Model Year | 2013 | 2015 | |
Model | Mercedes-Benz GLK | Subaru Outback | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 302 hp@6500 273 lb-ft@3500 |
3.6L H6 DOHC-4v 256 hp@6000 247 lb-ft@4400 |
|
Transmission | 7-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed shiftable CVT | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Wagon | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 108.5 in | 108.1 in | 0.4 in |
Length | 178.3 in | 189.6 in | -11.3 in |
Width | 74.3 in | 72.4 in | 1.9 in |
Height | 66.9 in | 66.1 in | 0.8 in |
Curb Weight | 4079 lb. | 3810 lb. | 269 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 | 58.1 in | -2.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.2 in | 55.5 in | -2.3 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 42.9 in | -1.5 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.7 in | 38.9 in | 0.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.4 in | 57.3 in | -1.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 52.5 in | 55.0 in | -2.5 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.1 in | 38.1 in | -3 in |
Total Legroom | 76.5 in (over 2 rows) | 81 in (over 2 rows) | -4.5 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 23.3 ft3 | 35.5 ft3 | -12.2 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 54.7 ft3 | 73.3 ft3 | -18.6 ft3 |
2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
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 |
2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 |
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 |