Volkswagen Beetle (2014) vs. BMW 3-Series (2014) Specs

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle and 2014 BMW 3-Series Specifications

Model Year	2014	2014
Model	Volkswagen Beetle	BMW 3-Series
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 Diesel DOHC-4v 140 hp@4000 236 lb-ft@1750	turbocharged 2.0L I4 Diesel DOHC-4v 180 hp@4000 280 lb-ft@1750
Transmission	6-speed manual	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	RWD
Body	2dr Hatch	4dr Wagon
			Difference
Wheelbase	100.0 in	110.6 in	-10.6 in
Length	168.4 in	182.1 in	-13.7 in
Width	71.2 in	71.3 in	-0.1 in
Height	58.5 in	56.5 in	2 in
Curb Weight	3115 lb.	3595 lb.	-480 lb.
Fuel Capacity	14.5 gal.	15.8 gal.	-1.3 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.4 in	40.4 in	-1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	55.3 in	55.1 in	0.2 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.3 in	42.0 in	-0.7 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.1 in	38.3 in	-1.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	49.0 in	55.1 in	-6.1 in
Legroom, Row 2	31.4 in	35.0 in	-3.6 in
Total Legroom	72.7 in (over 2 rows)	77 in (over 2 rows)	-4.3 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.4 ft³	17.5 ft³	-2.1 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	29.9 ft³	53.0 ft³	-23.1 ft³

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

2014 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2014	The BMW 3-Series used to be tight inside, but it has grown with each redesign, especially the most recent one. The rear seat of the current sedan isn't nearly as roomy as that in the related 3-Series Gran Turismo hatchback. But it offers considerably more rear legroom than direct competitors like the Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In fact, combined front and rear legroom is the same as in the one size-class up, ten-inch-longer Mercedes E-Class. (You do get a half-inch more rear headroom and nearly two inches more rear shoulder room in the Benz.) Beyond the specs, the BMW's rear seat is comfortably high off the floor, a rarity in the age of sedans with plunging coupe-like roof lines. see full BMW 3-Series review

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 BMW 3-Series.

See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks and Convertibles.

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