 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 |
2007 Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Plenty of space, good lumbar support, nice side bolstering. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2008 | 2dr Hatch 250-horsepower 3.2L V6 6-speed automated manual AWD |
With only one car, I needed a sporty car with legitimate rear seat room and an automatic for the other users. I have had 2 6ft passengers in the back seat without complaint. The cushion could use a little more height/angle to aid in leg support. Nitpickin see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
well bolstered, firm, both driver and passenger seats have height and lumbar adjust see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
With the 4 door GTI I can drive 4 full size adults around in comfort. Easy ingress-egress. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2008 | 2dr Hatch 250-horsepower 3.2L V6 6-speed automated manual AWD |
Fits me perfectly, all controls ideal for me. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 150-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
most comfortable seats out of the Totoya Matrix, Mazda 3, Honda fit, Nissan Versa see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Excellent seats and comfort, however occasionally find the seats a bit narrow and the foot well can be tight in some shoes. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
The sport seats in the basic black leatherette are nicely bolstered though not overly enveloping like seats in my FR-S. This means it hits a nice middle ground of comfort but still keeping you from being thrown around in aggressive driving. The manually adjusted seats are easily positioned to a comfortable state after you figure out which of the 4 levers is doing what. The adjustible thigh support is especially nice and not something I often see in this segment. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
The front seats offer great lateral support. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Zero fatigue on long drives, natural driving position see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2007 Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
It works fine for me, but if you have adults that use the rear seat often they may find it a little uncomfortable for long trips. The legroom is decent, but the seats are a bit hard and not all that ergonomic. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Great for my kids (4 and 7) but small for adults. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |
2006 | 4dr Hatch 115-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Seats could be firmer though adequate. It has no lumbar support and expended use probably will change the shape of the foam used in the seat. see full Volkswagen Jetta / Rabbit / GTI review |