Model Year | 2011 | 2014 | |
Model | Honda Odyssey | Volkswagen Beetle | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 w/DoD OHC-4v 247 hp@5700 250 lb-ft@4800 |
2.5L I5 DOHC-4v 170 hp@5700 177 lb-ft@4250 |
|
Transmission | 5-speed automatic | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Minivan, ext. | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 118.1 in | 100.0 in | 18.1 in |
Length | 202.9 in | 168.4 in | 34.5 in |
Width | 79.2 in | 71.2 in | 8 in |
Height | 68.4 in | 58.5 in | 9.9 in |
Curb Weight | 4337 lb. | 3036 lb. | 1301 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 21.0 gal. | 14.5 gal. | 6.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.7 in | 39.4 in | 0.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 64.4 in | 55.3 in | 9.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 58.2 in | 0.0 in | 58.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 40.9 in | 41.3 in | -0.4 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.5 in | 37.1 in | 2.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 63.5 in | 49.0 in | 14.5 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 66.1 in | 0.0 in | 66.1 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 40.9 in | 31.4 in | 9.5 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 38.0 in | 0.0 in | 38 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 60.9 in | 0.0 in | 60.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 48.4 in | 0.0 in | 48.4 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 42.4 in | 0.0 in | 42.4 in |
Total Legroom | 124.2 in (over 3 rows) | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 51.5 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 38.4 ft3 | 15.4 ft3 | 23 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 93.1 ft3 | 15.4 | 77.7 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 148.5 ft3 | 29.9 ft3 | 118.6 ft3 |
2011 Honda Odyssey Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 247-horsepower 3.5L V6 w/DoD 5-speed automatic FWD |
The Odyssey has the best seat setup of any minivan on the market, by a large margin. Standard 8th seat, which is usable, easy to flip the 3rd row, adjustable 2nd row without floor rails to collect debris from kiddos. see full Honda Odyssey review |
2011 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 247-horsepower 3.5L V6 w/DoD 6-speed automatic FWD |
Nice and roomy 2nd row, we really like the Wide mode seating. Very nice 3rd row usable by adults. see full Honda Odyssey review |
2011 Honda Odyssey Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 247-horsepower 3.5L V6 w/DoD 5-speed automatic FWD |
The seats are still more thinly padded than the competition - and the third row seat angle is merely adequate. My mother in law noted that our Ody 3rd row is really like a standard seat - not "3rd class" - but the Pacifica made her feel like she was "stuck in the back". see full Honda Odyssey review |
2010 | 0 | Just acceptable. see full Honda Odyssey review |
2010 | 0 | These seats kill both my wife and my back on long trips. see full Honda Odyssey 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 |