Model Year | 2011 | 2014 | |
Model | Nissan Altima | Subaru Outback | |
Engine | 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6000 258 lb-ft@4400 |
3.6L H6 DOHC-4v 256 hp@6000 247 lb-ft@4400 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable CVT | 5-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Wagon | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 109.3 in | 107.9 in | 1.4 in |
Length | 190.7 in | 189.0 in | 1.7 in |
Width | 70.7 in | 71.7 in | -1 in |
Height | 57.9 in | 65.7 in | -7.8 in |
Curb Weight | 3357 lb. | 3613 lb. | -256 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 20.0 gal. | 18.5 gal. | 1.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.6 in | 40.8 in | -0.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.7 in | 56.3 in | -0.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.8 in | 0.0 in | 56.8 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 44.1 in | 43.0 in | 1.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 36.8 in | 39.3 in | -2.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.5 in | 56.1 in | -0.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 52.5 in | 0.0 in | 52.5 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.8 in | 37.8 in | -2 in |
Total Legroom | 79.9 in (over 2 rows) | 80.8 in (over 2 rows) | -0.9 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.3 ft3 | 34.3 ft3 | -19 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 15.3 ft3 | 71.3 ft3 | -56 ft3 |
2011 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Roomy front seat room. see full Nissan Altima review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
I am 6'3", weigh 235. Being a big guy, I find this car VERY comfortable. I use it in my work daily. I drive it multiple trips/day (there have been as many as 8-10 trips/day-from 2 miles up to 50 miles/each trip). So I am in/out of the car multiple times/day. It's very easy to enter and exit and is very roomy for a mid-sized car and also has a lot of rear leg room. The trunk is large as well and the back seat folds down making the useful trunk space all the more. I also like the console and having the iPod connection in the second storage area of the console-out of the way. Hip room of the front seat is very generous as well. Just yesterday I had a rear seat passenger who commented how much leg room they had in the back. see full Nissan Altima review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
I am a big guy who at first did not consider Altima because I did not think I would fit in it. I was surprised to find I fit just fine. I am 6'3" and 252lbs. The front seats provide ample room. I also have a lot of head room. see full Nissan Altima review |
2010 | 2dr Coupe 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Nissan has reputation for reliability see full Nissan Altima review |
2011 Nissan Altima Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable CVT FWD |
Very comfortable. see full Nissan Altima review |
2010 | 2dr Coupe 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
Very difficult to get in and even more difficult to get out. Only teens in good shape can do it easily see full Nissan Altima review |
2014 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 |
2014 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 |
2014 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 | ||
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 |