Model Year | 2014 | 2014 | |
Model | Toyota Highlander | Volkswagen Beetle | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 201 kW@6200 336 Nm@4700 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 154 kW@5300 281 Nm@1700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,789 mm | 2,540 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,854 mm | 4,277 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,925 mm | 1,808 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,730 mm | 1,486 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,920 kg | 1,408 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 73 L | 55 L | 18 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 1,034 mm | 1,001 mm | 0 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,506 mm | 1,405 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 1,453 mm | 0 mm | 1 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,123 mm | 1,049 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 1,013 mm | 942 mm | -941 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,514 mm | 1,245 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 1,450 mm | 0 mm | 1 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 975 mm | 798 mm | 177 mm |
Headroom, Row 3 | 912 mm | 0 mm | 912 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 1,397 mm | 0 mm | 1 mm |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 1,158 mm | 0 mm | 1 mm |
Legroom, Row 3 | 704 mm | 0 mm | 704 mm |
Total Legroom | 2,802 mm (over 3 rows) | 1,847 mm (over 2 rows) | 1 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 391 L | 436 L | -45 L |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 1,198 L | 15.4 | -14.4 L |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 2,370 L | 847 L | -845 L |
2014 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2014 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2014 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | 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 |