Model Year | 2013 | 2010 | |
Model | Volkswagen Beetle | Mazda Mazda5 | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 2dr Hatch | 4dr Minivan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 99.9 in | 108.3 in | -8.4 in |
Length | 168.4 in | 181.5 in | -13.1 in |
Width | 71.2 in | 69.1 in | 2.1 in |
Height | 58.5 in | 64.2 in | -5.7 in |
Curb Weight | 2939 lb. | 3417 lb. | -478 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gal. | 15.9 gal. | -1.4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.4 in | 40.7 in | -1.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.3 in | 55.5 in | -0.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 52.9 in | -52.9 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.3 in | 40.7 in | 0.6 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.1 in | 39.4 in | -2.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 49.0 in | 55.6 in | -6.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 58.3 in | -58.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 31.4 in | 35.2 in | -3.8 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 37.1 in | -37.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 49.2 in | -49.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 40.9 in | -40.9 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 30.7 in | -30.7 in |
Total Legroom | 72.7 in (over 2 rows) | 106.6 in (over 3 rows) | -33.9 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.4 ft3 | 11.3 ft3 | 4.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 15.4 | 44.4 ft3 | -29 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 29.9 ft3 | 70.9 ft3 | -41 ft3 |
2013 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 |
2013 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 |
2013 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 |
2010 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
CAN SEAT 6 PEOPLE see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
2nd-row seat slide fore/aft and recline. Ample room even for larger passengers to be comfortable on long trips. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
6-passenger seating adequate for older teens, stows away for hauling capacity. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
LAST ROW TOO SMALL FOR ADULTS see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Not great support in either the seat cushion or back. However, driving position is fine. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2010 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Too small for a road trip with 6 grown men. The 2nd row is tight but not uncomfortable for me (6 ft tall). The 3rd row is for children or pets only. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Not enough leg room overall in the car. As a larger driver (6'3"), I need to push the drivers seat back. So the kid behind me has to get pushed back. Well the third row can't move back, so I've I'm driving, no one can sit in the third row driver's side and have any leg room. This is the worst for kids in full-size car seats, because the seats position their legs higher and forward of where a small adult's would be with no car seat. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The six-chair setup of the 5 means that luggage space is limited, and some may find the "three rows of two" arrangement adds difficulty to monitoring children in the far rear seats. In order to carry significant cargo the seats need to be removed. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The center seats are adequate for tall adults. Judicious positioning of the front and center seats should get you better results than a subcompact. The third-row rear seats are for kids only. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2009 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The back seat is made for very small folks only. The middle row seat belts are placed somewhat far back. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |