Model Year | 2008 | 2012 | |
Model | Dodge Caliber | Volkswagen Beetle | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Hatch | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.7 in | 99.9 in | 3.8 in |
Length | 173.8 in | 168.4 in | 5.4 in |
Width | 68.8 in | 71.2 in | -2.4 in |
Height | 60.4 in | 58.5 in | 1.9 in |
Curb Weight | 2966 lb. | 2939 lb. | 27 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.6 gal. | 14.5 gal. | -0.9 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.0 in | 39.4 in | 0.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 54.2 in | 55.3 in | -1.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 52.2 in | 0.0 in | 52.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.8 in | 41.3 in | 0.5 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.9 in | 37.1 in | 1.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.4 in | 49.0 in | 4.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 49.6 in | 0.0 in | 49.6 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.6 in | 31.4 in | 4.2 in |
Total Legroom | 77.4 in (over 2 rows) | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 4.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 18.5 ft3 | 15.4 ft3 | 3.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 48.0 ft3 | 29.9 ft3 | 18.1 ft3 |
2008 Dodge Caliber Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 158-horsepower 2.0L I4 CVT FWD |
I have taken many long trips and the front seats never leave you with any discomfort when getting out. see full Dodge Caliber review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 158-horsepower 2.0L I4 CVT FWD |
Plenty of room to stretch out. see full Dodge Caliber review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 172-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD |
Nicely shaped seats, roomy, feels much larger inside than it is. see full Dodge Caliber review |
2008 Dodge Caliber Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Hatch 158-horsepower 2.0L I4 CVT FWD |
With front seats all the way back, limited legroom. Not a big deal see full Dodge Caliber review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 158-horsepower 2.0L I4 CVT FWD |
When front seats are sild back, very little leg room for passengers in back--even kids. see full Dodge Caliber review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 158-horsepower 2.0L I4 CVT FWD |
Not enough rear knee room. Hard to enter and exit the back seat. see full Dodge Caliber review |
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
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 |
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 |
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 |