Model Year | 2009 | 2012 | |
Model | BMW 3-Series | Volkswagen Jetta | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.7 in | 104.4 in | 4.3 in |
Length | 178.2 in | 182.2 in | -4 in |
Width | 71.5 in | 70.0 in | 1.5 in |
Height | 55.9 in | 57.2 in | -1.3 in |
Curb Weight | 3340 lb. | 2804 lb. | 536 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 14.5 gal. | 1.4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.5 in | 38.2 in | 0.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.4 in | 55.2 in | 0.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.5 in | 41.2 in | 0.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.5 in | 37.1 in | 0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.1 in | 53.6 in | 1.5 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 34.6 in | 38.1 in | -3.5 in |
Total Legroom | 76.1 in (over 2 rows) | 79.3 in (over 2 rows) | -3.2 in |
Cargo Volume | 12.0 ft3 | 15.5 ft3 | -3.5 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 |
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | The Jetta is a little longer than the ILX (182 vs. 179 inches), and all of the additional inches appear to have gone into the rear seat. While the average adult will barely fit into the back seat of the Acura (those over 5-9 will be on close terms with the headliner), the Jetta has significantly more rear headroom and more rear legroom than the average midsize sedan, much less the average compact. If you like a roomy rear seat, you'll love the Jetta. Room is one thing, comfort another. The rear seat feels overly hard, and neither the cushion nor the backrest was set at a comfortable angle for me. Clearly some German engineer found these angles optimal, though. So maybe it's just me. see full Volkswagen Jetta review |
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 115-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
While the Jetta is extremely roomy and comfortable, the center console is slightly too close and can interfere with the driver's right knee and calf. see full Volkswagen Jetta review |