Toyota Highlander (2015) vs. Volkswagen Beetle (2014) Specs

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2015 Toyota Highlander and 2014 Volkswagen Beetle Specifications

Model Year	2015	2014
Model	Toyota Highlander	Volkswagen Beetle
Engine	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 210 hp@5300 207 lb-ft@1700
Transmission	6-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr SUV	2dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	109.8 in	100.0 in	9.8 in
Length	191.1 in	168.4 in	22.7 in
Width	75.8 in	71.2 in	4.6 in
Height	68.1 in	58.5 in	9.6 in
Curb Weight	4233 lb.	3104 lb.	1129 lb.
Fuel Capacity	19.2 gal.	14.5 gal.	4.7 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.7 in	39.4 in	1.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	59.3 in	55.3 in	4 in
Hip Room, Row 1	57.2 in	0.0 in	57.2 in
Legroom, Row 1	44.2 in	41.3 in	2.9 in
Headroom, Row 2	39.9 in	37.1 in	2.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	59.6 in	49.0 in	10.6 in
Hip Room, Row 2	57.1 in	0.0 in	57.1 in
Legroom, Row 2	38.4 in	31.4 in	7 in
Headroom, Row 3	35.9 in	0.0 in	35.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 3	55.0 in	0.0 in	55 in
Hip Room, Row 3	45.6 in	0.0 in	45.6 in
Legroom, Row 3	27.7 in	0.0 in	27.7 in
Total Legroom	110.3 in (over 3 rows)	72.7 in (over 2 rows)	37.6 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	13.8 ft³	15.4 ft³	-1.6 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	42.3 ft³	15.4	26.9 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	83.7 ft³	29.9 ft³	53.8 ft³

2015 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

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 Toyota Highlander.

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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