Subaru Forester (2009) vs. Mazda Mazda3 (2008) Specs

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2009 Subaru Forester and 2008 Mazda Mazda3 Specifications

Model Year	2009	2008
Model	Subaru Forester	Mazda Mazda3
Engine
Transmission
Drivetrain
Body	4dr SUV	4dr Hatch
			Difference
Wheelbase	103.0 in	103.9 in	-0.9 in
Length	179.5 in	176.6 in	2.9 in
Width	70.1 in	69.1 in	1 in
Height	65.9 in	57.7 in	8.2 in
Curb Weight	3250 lb.	2808 lb.	442 lb.
Fuel Capacity	16.9 gal.	14.5 gal.	2.4 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	41.6 in	39.1 in	2.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.1 in	54.9 in	1.2 in
Hip Room, Row 1	0.0 in	54.9 in	-54.9 in
Legroom, Row 1	43.1 in	41.9 in	1.2 in
Headroom, Row 2	40.0 in	38.4 in	1.6 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	55.6 in	54.0 in	1.6 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	53.9 in	-53.9 in
Legroom, Row 2	38.0 in	36.3 in	1.7 in
Total Legroom	81.1 in (over 2 rows)	78.2 in (over 2 rows)	2.9 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	33.5 ft³	17.1 ft³	16.4 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	68.3 ft³	43.8 ft³	24.5 ft³

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What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2009 Subaru Forester

2009 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	leather seat "baquet" has very good lateral control, but leather is slippery on braking see full Subaru Forester review
2010	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Enough room to feel comfortable, even at 6 feet tall. The fact that the Premium Trim package allows rear seats to recline a bit helps a lot as well. see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	ample rear seat room for car seats and adults alike see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD	Rear seat has plenty of leg room, and the roof is high for tall drivers. see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Rear seats are very comfortable, lots of space, excellent for wife and kid. see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Easily fits people over 6 foot in fron with plenty of room in back for passengers - much better than previous generation Forester. see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD	Pleanty of room for long legs in the rear seat. see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD	Big enough for growing children; enough leg room for tall driver see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	well padded and shaped, power seat controls allows good positioning. see full Subaru Forester review
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD	It fits my kids (three) better than 2001 Outback, the rear seat "hump" is less proeminent than in other Subaru models (Outback namely), good hip and shoulder room see full Subaru Forester review

2009 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2009	4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Great for an average women. Too narrow for fit 6 foot man, especially in the back cushion. see full Subaru Forester review

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2008 Mazda Mazda3

2008 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2009	4dr Hatch turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD	Kids easily able to get in/out of back (4-doors) and often able to take co-workers to lunch (both of which is much more of a hassle with 2-doors). see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2008	4dr Sedan 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Lots of leg room even with the seat all the way back see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2007	4dr Sedan 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD	Very sporty seats, excellent lumber support. Seats will ensure that you stay where you are supposed to be, even in tight cornering. After a straight 12hr trip, the seat still feels comfortable. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2007	4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Lots of leg space & head room, and seat adjustments possible. see full Mazda Mazda3 review

2008 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2008	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Not enough comfort-room for my son (which meant that the Mazda failed the test). see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2008	4dr Hatch turbocharged 263hp 2.3L I4 6-speed manual FWD	good for a small child, but i would not want to ride back there for long see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2008	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Too cramped for an adult see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2008	4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Tight and uncomfortable as are most other cars in this class. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2008	4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Well, when the front seats are back, there is little leg room in the back seat -- to be expected in a compact. But, the rear seats are very comfortable and can handle a wider person. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2007	4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	This IS a smaller car. That being said, if the front seats are all the way back, people in the back had better sit Indian-style on the seats. see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2007	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD	The Mazda 3 has very limited footroom except when the driver is of very small stature.it helps somewhat if you puchsae the model with the height adjustable seat.seat fabric on the none leather models goes bally,and becomes difficult to clean!! see full Mazda Mazda3 review
2007	4dr Hatch 156-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD	Rear seats are really small and tight legroom. see full Mazda Mazda3 review

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