Mazda Mazda3 (2011) vs. Toyota Highlander (2013) Specs

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2011 Mazda Mazda3 and 2013 Toyota Highlander Specifications

Model Year	2011	2013
Model	Mazda Mazda3	Toyota Highlander
Engine	turbocharged 2.3L I4 DOHC-4v 263 hp@5500 280 lb-ft@3000	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700
Transmission	6-speed manual	5-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr Hatch	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	103.9 in	109.8 in	-5.9 in
Length	177.4 in	188.4 in	-11 in
Width	69.1 in	75.2 in	-6.1 in
Height	57.9 in	68.1 in	-10.2 in
Curb Weight	3221 lb.	4045 lb.	-824 lb.
Fuel Capacity	15.9 gal.	19.2 gal.	-3.3 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.9 in	40.6 in	-1.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	54.9 in	59.7 in	-4.8 in
Hip Room, Row 1	0.0 in	56.7 in	-56.7 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.0 in	43.2 in	-1.2 in
Headroom, Row 2	38.0 in	40.1 in	-2.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	54.0 in	59.5 in	-5.5 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	56.5 in	-56.5 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.2 in	38.3 in	-2.1 in
Headroom, Row 3	0.0 in	36.3 in	-36.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 3	0.0 in	55.0 in	-55 in
Hip Room, Row 3	0.0 in	42.3 in	-42.3 in
Legroom, Row 3	0.0 in	29.2 in	-29.2 in
Total Legroom	78.2 in (over 2 rows)	110.7 in (over 3 rows)	-32.5 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	17.0 ft³	10.3 ft³	6.7 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	17.0	42.3 ft³	-25.3
Cargo Volume, Maximum	43.8 ft³	95.4 ft³	-51.6 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 2013 Toyota Highlander

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Toyota Highlander

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review
2012	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I am 6 foot tall, and there is plenty of head and leg room in the driving position. Easy access as well. see full Toyota Highlander review

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2012	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	3rd row seats are useless to me. Too little room for adults. Should have been an option for families with small children. With 3rd row seating, you lose storage space. see full Toyota Highlander review

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