Model Year | 2009 | 2012 | |
Model | Volkswagen Passat | Honda Fit | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1800 |
1.5L I4 OHC-4v 117 hp@6600 106 lb-ft@4800 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 5-speed manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 106.7 in | 98.4 in | 8.3 in |
Length | 188.0 in | 161.6 in | 26.4 in |
Width | 71.7 in | 66.7 in | 5 in |
Height | 59.7 in | 60.0 in | -0.3 in |
Curb Weight | 3512 lb. | 2496 lb. | 1016 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 10.6 gal. | 7.9 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.3 in | 40.4 in | -2.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.7 in | 52.7 in | 3 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 51.5 in | -51.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 41.3 in | 0.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.6 in | 39.0 in | -0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.6 in | 51.3 in | 3.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 51.3 in | -51.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.7 in | 34.5 in | 3.2 in |
Total Legroom | 79.1 in (over 2 rows) | 75.8 in (over 2 rows) | 3.3 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 35.8 ft3 | 20.6 ft3 | 15.2 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 61.7 ft3 | 57.3 ft3 | 4.4 ft3 |
2009 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD |
Comfortable power seats with power lumbar adjustment. Good side support, and with the tilting/telescoping steering wheel - easy to find a comfortable driving position. Also has easy to use steering wheel controls for the cars stereo/trip computer. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2008 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Compared to other sporty wagons (BMW, Subaru) the Passat has about 3" more rear leg room - enough to put my full-size parents and/or friends in the back seat without making them do contortions. Easier to get a child in and out of a rear safety seat, too. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Lots of rear legroom and space for car seats. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Extremely comfortable front drivers seat w/ 12 way electronic adjustment. Able to find perfect driving position. Very little fatigue even after 12 - 14 hours of driving (taking breaks for food / gas of course). Lumbar adjusts both up/down and in/out. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2008 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
This version of the Passat can easily fit 3 across seating in the rear see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2008 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
More than large enough for American size bodies! see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Passat provided more interior space especially in the rear than the Audi A4 see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2009 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD |
very restrictive space see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2012 Honda Fit Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 117-horsepower 1.5L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
The best in this category (when you take into consideration the size of the trunk). see full Honda Fit review |
2012 Honda Fit Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 117-horsepower 1.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Seat bottoms are typical Japanese style short bottomed and not conducive to long duration drives. see full Honda Fit review |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 117-horsepower 1.5L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
One more thing. Rear seat comfort was obviously not a big selling point, nor a necessary feature. But one piece of it was worse than it had to be: the rear seat headrests. The artful circular shape and limited adjustment made the rear seats even harder to use; the headrest would tend to jab passengers in their spine. A better solution which was more even with the seat back would really have helped here. see full Honda Fit review |