Nissan Maxima (2008) vs. Volkswagen Beetle (2014) Specs

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2008 Nissan Maxima and 2014 Volkswagen Beetle Specifications

Model Year	2008	2014
Model	Nissan Maxima	Volkswagen Beetle
Engine	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 255 hp@6000 252 lb-ft@4400	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 210 hp@5300 207 lb-ft@1700
Transmission	6-speed shiftable CVT	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr Sedan	2dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	111.2 in	100.0 in	11.2 in
Length	193.5 in	168.4 in	25.1 in
Width	71.7 in	71.2 in	0.5 in
Height	58.3 in	58.5 in	-0.2 in
Curb Weight	3579 lb.	3104 lb.	475 lb.
Fuel Capacity	20.0 gal.	14.5 gal.	5.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.1 in	39.4 in	0.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	57.9 in	55.3 in	2.6 in
Hip Room, Row 1	53.5 in	0.0 in	53.5 in
Legroom, Row 1	43.9 in	41.3 in	2.6 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.3 in	37.1 in	0.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	56.5 in	49.0 in	7.5 in
Hip Room, Row 2	54.8 in	0.0 in	54.8 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.5 in	31.4 in	5.1 in
Total Legroom	80.4 in (over 2 rows)	72.7 in (over 2 rows)	7.7 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.5 ft³	15.4 ft³	0.1 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	15.5 ft³	29.9 ft³	-14.4 ft³

2008 Nissan Maxima Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2009	4dr Sedan 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Bucket seats hold you in around corners - very supportive. Telescopic steering wheel and power seats ensure you get a great driving position. Both seats and steering wheel are heated. Dual climate control great for passengers. see full Nissan Maxima review
2009	4dr Sedan 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD	It fits everywhere. On a recent trip, I drove all day and was never "seat tired". see full Nissan Maxima review
2009	4dr Sedan 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD	Adjustable everything! Air conditioned driver seat a huge consideration. see full Nissan Maxima review

2008 Nissan Maxima Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2009	4dr Sedan 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD	My tall friends hit there heads on the roofline, they are over 6 foot see full Nissan Maxima review
2009	4dr Sedan 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD	The rear seat of the 7th gen Maxima is slightly smaller than that of the 6th gen Maxima. Still fairly roomy, but slightly smaller. This is understandable because of the major styling change, and the conversion from 'near luxury family sedan' back to 'near luxury family sedan with a sporty edge' that took place between these generations. see full Nissan Maxima 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

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