Model Year | 2009 | 2014 | |
Model | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Beetle | |
Engine | 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 197 hp@7800 139 lb-ft@6200 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 210 hp@5300 207 lb-ft@1700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 2dr Coupe | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 104.3 in | 100.0 in | 4.3 in |
Length | 174.8 in | 168.4 in | 6.4 in |
Width | 68.9 in | 71.2 in | -2.3 in |
Height | 53.5 in | 58.5 in | -5 in |
Curb Weight | 2877 lb. | 3104 lb. | -227 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 14.5 gal. | -1.3 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.0 in | 39.4 in | -1.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 53.9 in | 55.3 in | -1.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.0 in | 0.0 in | 53 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.6 in | 41.3 in | 1.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 35.1 in | 37.1 in | -2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 52.1 in | 49.0 in | 3.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 49.2 in | 0.0 in | 49.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 30.3 in | 31.4 in | -1.1 in |
Total Legroom | 72.9 in (over 2 rows) | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 0.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 11.5 ft3 | 15.4 ft3 | -3.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 11.5 ft3 | 29.9 ft3 | -18.4 ft3 |
2009 Honda Civic Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
unbelievable much room on the rear seats see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 197-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Good lumbar and side support, nicely adjustable seat and wheel. Shifter is very close to the wheel. Fits me like a glove, but my wife does find the seatback slightly tall. see full Honda Civic review |
2009 Honda Civic Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Driver seat is uncomfortable. Not upright enough. Not a great seat for correct posture. see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Seats were rock hard(in summer) see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
very poor AC performance during hot weather see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
not able to fit a rear facing child seat, or very difficult to fit it. we had to even find a small size one. see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
It took me a long time to find a comfortable driving position in this car. It may because of the low seat. I was finally (mostly) successful, but it took a long time to find it, and it is very different than my typical driving position. Also, not great on long trips -- the seat is generally supportive, but it starts to break down a few hours in. see full Honda Civic review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 110-horsepower 1.3L I4 Hybrid CVT FWD |
No access from trunk area. Also, very strong chemical smell in vehicle...off gassing from fabrics. The prius did not have near the smell. see full Honda Civic review |
2014 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
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 |
2014 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 |