Model Year | 2006 | 2014 | |
Model | Mercedes-Benz R-Class | BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo | |
Engine | 5.0L V8 OHC-3v 302 hp@5600 339 lb-ft@2700 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 240 hp@5000 260 lb-ft@1250 |
|
Transmission | 7-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 126.6 in | 115.0 in | 11.6 in |
Length | 203.0 in | 190.0 in | 13 in |
Width | 75.7 in | 72.0 in | 3.7 in |
Height | 65.4 in | 59.4 in | 6 in |
Curb Weight | 4929 lb. | 3915 lb. | 1014 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 25.1 gal. | 15.8 gal. | 9.3 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.8 in | 41.3 in | -1.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 60.3 in | 55.2 in | 5.1 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 39.8 in | 42.0 in | -2.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 40.4 in | 38.3 in | 2.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 59.6 in | 54.1 in | 5.5 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 36.2 in | 39.2 in | -3 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 37.2 in | 0.0 in | 37.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 52.8 in | 0.0 in | 52.8 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 32.4 in | 0.0 in | 32.4 in |
Total Legroom | 108.4 in (over 3 rows) | 81.2 in (over 2 rows) | 27.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.3 ft3 | 18.3 ft3 | -3 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 42.2 ft3 | 18.4 ft3 | 23.8 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 85.0 ft3 | 56.5 ft3 | 28.5 ft3 |
2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
3rd row seats are big enough and comfortable enough for an adult. 2nd row seats are the best captain chairs I have ever sat in in a car. Glass roof gives additional room appearance. see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Great front view, comfortable seats. see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 302-horsepower 5.0L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
There is excellent legroom in the middle and rear seats. All four recline. see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2007 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 215hp 3.0L V6 Diesel 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Outstanding room in the second row- tons of leg room. Very comfortable see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The STANDARD leather seating surfaces on the 2006 front seats - way better feel than artico leather. The adjustment range to get things just right and the head rest. Very cozy. see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 302-horsepower 5.0L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
3 row seating see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
This has to be, by far, the roomiest Mercedes period. Back seat comfort, even in the third row, is unmatched. see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 302-horsepower 5.0L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Seating for 6. Great for kids. Easy to get into. see full Mercedes-Benz R-Class review |
2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | Though the latest 3-Series has a much roomier back seat than its predecessors, many people still find it insufficient for their needs, and step up to a midsize sedan or wagon such as the 5-Series or E-Class. Well, most of the 3-Series Gran Turismo's wheelbase stretch was put towards rear seat legroom, bumping it from 35.0 to 37.9 inches. Though a larger car, the E-Class has nearly four inches less total legroom--barely more than the 3 wagon, in fact. (But with a more comfortably positioned rear seat than the 3 wagon.) What the specs don't tell you is that the 3 GT's rear seat cushion, since it is positioned much higher than that in the wagons, provides better thigh support and a much more open view forward. To top it off, the 3 GT's rear seat back reclines. Here again, though, the E-Class wagon has a trick bonus: a rear-facing third-row seat. Though there's not enough headroom back there for anyone over 5-4, the seat is well-padded. If you want to seat seven in a pinch, the E-Class wagon is your only option with a sedan-like driving position (aside from the Tesla Model S). Update: this review originally stated that the 3GT has much more shoulder room than the regular 3-Series, and about as much as the E-Class. But it seems that the initial specs were inaccurate. The latest specs suggest shoulder room in the 3GT is about the same as that in the regular 3-Series. Its interior does feel significantly roomier, though, so the initial specs could yet provide the more accurate set. see full BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo.