Model Year | 2013 | 2014 | |
Model | Mazda Mazda3 | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 109.8 in | -5.9 in |
Length | 177.4 in | 191.1 in | -13.7 in |
Width | 69.1 in | 75.8 in | -6.7 in |
Height | 57.9 in | 68.1 in | -10.2 in |
Curb Weight | 2896 lb. | 4134 lb. | -1238 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 14.5 gal. | 19.2 gal. | -4.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.1 in | 40.7 in | -2.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 54.9 in | 59.3 in | -4.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.7 in | 57.2 in | -3.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.0 in | 44.2 in | -2.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.7 in | 39.9 in | -2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.0 in | 59.6 in | -5.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 52.2 in | 57.1 in | -4.9 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 36.2 in | 38.4 in | -2.2 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 35.9 in | -35.9 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 55.0 in | -55 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 45.6 in | -45.6 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 27.7 in | -27.7 in |
Total Legroom | 78.2 in (over 2 rows) | 110.3 in (over 3 rows) | -32.1 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 17.0 ft3 | 13.8 ft3 | 3.2 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 17.0 | 42.3 ft3 | -25.3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 42.8 ft3 | 83.7 ft3 | -40.9 ft3 |
2013 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2012 | The Mazda3 also isn't a clear choice if a roomy rear seat is a top priority. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I had little room to spare. The rear seat in the Ford Focus is at least as tight, but has a more comfortably positioned cushion. A Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, or Toyota Corolla has far more rear seat room. If you like how the Mazda3 looks and drives, but need more rear seat legroom, the Mazda6 offers another three inches for another $2,100 to $3,700 (depending on trim level). see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2013 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Nice contoured, form fitting seats offer plenty of support, quite comfortable. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2013 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear seat a bit tight, needs more room back there. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
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 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 |
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 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 |
2014 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 |
2014 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 |