Mazda Mazda3 (2011) vs. Subaru Outback (2016) Specs

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2011 Mazda Mazda3 and 2016 Subaru Outback Specifications

Model Year	2011	2016
Model	Mazda Mazda3	Subaru Outback
Engine	turbocharged 2.3L I4 DOHC-4v 263 hp@5500 280 lb-ft@3000	3.6L H6 DOHC-4v 256 hp@6000 247 lb-ft@4400
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed shiftable CVT
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD
Body	4dr Hatch	4dr Wagon
			Difference
Wheelbase	103.9 in	108.1 in	-4.2 in
Length	177.4 in	189.6 in	-12.2 in
Width	69.1 in	72.4 in	-3.3 in
Height	57.9 in	66.1 in	-8.2 in
Curb Weight	3221 lb.	3810 lb.	-589 lb.
Fuel Capacity	15.9 gal.	18.5 gal.	-2.6 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.9 in	40.8 in	-1.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	54.9 in	58.1 in	-3.2 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	38.0 in	38.9 in	-0.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	54.0 in	57.3 in	-3.3 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	55.0 in	-55 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.2 in	38.1 in	-1.9 in
Total Legroom	78.2 in (over 2 rows)	81 in (over 2 rows)	-2.8 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	17.0 ft³	35.5 ft³	-18.5 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	43.8 ft³	73.3 ft³	-29.5 ft³

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2011 Mazda Mazda3

2011 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	4dr Hatch 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Tilt and telescopic wheel plus the adjustments with the drivers seat had me in a very good/comfortable driving position. Being comfortable allows me to concentrate on the drive ahead instead of being distracted by squirming around in the seat. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2010	4dr Hatch 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Being a 5 door hatch, there is plenty of room back for 2 full size adults or 3 kids/teenagers. The versatility of the hatch makes it feel like a Mini SUV. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2010	4dr Hatch 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Very comfortable and form fitting. My butt and back feel supported. Leg room is great. see full Mazda Mazda3 review

2011 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2012	4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	It's a joke. You can't fit anything in the back seat aside from children and/or groceries/shopping. Putting an adult back there will require a sincere apology, and possibly a written note and gift bottle of wine. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012	4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Rear seat is rather tight, worse than my old Protege5 see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012	4dr Sedan 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I bought this car to replace a 2004 Mazda 6i Hatchback that I truly loved (got rear-ended and totaled). I did not like the 2012 Mazda 6 at all (or the milage it got), so I went the 3 with Skyactiv. The rear seat and rear legroom is just a bit too small. If it were a tad larger, this would be a awesome car, but the great mileage I get offsets this to a certain degree. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2012	4dr Sedan 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Non of either if the front seats are all the way back, but rear seat room is NOT a factor for me. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2011	4dr Sedan 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	The Mazda3 is not a vehicle for transporting more than 2 people. The backseat is cramped for a full-size adult. However, when required, they will fit. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2011	4dr Sedan 104-horsepower 1.6L I4 5-speed manual FWD	Seating room is borderline for 2 adults, particularly leg room. 3 adults virtually impossible. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2010	4dr Sedan 167-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Rear seat space can be tight see full Mazda Mazda3 review

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2016 Subaru Outback

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

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

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

See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Hatchbacks.

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