Volkswagen Passat (2013) vs. BMW X1 (2014) Specs

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2013 Volkswagen Passat and 2014 BMW X1 Specifications

Model Year	2013	2014
Model	Volkswagen Passat	BMW X1
Engine	3.6L V6 DOHC-4v 280 hp@6200 258 lb-ft@2500	turbocharged 3.0L I6 DOHC-4v 300 hp@5800 300 lb-ft@1300
Transmission	6-speed automated manual	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	110.4 in	108.7 in	1.7 in
Length	191.6 in	176.5 in	15.1 in
Width	72.2 in	70.8 in	1.4 in
Height	58.5 in	60.8 in	-2.3 in
Curb Weight	3446 lb.	3891 lb.	-445 lb.
Fuel Capacity	18.5 gal.	16.6 gal.	1.9 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.3 in	41.3 in	-3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.9 in	55.0 in	1.9 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.4 in	41.4 in	1 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.8 in	39.7 in	-1.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	57.0 in	54.6 in	2.4 in
Legroom, Row 2	39.1 in	34.9 in	4.2 in
Total Legroom	81.5 in (over 2 rows)	76.3 in (over 2 rows)	5.2 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.9 ft³	14.8 ft³	1.1 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	15.9 ft³	47.7 ft³	-31.8 ft³

2013 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2012	Volkswagen's research must have found that Americans highly value rear legroom, because the Passat has an abundance of it. Unless you're an NBA center you'll have plenty of room to stretch out in the back of this sedan. see full Volkswagen Passat review

2013 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr Sedan turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD	SEL Premium seating is fantastic. Definitely worth the cost of the upgrade over the mid-grade seats. see full Volkswagen Passat review
2013	4dr Sedan turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD	rear seat room is exceptional. can handle long-legged folks with ease and those with large shoe sizes. enter and exiting with larger folks not a problem either. see full Volkswagen Passat review
2012	4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Older teenagers like the extra room see full Volkswagen Passat review
2012	4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	HUGE amount of rear legroom! see full Volkswagen Passat review
2012	4dr Sedan 170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Tons of room while driving. I am 6'4" and have plenty of leg and headroom. see full Volkswagen Passat review

2014 BMW X1 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2013	BMW makes great sport seats, with support in the right places and power-adjustable side bolsters. This said, those in the X1 Sport Line feel less cushy, and so less overtly comfortable, than I recall from other BMWs. The Evoque's front buckets lack adjustable side bolsters, but feel more luxurious. While the BMW wins on support, the Land Rover wins on comfort. Another tie. Update: when I later had an Evoque for a week its seats felt less comfortable than they had during the dealer test drive. So I'm revising this rating in favor of the BMW. see full BMW X1 review

2014 BMW X1 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	The BMW X1's interior dimensions also closely resemble those of the previous-generation 3-Series. Up front, there's a little less space to stretch out than in the X3. But abundant headroom. About half of the X1's additional height is over one's head--you sit only a couple inches higher than in the 3-Series. This additional airspace also distinguishes the X1 from the allroad. Rear seat room could be more of an issue. As in the old 3 and the new allroad, a couple of average-sized adults will fit behind a couple more with perhaps an inch or two of clearance for their knees, while a third would be a squeeze. The seat back reclines, but the seat cushion is too low to provide good thigh support. The Evoque is similarly a less-than-ideal choice for four-plus adults taking a long trip. see full BMW X1 review

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 BMW X1.

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