Model Year | 2007 | 2012 | |
Model | Mazda Mazda3 | Fiat 500 | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Hatch | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 90.6 in | 13.3 in |
Length | 176.6 in | 139.6 in | 37 in |
Width | 69.1 in | 64.1 in | 5 in |
Height | 57.7 in | 59.8 in | -2.1 in |
Curb Weight | 2808 lb. | 2363 lb. | 445 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gal. | 10.5 gal. | 4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.1 in | 38.9 in | 0.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 54.9 in | 49.4 in | 5.5 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 54.9 in | 47.9 in | 7 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.9 in | 40.7 in | 1.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.4 in | 35.6 in | 2.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.0 in | 46.4 in | 7.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 42.6 in | 11.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 36.3 in | 31.7 in | 4.6 in |
Total Legroom | 78.2 in (over 2 rows) | 72.4 in (over 2 rows) | 5.8 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 17.1 ft3 | 9.5 ft3 | 7.6 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 31.2 ft3 | 30.1 ft3 | 1.1 ft3 |
2007 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Lots of leg room even with the seat all the way back see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Lots of leg space & head room, and seat adjustments possible. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Very sporty seats, excellent lumber support. Seats will ensure that you stay where you are supposed to be, even in tight cornering. After a straight 12hr trip, the seat still feels comfortable. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2006 | 4dr Hatch 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
One of the very few small cars which have a telescopic steering wheel - great for switching between short and tall drivers, pedals placed well for comfort, gear shifter just the right length, and clutch is goldilocks as well - just right. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2006 | 4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
For a small car there is more than adequate leg and shoulder room for two average sized adults. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2007 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Tight and uncomfortable as are most other cars in this class. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Too cramped for an adult see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Well, when the front seats are back, there is little leg room in the back seat -- to be expected in a compact. But, the rear seats are very comfortable and can handle a wider person. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Not enough comfort-room for my son (which meant that the Mazda failed the test). see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2008 | 4dr Hatch turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
good for a small child, but i would not want to ride back there for long see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
This IS a smaller car. That being said, if the front seats are all the way back, people in the back had better sit Indian-style on the seats. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Rear seats are really small and tight legroom. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The Mazda 3 has very limited footroom except when the driver is of very small stature.it helps somewhat if you puchsae the model with the height adjustable seat.seat fabric on the none leather models goes bally,and becomes difficult to clean!! see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2006 | 4dr Hatch 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
If you are over 6 foot like me, make sure you are not in the back. That simple. The folding seats on the hatchback are flexible though for longer items. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2006 | 4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
The rear seat is very comfortable for small to average sized people, even for long trips. However, those with long legs will find themselves cramped for legroom. The low roof in the back adds to that cramped feeling. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2012 Fiat 500 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2012 | Few seats fit everyone well. For me, the "sport seats" in the Abarth were short on both lateral and lower back support. The seatback reclines in steps, and none of the detents was quite right. Try to relax, and you'll find that the headrests are hard and uncomfortably shaped. see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 Fiat 500 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
I like to drive small cars, but I am a large man. (6'3" and about 290lbs.) I love the seating position of the Fiat, as it sits higher, so I don't have to bend down as far to get in, as on the Mini Cooper or the Miatas I used to drive. The driving position is more upright, which I find more comfortable as well. The base model (Pop) seats are comfortable, though I would like to have the leather seats of the "Lounge" model. Ride quality is very good. There is no harshness and I easily rate it better than the Honda Civic I traded for it (2006) and many other, larger cars I drove. It is also one of the quieter cars I've owned. see full Fiat 500 review |
2013 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Front seat very nice for money.. see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Great room in front seat, and I'm tall at 6 feet. There are still enough inches above my head to wear a hat. I think the comfortable adjustable seats could accomodate anyone. I bought the cloth seats and I prefer them to the leather seats in my other see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Really comfortable driver's seat, but the armrest is annoying. see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 Fiat 500 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
As previously mentioned, I would not want to use my rear seat on a regular basis. It is tight in back, and I think of it as emergency seating. see full Fiat 500 review |
2013 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Yeah, don't try to ride in the back if you are as big as me. But my kids 8 & 11 fit just fine. My family of 4 has taken the Fiat on several small family trips. I wouldn't drive with them more than a couple of hours each way, as they start to get antsy, but the kids love the car for short trips. see full Fiat 500 review |
2013 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear seat is what it is..Small but bigger then you think.. I'm 5'9 and there is still leg room behind me..But for any real distance I would think it's better for kids.. This isn't really a "Con" as your buyig a small car for fun and mileage not leg room... You think this is small try a mini-Cooper back seat see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear seat is pretty small, but no smaller than most little cars. The seats do fold down for cargo. see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
One more thing. Rear seat comfort was obviously not a big selling point, nor a necessary feature. But one piece of it was worse than it had to be: the rear seat headrests. The artful circular shape and limited adjustment made the rear seats even harder to use; the headrest would tend to jab passengers in their spine. A better solution which was more even with the seat back would really have helped here. see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Forget about the rear seat unless you are carrying around people who really like you, or people with really short legs. There's plenty of room up front, but not so much in the back. I usually leave the seats folded to expand the cargo room. see full Fiat 500 review |
2012 | 2dr Hatch 101-horsepower 1.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
if you need to regularly have adults sitting in the rear seat this may not be the car for you. the rear seat is fine for kids or even small adults occasionally. see full Fiat 500 review |