Mercedes-Benz GLK Mercedes-Benz GLK 2012 Subaru Outback Subaru Outback 2014

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Mercedes-Benz GLK (2012) vs. Subaru Outback (2014) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK and 2014 Subaru Outback specs.

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK and 2014 Subaru Outback Specifications

Model Year 2012 2014  
Model Mercedes-Benz GLK Subaru Outback  
Engine 3.5L V6
DOHC-4v
268 hp@6000
258 lb-ft@2400
3.6L H6
DOHC-4v
256 hp@6000
247 lb-ft@4400
 
Transmission 7-speed shiftable automatic 5-speed shiftable automatic  
Drivetrain AWD AWD  
Body 4dr SUV 4dr Wagon  
      Difference
Wheelbase 108.5 in 107.9 in 0.6 in
Length 178.3 in 189.0 in -10.7 in
Width 72.4 in 71.7 in 0.7 in
Height 66.9 in 65.7 in 1.2 in
Curb Weight 4034 lb. 3613 lb. 421 lb.
Fuel Capacity 17.4 gal. 18.5 gal. -1.1 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 39.8 in 40.8 in -1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 55.2 in 56.3 in -1.1 in
Hip Room, Row 1 53.2 in 0.0 in 53.2 in
Legroom, Row 1 41.8 in 43.0 in -1.2 in
Headroom, Row 2 39.7 in 39.3 in 0.4 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 55.4 in 56.1 in -0.7 in
Hip Room, Row 2 52.5 in 0.0 in 52.5 in
Legroom, Row 2 35.1 in 37.8 in -2.7 in
Total Legroom 76.9 in (over 2 rows) 80.8 in (over 2 rows) -3.9 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 23.3 ft3 34.3 ft3 -11 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 54.7 ft3 71.3 ft3 -16.6 ft3

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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearComment
2011 Expect the GLK to grow when it is next fully redesigned. A smaller MLK is on the way to battle the upcoming Audi Q3 and just-arrived BMW X1. For 2013, the GLK's body structure remains essentially the same, so rear seat knee room remains just sufficient for a man of average height sitting behind another such man. (Headroom, on the other hand, is abundant.) Among competitors, only the Infiniti EX37 has a tighter rear seat. The Audi, BMW, and Volvo all offer knees another inch or three. Seat comfort is debatable. To my bottom, the GLK's seats feel overly firm. Cargo space is similarly short of the segment average. The GLK's 54.7 cubic feet isn't far behind the Audi's 57.3 but well below the X3's 63.3. That truncated tail has a downside beyond aesthetics. But do these shortcomings really matter? For most people nearly all of the time, there's enough space. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK

2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2011 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6
7-speed shiftable automatic AWD
I have a problem with headroom. So many cars give me less than a half inch from my scalp to the frame on the sunroof. That hurts over bumps, not to mention what my hair looks like when I get out. GLK has over an inch of space for me. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2013 4dr SUV turbocharged 168hp 2.1L I4 Diesel
7-speed shiftable automatic AWD
We are a couple with no kids and we rarely have visitors so the cramped rear seating is not a problem. Someone with teenage kids will want to seriously reconsider before getting a GLK. I know my Mom would not appreciate the ingress/egress ease as she has some limited mobility. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
2011 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6
7-speed shiftable automatic AWD
If you are 6' plus like me, you will have to adjust the front seat forward if you want passengers to ride with you unless they are quite small. But this is a perfect city hauler for a single or couple. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
 

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2014 Subaru Outback

2014 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
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
2014 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearComment
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 2014 Subaru Outback

2014 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
2014 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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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