Model Year | 2013 | 2009 | |
Model | Subaru Forester | Chevrolet Impala | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.5L H4 DOHC-4v 224 hp@5600 226 lb-ft@3600 |
5.3L V8 OHV-2v 303 hp@5600 323 lb-ft@4400 |
|
Transmission | 4-speed shiftable automatic | 4-speed automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.0 in | 110.5 in | -7.5 in |
Length | 169.5 in | 200.4 in | -30.9 in |
Width | 70.1 in | 72.9 in | -2.8 in |
Height | 65.9 in | 58.7 in | 7.2 in |
Curb Weight | 3440 lb. | 3711 lb. | -271 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 16.9 gal. | 17.0 gal. | -0.1 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 41.6 in | 39.4 in | 2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 56.1 in | 58.7 in | -2.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 56.4 in | -56.4 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.1 in | 42.3 in | 0.8 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 40.0 in | 37.8 in | 2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 55.6 in | 58.6 in | -3 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 57.2 in | -57.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.0 in | 37.6 in | 0.4 in |
Total Legroom | 81.1 in (over 2 rows) | 79.9 in (over 2 rows) | 1.2 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 33.5 ft3 | 18.6 ft3 | 14.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 68.3 ft3 | 18.6 ft3 | 49.7 ft3 |
2013 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 |
2013 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD |
Huge rear seat for the car's size 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 |
2009 Chevrolet Impala Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Perhaps the largest rear seat in a sedan. Can squeeze three normal adults. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Large seat for my large seat, very good lumbar support, good power adjustments. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 233-horsepower 3.9L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Good support for legs and back. Seat adjusts to fit most people. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Wide open... see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 233-horsepower 3.9L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Very easy to get in and out of this car. Front seat is roomy and fairly comfortable. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2009 Chevrolet Impala Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Large trunk space seems to sacrifise rear seat area. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 211-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
Not enough leg room. see full Chevrolet Impala review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 233-horsepower 3.9L V6 4-speed automatic FWD |
When the drivers seat is all the way back there is little rear seat legroom for tall folks. see full Chevrolet Impala review |