Ford Taurus (2008) vs. Volkswagen Beetle (2012) Specs

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2008 Ford Taurus and 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Specifications

Model Year	2008	2012
Model	Ford Taurus	Volkswagen Beetle
Engine	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 263 hp@6250 249 lb-ft@4500	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700
Transmission	6-speed automatic	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr Sedan	2dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	112.9 in	99.9 in	13 in
Length	200.4 in	168.4 in	32 in
Width	74.5 in	71.2 in	3.3 in
Height	61.5 in	58.5 in	3 in
Curb Weight	3643 lb.	3089 lb.	554 lb.
Fuel Capacity	20.0 gal.	14.5 gal.	5.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.4 in	39.4 in	0 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	57.8 in	55.3 in	2.5 in
Hip Room, Row 1	53.7 in	0.0 in	53.7 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.3 in	41.3 in	0 in
Headroom, Row 2	38.7 in	37.1 in	1.6 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	57.5 in	49.0 in	8.5 in
Hip Room, Row 2	53.7 in	0.0 in	53.7 in
Legroom, Row 2	41.3 in	31.4 in	9.9 in
Total Legroom	82.6 in (over 2 rows)	72.7 in (over 2 rows)	9.9 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	21.2 ft³	15.4 ft³	5.8 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	21.2 ft³	29.9 ft³	-8.7 ft³

2008 Ford Taurus Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2009	4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic FWD	Large enough, easy entry/exit see full Ford Taurus review
2008	4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic FWD	Outstanding interior space. I'm 6'4" with about a 34" inseam and I can sit comfortably in the rear when I have my front seat adjusted just so. With the driver seat all the way back, it's a stretch to reach the controls. see full Ford Taurus review
2008	4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic FWD	Three adults can sit in the back and there knees will not touch the front seats nor will there heads touch the ceiling. The seats are very comfortable. Noise is very low and the car has two vents blowing air or heat. see full Ford Taurus review
2008	4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic FWD	Very roomy and confortable see full Ford Taurus review
2008	4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic AWD	Good driving position, steering wheel design and arm rests. see full Ford Taurus review
2008	4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic FWD	Taller people ride in comfort, with ample room for long legs, even when the front seats are back. The fact that they also fold down adds tremendous versatility to this car. see full Ford Taurus review
2008	4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed automatic FWD	Tons of room, with an open feel. see full Ford Taurus 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

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