Volkswagen Beetle (2014) vs. Mercedes-Benz GL (2012) Specs

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle and 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL Specifications

Model Year	2014	2012
Model	Volkswagen Beetle	Mercedes-Benz GL
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 Diesel DOHC-4v 140 hp@4000 236 lb-ft@1750	turbocharged 3.0L V6 Diesel DOHC-4v 210 hp@3400 400 lb-ft@1600
Transmission	6-speed automated manual	7-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD
Body	2dr Hatch	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	100.0 in	121.1 in	-21.1 in
Length	168.4 in	200.6 in	-32.2 in
Width	71.2 in	76.0 in	-4.8 in
Height	58.5 in	72.4 in	-13.9 in
Curb Weight	3157 lb.	5512 lb.	-2355 lb.
Fuel Capacity	14.5 gal.	26.0 gal.	-11.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.4 in	40.1 in	-0.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	55.3 in	58.3 in	-3 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.3 in	40.3 in	1 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.1 in	40.6 in	-3.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	49.0 in	58.9 in	-9.9 in
Legroom, Row 2	31.4 in	39.5 in	-8.1 in
Headroom, Row 3	0.0 in	38.2 in	-38.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 3	0.0 in	50.5 in	-50.5 in
Legroom, Row 3	0.0 in	34.2 in	-34.2 in
Total Legroom	72.7 in (over 2 rows)	114 in (over 3 rows)	-41.3 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.4 ft³	14.3 ft³	1.1 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	15.4	43.8 ft³	-28.4
Cargo Volume, Maximum	29.9 ft³	83.3 ft³	-53.4 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

2012 Mercedes-Benz GL Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2013	The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class is just a little longer than the Audi Q7 (201.6 vs. 200.3 inches), and isn't as wide (76.4 vs. 78.1 inches). But the Mercedes is considerably taller (72.8 vs. 68.4 inches) and not nearly as curvy. Which might explain how it is far roomier than the much sleeker Audi. Combined legroom for all three rows is 107.6 inches in the Q7 vs. 113.8 inches in the GL-Class, a large difference. The Q7's space deficit grows the farther back you sit. For adults to even fit in the Audi's third row without extreme discomfort, those in the second row must slide their seats forward to the point that they are themselves short on knee room. While the new GL350's third row sits too low to provide thigh support, it's not nearly as cramped. Further evidence that Audi didn't intend the Q7's third row for frequent use: the second-row seat doesn't do a good job of getting out of the way, making the path in and out of the way-back perhaps the tightest I've experienced. The second-row seat in the GL-Class tips forward to open up a much wider path. If manually tipping the seat is too much of a chore (perhaps because you'e a five-year-old and haven't yet learned to read this), $400 buys a power assist. But even with this option the seat must be manually returned to its upright position, so the point eludes me. see full Mercedes-Benz GL review

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL.

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