How is leg room measured?

Answer 1

Under SAE guidelines, legroom is measured using an H-point machine (for hip-point), a mechanical device with a single leg and adjustable joints that "sits" on a seat. The H-point is the starting point for measuring legroom, but Gary Pollak, a manager of SAE research programs, said it is not a linear measurement but a curve based on several points. "There are a number of ways to do it," Pollak said, and a consumer may not be able to replicate a manufacturer's measurement with a tape measure.

"It's a question of how they go about reporting (the measurements), and some may take liberties," he said. "People interpret the standard to their advantage, so there's not an easy answer."

The bottom line is that the interior dimensions published by manufacturers are best used as guidelines rather than gospel