Mazda Mazda3 Mazda Mazda3 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Beetle 2012

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Mazda Mazda3 (2012) vs. Volkswagen Beetle (2012) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 and 2012 Volkswagen Beetle specs.

2012 Mazda Mazda3 and 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Specifications

Model Year 2012 2012  
Model Mazda Mazda3 Volkswagen Beetle  
Engine turbocharged
2.3L I4
DOHC-4v
263 hp@5500
280 lb-ft@3000
turbocharged
2.0L I4
DOHC-4v
200 hp@5100
207 lb-ft@1700
 
Transmission 6-speed manual 6-speed automated manual  
Drivetrain FWD FWD  
Body 4dr Hatch 2dr Hatch  
      Difference
Wheelbase 103.9 in 99.9 in 4 in
Length 177.4 in 168.4 in 9 in
Width 69.1 in 71.2 in -2.1 in
Height 57.9 in 58.5 in -0.6 in
Curb Weight 3281 lb. 3089 lb. 192 lb.
Fuel Capacity 14.5 gal. 14.5 gal. 0 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 38.1 in 39.4 in -1.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 54.9 in 55.3 in -0.4 in
Hip Room, Row 1 53.7 in 0.0 in 53.7 in
Legroom, Row 1 42.0 in 41.3 in 0.7 in
Headroom, Row 2 37.7 in 37.1 in 0.6 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 54.0 in 49.0 in 5 in
Hip Room, Row 2 52.2 in 0.0 in 52.2 in
Legroom, Row 2 36.2 in 31.4 in 4.8 in
Total Legroom 78.2 in (over 2 rows) 72.7 in (over 2 rows) 5.5 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 17.0 ft3 15.4 ft3 1.6 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 42.8 ft3 29.9 ft3 12.9 ft3

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Mazda Mazda3

2012 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2013 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Nice contoured, form fitting seats offer plenty of support, quite comfortable. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2013 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Rear seat a bit tight, needs more room back there. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4
6-speed manual FWD
Rear seat is rather tight, worse than my old Protege5 see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
It's a joke. You can't fit anything in the back seat aside from children and/or groceries/shopping. Putting an adult back there will require a sincere apology, and possibly a written note and gift bottle of wine. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012 4dr Sedan 155-horsepower 2.0L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Non of either if the front seats are all the way back, but rear seat room is NOT a factor for me. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012 4dr Sedan 155-horsepower 2.0L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
I bought this car to replace a 2004 Mazda 6i Hatchback that I truly loved (got rear-ended and totaled). I did not like the 2012 Mazda 6 at all (or the milage it got), so I went the 3 with Skyactiv. The rear seat and rear legroom is just a bit too small. If it were a tad larger, this would be a awesome car, but the great mileage I get offsets this to a certain degree. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2011 4dr Sedan 104-horsepower 1.6L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Seating room is borderline for 2 adults, particularly leg room. 3 adults virtually impossible. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2011 4dr Sedan 167-horsepower 2.5L I4
5-speed shiftable automatic FWD
The Mazda3 is not a vehicle for transporting more than 2 people. The backseat is cramped for a full-size adult. However, when required, they will fit. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
 

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearComment
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
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
 
See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Hatchbacks.
See TrueDelta's information for all Mazda models.