Model Year | 2014 | 2006 | |
Model | Subaru Forester | BMW Z4 | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr SUV | 2dr Hatch | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 98.2 in | 5.7 in |
Length | 180.9 in | 161.9 in | 19 in |
Width | 70.7 in | 70.1 in | 0.6 in |
Height | 66.4 in | 49.9 in | 16.5 in |
Curb Weight | 3296 lb. | 3108 lb. | 188 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 14.5 gal. | 1.4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 37.3 in | 4.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.0 in | 52.5 in | 4.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.0 in | 42.0 in | 1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.8 in | 0.0 in | 39.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 0.0 in | 56.5 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.0 in | 0.0 in | 38 in |
Total Legroom | 81 in (over 2 rows) | 42 in (over 1 rows) | 39 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 34.4 ft3 | 11.9 ft3 | 22.5 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 74.7 ft3 | 11.9 ft3 | 62.8 ft3 |
2014 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | Beyond visibility, people buy crossovers to get more space for people and cargo. As in previous Subaru Foresters, the 2014's ceiling is cathedral-high. I could have worn a top hat inside. If you're very tall, and have been seeking a compact vehicle in which you'll easily fit, you've found one. If, on the other hand, you've been seeking expansive elbow room, the Honda CR-V has more of it. And legroom? A combined (first and second row) figure of 81 inches tops every other compact SUV, including the otherwise segment-leading Honda (79.6 inches) and Toyota RAV-4 (79.8 inches). The Chevrolet Equinox offers another tenth of an inch, but with a 188-inch length (vs. the Forester's 181) and 4,083-pound curb weight (vs. the Forester 2.5i's 3,366) it's not truly compact. Subaru has worked no such miracles with shoulder room. At 56.5 inches, the Forester's is typical of the compact crossover class. Add in a small driveline hump (absent in the Honda) and three adults won't happily share the rear seat for long. But how many car owners put three adult-sized people in the second row for long, anyway? Measurements don't tell the entire story. The Honda's rear seat cushion is too low to the floor to provide adults with thigh support, and its rear seatback can be reclined to only two nearly identical positions. In constrast, the Forester's passengers enjoy a comfortably high rear seat that reclines through a broader range. One negative for rear seat comfort: unlike the Ford Escape (but like nearly all other compact crossovers, including the CR-V), the Forester has no rear air vents. Thanks to the tall, square rear body, cargo space is also the best in the segment, though not by as large a margin as the rear seat. Up front, there are plenty of bins in which to stash your stuff. see full Subaru Forester review |
2014 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2015 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD |
I'm 6'3" and often don't fit comfortable in vehicles. I found this had a very nice amount of front seat room. The center console tends to stay out of the way as well, some newer designs have the center stack moving into where my right knee would be. It's a very noticeable improvement over my previous 2009 Escape. I actually found the Forester more comfortable for me than the Outback. I was expecting the opposite. see full Subaru Forester review |
2015 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD |
After looking at Explorer's, I was surprised how much more room the Forester had in the back seat. Granted it doesn't have a third row, but if you don't need a 3rd row, the Forester is hard to beat in this segment for rear seat room. We can put a forward facing child seat in the back, move the front seat up a about 2 inches from all the way back and there's still plenty of front passenger room and my 1.5 year old son can't kick the back of the seat. see full Subaru Forester review |
2014 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD |
Excellent rear seat comfort and rear seats are 60/ 40 and easy to fold flat. rear seats also have recline function which is nice ... excellent leg room see full Subaru Forester review |
2014 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD |
Huge rear seat for the car's size see full Subaru Forester review |
2006 BMW Z4 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
Adjustable thigh bolster and seat back bolsters offer great support and the Nappa leather is grippy to prevent sliding around. see full BMW Z4 review |
2006 | 2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
I find the front seat, even heated, to have great lumbar support, my sciatica does not bother me even when I have to use the clutch. Those with long legs are amazed at all the leg room available. see full BMW Z4 review |
2005 | 2dr Convertible 184-horsepower 2.5L I6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
enough leg room for a six-footer (unlike the Miata we almost bought) see full BMW Z4 review |
2006 BMW Z4 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 2dr Convertible 215-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed shiftable automatic RWD |
low roof line, long doors make entryb and exit difficult see full BMW Z4 review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 255-horsepower 3.0L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
There is no rear seat. see full BMW Z4 review |
2007 | 2dr Hatch 330-horsepower 3.2L I6 6-speed manual RWD |
I would not recommend the car for EXTREMELY long road trips or the like. Comfort wise, if you used to something that is very plush or soft the car will feel too hard on badly paved roads. see full BMW Z4 review |