Model Year | 2012 | 2017 | |
Model | Volkswagen Beetle | Chevrolet Cruze | |
Engine | 2.5L I5 DOHC-4v 170 hp@5700 177 lb-ft@4250 |
turbocharged 1.4L I4 DOHC-4v 153 hp@5600 177 lb-ft@2000 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 2dr Hatch | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 99.9 in | 106.3 in | -6.4 in |
Length | 168.4 in | 175.3 in | -6.9 in |
Width | 71.2 in | 70.5 in | 0.7 in |
Height | 58.5 in | 57.4 in | 1.1 in |
Curb Weight | 2983 lb. | 2885 lb. | 98 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gal. | 13.7 gal. | 0.8 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.4 in | 38.9 in | 0.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.3 in | 54.9 in | 0.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 53.2 in | -53.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.3 in | 42.0 in | -0.7 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.1 in | 37.8 in | -0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 49.0 in | 53.2 in | -4.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 51.9 in | -51.9 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 31.4 in | 36.1 in | -4.7 in |
Total Legroom | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 78.1 in (over 2 rows) | -5.4 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.4 ft3 | 22.7 ft3 | -7.3 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 29.9 ft3 | 47.2 ft3 | -17.3 ft3 |
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
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 |
2012 Volkswagen Beetle Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 | ||
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 |
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 |
2017 Chevrolet Cruze Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2016 | The old Chevrolet Cruze, like the Ford Focus, had a rear seat on the tight side even by compact sedan standards. According to the specs, the new one has only gained a few tenths of legroom. But the improvement feels much larger. Chevrolet claims that rear knee room (not a standard spec) has increased by two inches, and this aligns much better with my perceptions. Some competitors, including the Honda Civic, continue to offer more rear seat space. But the new Cruze's back seat could be the most comfortable in the class for two average-sized men. With a position well above the floor, the rear seat cushion provides much better thigh support than the typical sedan, much less the typical compact sedan. The Civic has a lower rear cushion and insufficient foot space under its front seats, squandering its on-paper legroom advantage. Up front the Cruze has comfortable seats (though, like those in the Civic, without adjustable lumbar support) but shoulder room typical of a compact car. The Civic has two more inches of shoulder room and feels more like a midsize sedan in the front seat. Both cars have good driving positions with reasonably compact instrument panels. In L and LS trim, the new Cruze has a 14.9-cubic-foot trunk, nearly identical to that of the new Civic and about as large as you'll find in the class. But the LT and Premier have a compact spare tire that reduces cargo volume to 13.6 cubic feet. Still pretty good. Next year both cars will also be available as hatchbacks. see full Chevrolet Cruze review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze.