Model Year | 2011 | 2009 | |
Model | Ford Taurus | Nissan Altima | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 112.9 in | 109.3 in | 3.6 in |
Length | 202.9 in | 189.8 in | 13.1 in |
Width | 76.2 in | 70.7 in | 5.5 in |
Height | 60.7 in | 57.9 in | 2.8 in |
Curb Weight | 4015 lb. | 3145 lb. | 870 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 20.0 gal. | 20.0 gal. | 0 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.0 in | 40.6 in | -1.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.9 in | 55.7 in | 2.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.3 in | 56.8 in | -0.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.9 in | 44.1 in | -2.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.8 in | 36.8 in | 1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 56.9 in | 55.5 in | 1.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 55.8 in | 52.5 in | 3.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.1 in | 35.8 in | 2.3 in |
Total Legroom | 80 in (over 2 rows) | 79.9 in (over 2 rows) | 0.1 in |
Cargo Volume | 20.1 ft3 | 15.3 ft3 | 4.8 ft3 |
2011 Ford Taurus Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Three adult room in the back seat - comfortably! see full Ford Taurus review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 365hp 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The front and rear seats are very comfortable. The back can be cramped with three passengers. The SL has heated front and rear seats which works great and are needed as the car heater is very slow to initially get warm. The heated steering wheel is also a nice touch. The seat fabric is soft but the light color might not wear well. see full Ford Taurus review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Leather appointed seats are like sitting in an easy chair. see full Ford Taurus review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 365hp 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Independently adjustable lumbar and cushion supports, individual front seat heaters, coolers and massagers for both the seat cushion and the back. Need I say more? see full Ford Taurus review |
2011 Ford Taurus Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 0 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The front seats are horrible- similar to airline seats, and no amount of adjusting or adding cushions helped. I'm 6'2 and my wife is 5'3.and neither of us could get comfortable. After 2 weeks, it was actually painful to drive this car. see full Ford Taurus review |
2012 | 0 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Not enough headroom for adults in the rear seat. Seat comfort is as poor as the front seats. see full Ford Taurus review |
2009 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 2dr Coupe 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Nissan has reputation for reliability see full Nissan Altima review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
I am a big guy who at first did not consider Altima because I did not think I would fit in it. I was surprised to find I fit just fine. I am 6'3" and 252lbs. The front seats provide ample room. I also have a lot of head room. see full Nissan Altima review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
I am 6'3", weigh 235. Being a big guy, I find this car VERY comfortable. I use it in my work daily. I drive it multiple trips/day (there have been as many as 8-10 trips/day-from 2 miles up to 50 miles/each trip). So I am in/out of the car multiple times/day. It's very easy to enter and exit and is very roomy for a mid-sized car and also has a lot of rear leg room. The trunk is large as well and the back seat folds down making the useful trunk space all the more. I also like the console and having the iPod connection in the second storage area of the console-out of the way. Hip room of the front seat is very generous as well. Just yesterday I had a rear seat passenger who commented how much leg room they had in the back. see full Nissan Altima review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Comfortable for 6 ft adult. see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed manual FWD |
Very comfortable and i found all the controls very intuitive. the driving position is right and everything falls where you would expect it. see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Very good for tall people, even with sunroof. Seat is adjustable in 3 directions plus lumbar support. see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
I guess these first three are of a piece. see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
adjustability see full Nissan Altima review |
2009 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 2dr Coupe 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Very difficult to get in and even more difficult to get out. Only teens in good shape can do it easily see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Not much room back there but that is to be expected in a coupe You can get small adults back there for short trips see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
My shoulder room is cramped and i feel like the whole front seating area is a too small. see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Difficult entry; Lever in akward position to move front passenger seat forward for rear seat ingress/egress. Headroom, legroom. see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
test drove it for 15 minutes and never could found the right driving position see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
tight quarters. see full Nissan Altima review |
2008 | 2dr Coupe 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed manual FWD |
Good luck fitting more than one person of or above average size in the back. For one person, I find that having them sit in one seat and putting their legs across behind the other seat creates the illusion of them having more room. see full Nissan Altima review |