BMW 3-Series (2014) vs. Subaru Outback (2016) Specs

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2014 BMW 3-Series and 2016 Subaru Outback Specifications

Model Year	2014	2016
Model	BMW 3-Series	Subaru Outback
Engine	turbocharged 3.0L I6 DOHC-4v 300 hp@5800 300 lb-ft@1300	3.6L H6 DOHC-4v 256 hp@6000 247 lb-ft@4400
Transmission	8-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable CVT
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD
Body	4dr Wagon	4dr Wagon
			Difference
Wheelbase	110.6 in	108.1 in	2.5 in
Length	182.1 in	189.6 in	-7.5 in
Width	71.3 in	72.4 in	-1.1 in
Height	56.5 in	66.1 in	-9.6 in
Curb Weight	3895 lb.	3810 lb.	85 lb.
Fuel Capacity	15.8 gal.	18.5 gal.	-2.7 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.4 in	40.8 in	-0.4 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	55.1 in	58.1 in	-3 in
Hip Room, Row 1	0.0 in	55.5 in	-55.5 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.0 in	42.9 in	-0.9 in
Headroom, Row 2	38.3 in	38.9 in	-0.6 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	55.1 in	57.3 in	-2.2 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	55.0 in	-55 in
Legroom, Row 2	35.0 in	38.1 in	-3.1 in
Total Legroom	77 in (over 2 rows)	81 in (over 2 rows)	-4 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	17.5 ft³	35.5 ft³	-18 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	53.0 ft³	73.3 ft³	-20.3 ft³

2014 BMW 3-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2014	The BMW 3-Series used to be tight inside, but it has grown with each redesign, especially the most recent one. The rear seat of the current sedan isn't nearly as roomy as that in the related 3-Series Gran Turismo hatchback. But it offers considerably more rear legroom than direct competitors like the Audi A4, Cadillac ATS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In fact, combined front and rear legroom is the same as in the one size-class up, ten-inch-longer Mercedes E-Class. (You do get a half-inch more rear headroom and nearly two inches more rear shoulder room in the Benz.) Beyond the specs, the BMW's rear seat is comfortably high off the floor, a rarity in the age of sedans with plunging coupe-like roof lines. see full BMW 3-Series review

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 BMW 3-Series.

2016 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2015	Through the 2009 model year, the Outback (and the related Legacy sedan) had a tight back seat. Though marketed as a midsize car, it was actually a compact. The 2010 redesign dramatically expanded the Outback's interior, especially in the back seat. The 2015 redesign added another inch of shoulder room, such that the Outback (and Legacy) are now not only truly midsize, but rank among the roomiest midsize cars. Rear air vents are offered--in Outbacks with leather. So the tested car lacked them. Some compact crossovers, including the Cherokee, are about as roomy, but they achieve their specs through a more upright seating position. People in the back seat are closer to the front seats, so they don't feel like they have as much room even though they have just as much space for their legs. But they get rear air vents even in the lower trim levels. see full Subaru Outback review

2016 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	The front seats have an unusually high bulge just below my shoulder blades. This feels more odd than uncomfortable, at least to me. The driver's lumbar adjusts, but this affects the area below said bulge. Partly depending on your height your experience might vary. These seats also provide very little lateral support, which admittedly isn't much of an issue given the non-sporting character (and non-sporting tires) of the Outback. I had no such qualms with the armrest on the door. It's wide and cushy. In the front seats' favor, for 2015 Subaru has added fore-aft adjustability to the headrests, a rarity in recent moderately priced cars. The Jeep's cloth seats are too squishy, but they're more form-fittting than the Subaru's, and I find them more comfortable. see full Subaru Outback review

2016 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2016	4dr Wagon 175-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD	see full Subaru Outback review
2016	4dr Wagon 175-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD	see full Subaru Outback review

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