Model Year | 2015 | 2019 | |
Model | Subaru Forester | Mazda Mazda6 | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L H4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5600 258 lb-ft@2000 |
turbocharged 2.5L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5000 310 lb-ft@2000 |
|
Transmission | 8-speed shiftable CVT | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 111.4 in | -7.5 in |
Length | 180.9 in | 191.5 in | -10.6 in |
Width | 70.7 in | 72.4 in | -1.7 in |
Height | 66.4 in | 57.1 in | 9.3 in |
Curb Weight | 3624 lb. | 3580 lb. | 44 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 16.4 gal. | -0.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 38.4 in | 3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.0 in | 57.1 in | -0.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 56.1 in | -56.1 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.0 in | 42.2 in | 0.8 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.8 in | 37.1 in | 2.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 55.5 in | 1 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 56.1 in | -56.1 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.0 in | 38.7 in | -0.7 in |
Total Legroom | 81 in (over 2 rows) | 80.9 in (over 2 rows) | 0.1 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 34.4 ft3 | 14.8 ft3 | 19.6 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 74.7 ft3 | 14.8 ft3 | 59.9 ft3 |
2015 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 |
2015 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 |
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 |
2019 Mazda Mazda6 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
The Mazda6 has one clear disadvantage compared to the Honda Accord: a much less roomy (if comfortable) rear seat. There are at least three more inches of knee room in the back seat of the Honda, a dramatic difference. Mazda redesigned the Mazda6's front seats for 2018, aiming to make them wider and more comfortable. I found them reasonably comfortable, but not exceptional. The side bolsters are on the small side for a car with some sporting pretensions. see full Mazda Mazda6 review |
2019 Mazda Mazda6 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2019 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 250hp 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
The Mazda6 has a smaller rear seat, no way around it. That being said, I find it to be more richly appointed than the Legacy's with the same great materials as up-front and cool touches: the USB ports are in the center armrest with a covered storage cubby, and the rear seat heaters are 3-level with controls in the armrest. These touches are reminiscent of very high-end luxury cars and are more convenient locations in general. The Mazda's heated rear seats also seem to be stronger than the Legacy's. --- The seats follow the same theme as the front in both cars- softer/plusher in the Legacy, firmer but well shaped in the Mazda. --- The front seat-backs are more upscale in the Mazda, and the rear seat of the Mazda has ambient lighting in the door pockets (unlike the Legacy). Overall, the rear cabin of the Mazda is snugger but remains comfortable while carrying on the quality and elegance of the front. For space though, the Legacy still grabs a Win here. see full Mazda Mazda6 review |