Model Year | 2009 | 2012 | |
Model | Nissan Maxima | Volkswagen Passat | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 216 kW@6400 354 Nm@4400 |
3.6L V6 DOHC-4v 206 kW@6200 350 Nm@2500 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable CVT | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,776 mm | 2,804 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,841 mm | 4,867 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,859 mm | 1,834 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,468 mm | 1,486 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,613 kg | 1,563 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 76 L | 70 L | 6 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 978 mm | 973 mm | 5 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,430 mm | 1,445 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 1,356 mm | 0 mm | 1 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,113 mm | 1,077 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 925 mm | 960 mm | -35 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,400 mm | 1,448 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 1,369 mm | 0 mm | 1 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 879 mm | 993 mm | -114 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,991 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,070 mm (over 2 rows) | -1 mm |
Cargo Volume | 402 L | 450 L | -48 L |
2009 Nissan Maxima Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Lumbar in the base model. Good side bolstering on bottom cushion and through the shoulders. Large range of adjustment and the wheel tilts and shifts. see full Nissan Maxima review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 290-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Lots of room, soft seats. see full Nissan Maxima review |
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 |
2009 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 |
2012 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2012 | Volkswagen's research must have found that Americans highly value rear legroom, because the Passat has an abundance of it. Unless you're an NBA center you'll have plenty of room to stretch out in the back of this sedan. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2012 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD |
SEL Premium seating is fantastic. Definitely worth the cost of the upgrade over the mid-grade seats. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2013 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD |
rear seat room is exceptional. can handle long-legged folks with ease and those with large shoe sizes. enter and exiting with larger folks not a problem either. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Older teenagers like the extra room see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
HUGE amount of rear legroom! see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Tons of room while driving. I am 6'4" and have plenty of leg and headroom. see full Volkswagen Passat review |