Volkswagen Beetle (2012) vs. Toyota FJ Cruiser (2009) Specs

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2012 Volkswagen Beetle and 2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser Specifications

Model Year	2012	2009
Model	Volkswagen Beetle	Toyota FJ Cruiser
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700	4.0L V6 DOHC-4v 239 hp@5200 278 lb-ft@3700
Transmission	6-speed automated manual	5-speed automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	RWD
Body	2dr Hatch	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	99.9 in	105.9 in	-6 in
Length	168.4 in	183.9 in	-15.5 in
Width	71.2 in	74.6 in	-3.4 in
Height	58.5 in	70.9 in	-12.4 in
Curb Weight	3089 lb.	4050 lb.	-961 lb.
Fuel Capacity	14.5 gal.	19.0 gal.	-4.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.4 in	41.3 in	-1.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	55.3 in	58.4 in	-3.1 in
Hip Room, Row 1	0.0 in	55.4 in	-55.4 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.3 in	41.9 in	-0.6 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.1 in	40.3 in	-3.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	49.0 in	53.9 in	-4.9 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	51.0 in	-51 in
Legroom, Row 2	31.4 in	31.3 in	0.1 in
Total Legroom	72.7 in (over 2 rows)	73.2 in (over 2 rows)	-0.5 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.4 ft³	27.9 ft³	-12.5 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	29.9 ft³	66.8 ft³	-36.9 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

2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	4dr SUV 259-horsepower 4.0L V6 6-speed manual AWD w/low range	Rear seats are cramped. Access is awful, with strange half-doors that require front doors to be open before they can be opened. see full Toyota FJ Cruiser review
2008	4dr SUV 239-horsepower 4.0L V6 5-speed automatic 4WD, part-time w/low range	Too stiff and too upright with no adjustments see full Toyota FJ Cruiser review
2008	4dr SUV 239-horsepower 4.0L V6 5-speed automatic 4WD, part-time w/low range	Adults do not fit well in the back seat comfortably, and the rear access doors, while a cool design, lack functionality(no handle to release the door except on the inside) see full Toyota FJ Cruiser review

See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks and Convertibles.

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