Mazda Mazda6 (2006) vs. Subaru Outback (2015) Specs

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2006 Mazda Mazda6 and 2015 Subaru Outback Specifications

Model Year	2006	2015
Model	Mazda Mazda6	Subaru Outback
Engine	turbocharged 2.3L I4 DOHC-4v 274 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	AWD	AWD
Body	4dr Wagon	4dr Wagon
			Difference
Wheelbase	105.3 in	108.1 in	-2.8 in
Length	187.8 in	189.6 in	-1.8 in
Width	70.1 in	72.4 in	-2.3 in
Height	57.3 in	66.1 in	-8.8 in
Curb Weight	3706 lb.	3810 lb.	-104 lb.
Fuel Capacity	18.0 gal.	18.5 gal.	-0.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.7 in	40.8 in	-2.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.1 in	58.1 in	-2 in
Hip Room, Row 1	54.7 in	55.5 in	-0.8 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.3 in	42.9 in	-0.6 in
Headroom, Row 2	38.6 in	38.9 in	-0.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	54.9 in	57.3 in	-2.4 in
Hip Room, Row 2	54.1 in	55.0 in	-0.9 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.5 in	38.1 in	-1.6 in
Total Legroom	78.8 in (over 2 rows)	81 in (over 2 rows)	-2.2 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	33.7 ft³	35.5 ft³	-1.8 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	60.5 ft³	73.3 ft³	-12.8 ft³

2006 Mazda Mazda6 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2006	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual AWD	It took a while for me to adjust the seat properly, but after I did, I have to say the seating position and comfort rivaled many European sedans I have driven. I was not used to this level of comfort from an Asian-designed automobile. see full Mazda Mazda6 review
2005	4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I can fit three car seats in it. I can put my seat as far back as I need to and most adults can still sit comfortably in the back. see full Mazda Mazda6 review
2005	4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Large enough for a six foot fiver and still room in the back. see full Mazda Mazda6 review

2006 Mazda Mazda6 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2007	4dr Sedan 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	front seat is designed to short for taller people. see full Mazda Mazda6 review
2006	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual AWD	For short trips the Speed6 is fine. Longer than 2 hours in the car kills my back. Maybe the seats are cheaper in the Sport vs. the GT. Fortunately I've only taken 1 or 2 very long trips in it. see full Mazda Mazda6 review
2006	4dr Sedan turbocharged 274hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual AWD	Too small for adults. see full Mazda Mazda6 review

2015 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

2015 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

2015 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
2014	4dr Wagon 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD	The front seats are very comfy, and the seat heaters are powerful and warm up quickly. We compared the car to a 2014 Forrester, and we think the OB seats are more comfy-- they have more thigh support. see full Subaru Outback review
2014	4dr Wagon 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD	The rear seats are much more comfy than in the old Outback. They took a couple of inches out of the cargo area to give the rear seat more room. The reclining seatback for the rear seats is a nice comfort as well. see full Subaru Outback review

2015 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2014	4dr Wagon 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD	Minor complaint-- like every other Japanese car I've ever owned, this one also doesn't seem to understand that feet get cold. The heater is great- it provides lots of heat, and quickly. But when you you set it to floor, the hot air hits you in the lower calf, and then rises. The heat never makes it to your feet! see full Subaru Outback review

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