Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe 2012 Subaru Forester Subaru Forester 2016

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

Hyundai Santa Fe (2012) vs. Subaru Forester (2016) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2016 Subaru Forester specs.

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2016 Subaru Forester Specifications

Model Year 2012 2016  
Model Hyundai Santa Fe Subaru Forester  
Engine 3.5L V6
DOHC-4v
276 hp@6300
248 lb-ft@5000
turbocharged
2.0L H4
DOHC-4v
250 hp@5600
258 lb-ft@2000
 
Transmission 6-speed shiftable automatic 8-speed shiftable CVT  
Drivetrain AWD AWD  
Body 4dr SUV 4dr SUV  
      Difference
Wheelbase 106.3 in 103.9 in 2.4 in
Length 184.1 in 180.9 in 3.2 in
Width 74.4 in 70.7 in 3.7 in
Height 67.9 in 66.4 in 1.5 in
Curb Weight 4054 lb. 3624 lb. 430 lb.
Fuel Capacity 18.0 gal. 15.9 gal. 2.1 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 40.2 in 41.4 in -1.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 59.5 in 57.0 in 2.5 in
Hip Room, Row 1 55.8 in 0.0 in 55.8 in
Legroom, Row 1 42.6 in 43.0 in -0.4 in
Headroom, Row 2 39.6 in 39.8 in -0.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 58.6 in 56.5 in 2.1 in
Hip Room, Row 2 55.0 in 0.0 in 55 in
Legroom, Row 2 36.8 in 38.0 in -1.2 in
Total Legroom 79.4 in (over 2 rows) 81 in (over 2 rows) -1.6 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 34.2 ft3 34.4 ft3 -0.2 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 78.2 ft3 74.7 ft3 3.5 ft3

Return to top

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
2013 Nothing impressed me more about the new Santa Fe than the amount of combined legroom. With a length of 193 inches (2.5 more than the Veracruz), the new crossover is four inches shorter than a Nissan Pathfinder and over seven inches shorter than a GMC Acadia, yet you'll find more legroom in its second and third rows. On top of this, unlike in the Nissan and GMC (but like in the Veracruz, this hasn't changed) the second-row seat is comfortably high off the floor. Alas, all is not good in this area--check out the cons below--so I haven't rated it against the Pathfinder. see full Hyundai Santa Fe review
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearComment
As noted among the pros, you'll find abundant legroom in the Santa Fe. But shoulder room is a different story. The new Santa Fe's 74.2-inch width exceeds that of the typical compact crossover or midsize sedan, but is narrower than that of the Highlander, Veracruz, Pathfinder, Pilot, and Acadia by 1.0, 2.4, 3.0, 4.3, and 4.7 inches, respectively. For anyone seeking to sit three across in the second row (or who simply prefers the spacious ambiance of a wide vehicle in any row), the Santa Fe's consequently narrower interior could be the #1 downside of sharing as much as possible with the new two-row Santa Fe Sport. Then again, maximum shoulder room for three passengers is only an issue with the Santa Fe GLS. As mentioned in the preceding section, the Santa Fe Limited has standard captains chairs, and so can only seat six. Anyone seeking a full zoot crossover with seating for more people will have to shop elsewhere. see full Hyundai Santa Fe review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2012 4dr SUV turbocharged 194hp 2.2L I4 Diesel
6-speed manual AWD
Seats are comfortable for my wife and myself, with more than adequate room, 3 people fit easily in the back. They have good foot room too. see full Hyundai Santa Fe review
2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2011 4dr SUV 276-horsepower 3.5L V6
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD
Short seats, not very supportive at the sides. Strangely lumpy backrest. see full Hyundai Santa Fe review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Subaru Forester

2016 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2015 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
I'm 6'3" and often don't fit comfortable in vehicles. I found this had a very nice amount of front seat room. The center console tends to stay out of the way as well, some newer designs have the center stack moving into where my right knee would be. It's a very noticeable improvement over my previous 2009 Escape. I actually found the Forester more comfortable for me than the Outback. I was expecting the opposite. see full Subaru Forester review
2015 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
CVT AWD
After looking at Explorer's, I was surprised how much more room the Forester had in the back seat. Granted it doesn't have a third row, but if you don't need a 3rd row, the Forester is hard to beat in this segment for rear seat room. We can put a forward facing child seat in the back, move the front seat up a about 2 inches from all the way back and there's still plenty of front passenger room and my 1.5 year old son can't kick the back of the seat. see full Subaru Forester review
2016 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2017 4dr SUV turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4
8-speed shiftable CVT AWD
- Terrible front seat support - The cushions are too short - It's not noticeable on a test drive right away. I would not have bought the car! Test drive extensively! - Surfaces where your elbows would lay are too hard - I purchased foam pads to make it feel better. - Tall drivers like myself will struggle with the telescoping wheel's short extension range. - It is hard to get into a fully comfortable driving position. The memory seats in the XT help somewhat by retaining your seat settings if moved. - Front seat cushions are too short - Yes I said this twice - Front seat cushions are too short - Yes I said this THREE times! Subaru are you listening? The front seat cushions are WAY TOO SHORT! see full Subaru Forester review
 
See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Hyundai models.