Saturn ASTRA Saturn ASTRA 2009 Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Beetle 2012

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Saturn ASTRA (2009) vs. Volkswagen Beetle (2012) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2009 Saturn ASTRA and 2012 Volkswagen Beetle specs.

2009 Saturn ASTRA and 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Specifications

Model Year 2009 2012  
Model Saturn ASTRA Volkswagen Beetle  
Engine  
Transmission  
Drivetrain  
Body 2dr Hatch 2dr Hatch  
      Difference
Wheelbase 102.9 in 99.9 in 3 in
Length 170.5 in 168.4 in 2.1 in
Width 69.0 in 71.2 in -2.2 in
Height 55.8 in 58.5 in -2.7 in
Curb Weight 2833 lb. 2939 lb. -106 lb.
Fuel Capacity 12.2 gal. 14.5 gal. -2.3 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 37.8 in 39.4 in -1.6 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 53.9 in 55.3 in -1.4 in
Hip Room, Row 1 51.3 in 0.0 in 51.3 in
Legroom, Row 1 42.3 in 41.3 in 1 in
Headroom, Row 2 36.6 in 37.1 in -0.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 52.7 in 49.0 in 3.7 in
Hip Room, Row 2 51.0 in 0.0 in 51 in
Legroom, Row 2 35.0 in 31.4 in 3.6 in
Total Legroom 77.3 in (over 2 rows) 72.7 in (over 2 rows) 4.6 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 12.0 ft3 15.4 ft3 -3.4 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 38.0 ft3 29.9 ft3 8.1 ft3

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2009 Saturn ASTRA

2009 Saturn ASTRA Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2009 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Tilt/telescopic steering and with 8 way adjustable drivers seat. I was able to find my near perfect driving position. Every automaker should make a drivers seat manual lumbar standard, then it would be perfect. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2009 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Being a 5 door hatch, there is plenty of room in the back for 2 full size adults or 3 children/teens. With the hatch, there is lots of room for bulky stuff. Like a Mini-SUV in cargo hauling. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
The European styled seats are great! Very supportive, but not too firm, and the seat back adjustment is exceptionally simple. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 2dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
Leather seats with lumbar is very comfortable. Lots of leg room, even for tall people. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 2dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
5-speed manual FWD
I run 6', 300# and this is one of the few smaller cars I can drive in reasonable comfort while taking the back roads. Nice lateral support and my back doesn't give me fits when I get out. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
5-speed manual FWD

I have the cloth seats, which I had read didn't offer good back or thigh support. I find this to be very untrue even without adjustable lumbar support. I did switch out my stock steering wheel with a leather VXR wheel from Britain, which REALLY gave this car a premium feel. The stock seats support my back very well (6'2") and also find there to be just enough leg room with my seat almost all the way back, thigh support is a bit lacking, but for such a tiny car they really did a good job making it feel like a much bigger car. I also highly recommend buying and installing the Boomerang armrest and cup holder to maximize your Astra comfort.

see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
at 6ft 1 in , has plenty of leg and head room. Comfortable to get in and out of see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Seat fits just right. Plenty of adjustment range between seat and steering wheel. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
5-speed manual FWD
Harder than most american seats. Very comfortable for long hauls. No need for armrest! see full Saturn ASTRA review
2009 Saturn ASTRA Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2008 2dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
Narrow seats and tough entry/exit due to low roofline. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 2dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
4-speed automatic FWD
See above. see full Saturn ASTRA review
2008 4dr Hatch 138-horsepower 1.8L I4
5-speed manual FWD

My only concern about front seat room isn't about the seats at all, but that the peddles in the 5 speed are very small and very very close together, which for me with size 13 feet can create a problem. I have caught my feet together and accidently stomped on the break when trying to push in the clutch, which upsets everyone driving behind me, but provides a good laugh for me.

see full Saturn ASTRA 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 Hatchbacks
See TrueDelta's information for all Saturn models.