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

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2014 Volkswagen Passat and 2012 Mercedes-Benz GL Specifications

Model Year	2014	2012
Model	Volkswagen Passat	Mercedes-Benz GL
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 Diesel DOHC-4v 140 hp@4000 236 lb-ft@1500	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	4dr Sedan	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	110.4 in	121.1 in	-10.7 in
Length	191.6 in	200.6 in	-9 in
Width	72.2 in	76.0 in	-3.8 in
Height	58.5 in	72.4 in	-13.9 in
Curb Weight	3397 lb.	5512 lb.	-2115 lb.
Fuel Capacity	18.5 gal.	26.0 gal.	-7.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.3 in	40.1 in	-1.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.9 in	58.3 in	-1.4 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.4 in	40.3 in	2.1 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.8 in	40.6 in	-2.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	57.0 in	58.9 in	-1.9 in
Legroom, Row 2	39.1 in	39.5 in	-0.4 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	81.5 in (over 2 rows)	114 in (over 3 rows)	-32.5 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.9 ft³	14.3 ft³	1.6 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	15.9	43.8 ft³	-27.9
Cargo Volume, Maximum	15.9 ft³	83.3 ft³	-67.4 ft³

2014 Volkswagen Passat Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2015	The Passat's top strength remains a non-sporting attribute: never mind how the specs compare, the midsize Volkswagen has the roomiest interior in its class. Rear seat legroom seems limo-like compared to the merely adequate space inside the Mazda. Up front, there's also plenty of stretch-out space for heads, shoulders, and knees. The Passat's trunk is also among the largest, though in this area the Mazda comes up only a cubic foot short. see full Volkswagen Passat review

2014 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 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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