Model Year | 2009 | 2012 | |
Model | Hyundai Sonata | Volkswagen Beetle | |
Engine | 3.3L V6 DOHC-4v 249 hp@6000 229 lb-ft@4500 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700 |
|
Transmission | 5-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 107.4 in | 99.9 in | 7.5 in |
Length | 188.9 in | 168.4 in | 20.5 in |
Width | 72.1 in | 71.2 in | 0.9 in |
Height | 58.0 in | 58.5 in | -0.5 in |
Curb Weight | 3494 lb. | 3089 lb. | 405 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 17.7 gal. | 14.5 gal. | 3.2 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.1 in | 39.4 in | 0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.4 in | 55.3 in | 2.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 55.5 in | 0.0 in | 55.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.7 in | 41.3 in | 2.4 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.2 in | 37.1 in | 1.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 56.9 in | 49.0 in | 7.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 55.3 in | 0.0 in | 55.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.4 in | 31.4 in | 6 in |
Total Legroom | 81.1 in (over 2 rows) | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 8.4 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 16.3 ft3 | 15.4 ft3 | 0.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 16.3 ft3 | 29.9 ft3 | -13.6 ft3 |
2009 Hyundai Sonata Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 249-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Very Roomy interior. Ample Hip, Shoulder, and leg room see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 249-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Plenty of Room for larger Adults while still being comfortable. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Big enough for three car seats. Qualifies as a "large car". Only it and the Accord do in this class. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Front seat is very comfortable. up/down movement works well. Front back movement mechanics work well. Seat comfortable for long trips but not too long. Seat is a good hard to soft feel. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
spacious rear seat. This is a large sedan. Rear head room is plenty. nice seat placement with body form. Head rests not too far back. Rests adjust well. Middle seat becomes a cup holder/arm rest for two. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 249-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear room is great even if front seats all the way back. Also has wonderful cup holder and fold down arm tray. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 162-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
plenty of room for 6 foot tall man see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 162-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
love the heated front seats see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 Hyundai Sonata Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear seat legroom and headroom are good. Daughters complain that the seating position is too upright. see full Hyundai Sonata review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 249-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
it looks like other manufacturers have bigger seats in this class see full Hyundai Sonata 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 |