Model Year | 2006 | 2008 | |
Model | Volkswagen Passat | Mazda Mazda5 | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Minivan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 106.7 in | 108.3 in | -1.6 in |
Length | 188.2 in | 181.5 in | 6.7 in |
Width | 71.7 in | 69.1 in | 2.6 in |
Height | 58.0 in | 64.2 in | -6.2 in |
Curb Weight | 3305 lb. | 3417 lb. | -112 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 15.9 gal. | 2.6 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.4 in | 40.7 in | -2.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.7 in | 55.5 in | 0.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 52.9 in | -52.9 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 40.7 in | 0.7 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.8 in | 39.4 in | -1.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.6 in | 55.6 in | -1 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 58.3 in | -58.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.7 in | 35.2 in | 2.5 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 | 79.1 in (over 2 rows) | 106.6 in (over 3 rows) | -27.5 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 14.2 ft3 | 11.3 ft3 | 2.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 14.2 | 44.4 ft3 | -30.2 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 14.2 ft3 | 70.9 ft3 | -56.7 ft3 |
2006 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Wagon 280-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
larger than chief competitors (BMW 3 series, Audi A4) see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Well bolstered seat, best seat heaters I ever had (have had Land Rovers and own a SAAB). see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Good amount of rear leg room see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Plenty of room in the front seat without squeezing the backseat. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Plenty of room in the back seats. Room for three comfortably. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2005 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual AWD |
Firm, but not hard, adj lumbar, good wearing materials see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2005 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 134hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Soft, well supporting seats see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2005 | 4dr Wagon turbocharged 134hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Good for adults see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2006 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
No thigh support, not as comfortable as my 2000 Passat see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2006 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
My two teenagers complain that the rear seat cushion is low and not very comfortable to sit on for long distances. the leg room is great. see full Volkswagen Passat review |
2008 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Space for two kids or adult to sit comfortably - elderly father sits up straight and can access easily with sliding doors. Pop up seats deal with short term travel with friends/teammates. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Ample space for such a small exterior. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
3rd row in a "car" is nice - we always have the occasional 3rd or 4th child and like that they are somewhat temporarily available. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2008 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
One of the smallest vehicles with seating for 6. Going to a full size minivan removes the option for a manual transmission, severely reduces visibility and adds too much weight. SUVs are just way too big see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2007 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Rear seats fit adults or kids in car seats adequately, especially for an economy car. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |
2008 Mazda Mazda5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 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 |
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 |
2007 | 4dr Minivan 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
With the seat all back, there is not much room for anyone over six feet tall. see full Mazda Mazda5 review |