Model Year | 2006 | 2015 | |
Model | Pontiac Vibe | Subaru Outback | |
Engine | 1.8L I4 DOHC-4v 164 hp@7600 125 lb-ft@4400 |
3.6L H6 DOHC-4v 256 hp@6000 247 lb-ft@4400 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed shiftable CVT | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Wagon | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 102.4 in | 108.1 in | -5.7 in |
Length | 171.9 in | 189.6 in | -17.7 in |
Width | 69.9 in | 72.4 in | -2.5 in |
Height | 62.2 in | 66.1 in | -3.9 in |
Curb Weight | 2781 lb. | 3810 lb. | -1029 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 18.5 gal. | -5.3 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.6 in | 40.8 in | -0.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 53.2 in | 58.1 in | -4.9 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 51.7 in | 55.5 in | -3.8 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.8 in | 42.9 in | -1.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.8 in | 38.9 in | 0.9 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 52.6 in | 57.3 in | -4.7 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 47.8 in | 55.0 in | -7.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 36.3 in | 38.1 in | -1.8 in |
Total Legroom | 78.1 in (over 2 rows) | 81 in (over 2 rows) | -2.9 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 19.3 ft3 | 35.5 ft3 | -16.2 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 54.1 ft3 | 73.3 ft3 | -19.2 ft3 |
2006 Pontiac Vibe Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2006 | 4dr Hatch 126-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
. see full Pontiac Vibe review |
2005 | 4dr Hatch 126-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Leather seats have been durable and relatively comfortable although no lumbar control, which would have welcomed. Despite some reviews saying driving position is odd, it fits me just fine and I like being able to simply get it--I don't have to climb up as in a SUV and I don't have to get down, as in a sedan. Rear seat room is amazing for such a small car. see full Pontiac Vibe review |
2006 Pontiac Vibe Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2006 | 4dr Hatch 126-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
It would only fit the 2 kids in their seat. There is a 3rd belt, but the car seats took up the space where the adult would go between them. see full Pontiac Vibe review |
2006 | 4dr Hatch 126-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Heating/cooling of the rear seats is poor. see full Pontiac Vibe review |
2005 | 4dr Hatch 126-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
The driver's seat lacks lumbar support. I made a minor modification to significantly improve the driver seat: I shaped a piece of upholstery foam to create lumbar support. I fit it under the seat cloth so it looks factory. Without it I was slouching and had back aches within 30 minutes of driving. My test drive was 10 minutes. My wife found an inadequate situation on the passenger seat. She needs a very upright seat back. That makes the headrest push her head forward. She uses a 2" thick piece of foam on the upper 2/3rd of the back rest to create a little space between her head and the headrest. see full Pontiac Vibe 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 |