Model Year | 2008 | 2014 | |
Model | Subaru Forester | Volkswagen Beetle | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr SUV | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 99.4 in | 100.0 in | -0.6 in |
Length | 176.6 in | 168.4 in | 8.2 in |
Width | 68.3 in | 71.2 in | -2.9 in |
Height | 65.0 in | 58.5 in | 6.5 in |
Curb Weight | 3165 lb. | 2987 lb. | 178 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 14.5 gal. | 1.4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.8 in | 39.4 in | 0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 53.5 in | 55.3 in | -1.8 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 51.6 in | 0.0 in | 51.6 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.6 in | 41.3 in | 2.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.7 in | 37.1 in | 2.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.6 in | 49.0 in | 4.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 51.6 in | 0.0 in | 51.6 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 33.7 in | 31.4 in | 2.3 in |
Total Legroom | 77.3 in (over 2 rows) | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 4.6 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 32.0 ft3 | 15.4 ft3 | 16.6 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 57.7 ft3 | 29.9 ft3 | 27.8 ft3 |
2008 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
ample rear seat room for car seats and adults alike see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Pleanty of room for long legs in the rear seat. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Rear seat has plenty of leg room, and the roof is high for tall drivers. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Rear seats are very comfortable, lots of space, excellent for wife and kid. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Easily fits people over 6 foot in fron with plenty of room in back for passengers - much better than previous generation Forester. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Big enough for growing children; enough leg room for tall driver see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
It fits my kids (three) better than 2001 Outback, the rear seat "hump" is less proeminent than in other Subaru models (Outback namely), good hip and shoulder room see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Lost of room for the kids. see full Subaru Forester review |
2009 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
well padded and shaped, power seat controls allows good positioning. see full Subaru Forester review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
easy to find comfortable position; no problems driving over an hour or more; good upright position see full Subaru Forester review |
2008 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Great for an average women. Too narrow for fit 6 foot man, especially in the back cushion. see full Subaru Forester review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
No thigh or lumbar support, seats hrad, minimal leg room for front passenger see full Subaru Forester review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
Not acceptable for an adult in any of the three rear seating positions see full Subaru Forester review |
2007 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Front driver leg room is a little cramped from side to side. see full Subaru Forester 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 |