Model Year | 2006 | 2014 | |
Model | Volkswagen Passat | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | 3.6L V6 DOHC-4v 280 hp@6200 265 lb-ft@2750 |
3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 106.7 in | 109.8 in | -3.1 in |
Length | 188.2 in | 191.1 in | -2.9 in |
Width | 71.7 in | 75.8 in | -4.1 in |
Height | 58.0 in | 68.1 in | -10.1 in |
Curb Weight | 3829 lb. | 4454 lb. | -625 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 19.2 gal. | -0.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.4 in | 40.7 in | -2.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.7 in | 59.3 in | -3.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 57.2 in | -57.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 44.2 in | -2.8 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.8 in | 39.9 in | -2.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.6 in | 59.6 in | -5 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 57.1 in | -57.1 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.7 in | 38.4 in | -0.7 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 35.9 in | -35.9 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 55.0 in | -55 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 45.6 in | -45.6 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 27.7 in | -27.7 in |
Total Legroom | 79.1 in (over 2 rows) | 110.3 in (over 3 rows) | -31.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 14.2 ft3 | 13.8 ft3 | 0.4 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 14.2 | 42.3 ft3 | -28.1 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 14.2 ft3 | 83.7 ft3 | -69.5 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 |
2014 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2014 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review |