Model Year | 2009 | 2021 | |
Model | Volkswagen Passat | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1800 |
3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 295 hp@6600 263 lb-ft@4700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Wagon | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 106.7 in | 112.2 in | -5.5 in |
Length | 188.0 in | 194.9 in | -6.9 in |
Width | 71.7 in | 76.0 in | -4.3 in |
Height | 59.7 in | 68.1 in | -8.4 in |
Curb Weight | 3512 lb. | 4145 lb. | -633 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 17.9 gal. | 0.6 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.3 in | 41.2 in | -2.9 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.7 in | 59.0 in | -3.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 57.2 in | -57.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 42.0 in | -0.6 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 38.6 in | 39.4 in | -0.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.6 in | 58.7 in | -4.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 57.0 in | -57 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.7 in | 41.0 in | -3.3 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 36.1 in | -36.1 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) | 110.7 in (over 3 rows) | -31.6 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 35.8 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | 19.8 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 35.8 | 48.4 ft3 | -12.6 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 61.7 ft3 | 84.3 ft3 | -22.6 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 |
2021 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2020 | With each redesign (for 2008, 2014, and 2020) Toyota has enlarged the Highlander, yet the crossover's third-row seat remains uncomforably low and tight. For adults to be even passably comfortable in the way-back the second row must be slid forward, rendering legroom there also marginal. Some three-row crossovers have much roomier and more comfortable third-row seats. But if you want to be able to squeeze in eight people, Highlanders with a second-row bench can do this. Because they have significantly narrower third-row seats, the Ford Explorer and Kia Sorento cannot fit three people back there even in a pinch, so in hybrid form the former has a maximum capacity of seven people and the latter only six. (The Sorento PHEV will be able to seat seven.) This noted, if you want your adult passengers to have plenty of room, the practical capacity of each is four people. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2021 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2020 | 4dr SUV 295-horsepower 3.5L V6 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The 3rd row seating is just not for adults at all, and I'm not certain that children would be easy to fit back there as well. I'm not sure what Toyota was thinking, even making the 2020 longer didn't make any difference at all. My one complaint is it is just TOO SMALL! see full Toyota Highlander review |