Subaru Forester (2013) vs. Subaru Outback (2009) Specs

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2013 Subaru Forester and 2009 Subaru Outback Specifications

Model Year	2013	2009
Model	Subaru Forester	Subaru Outback
Engine	turbocharged 2.5L H4 DOHC-4v 224 hp@5600 226 lb-ft@3600	turbocharged 2.5L H4 DOHC-4v 243 hp@6000 241 lb-ft@3600
Transmission	4-speed shiftable automatic	5-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD
Body	4dr SUV	4dr Wagon
			Difference
Wheelbase	103.0 in	105.1 in	-2.1 in
Length	169.5 in	188.7 in	-19.2 in
Width	70.1 in	69.7 in	0.4 in
Height	65.9 in	63.2 in	2.7 in
Curb Weight	3440 lb.	3605 lb.	-165 lb.
Fuel Capacity	16.9 gal.	16.9 gal.	0 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	41.6 in	40.5 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.1 in	54.4 in	1.7 in
Hip Room, Row 1	0.0 in	51.0 in	-51 in
Legroom, Row 1	43.1 in	44.1 in	-1 in
Headroom, Row 2	40.0 in	39.1 in	0.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	55.6 in	53.7 in	1.9 in
Hip Room, Row 2	0.0 in	52.6 in	-52.6 in
Legroom, Row 2	38.0 in	33.9 in	4.1 in
Total Legroom	81.1 in (over 2 rows)	78 in (over 2 rows)	3.1 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	33.5 ft³	33.5 ft³	0 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	68.3 ft³	66.2 ft³	2.1 ft³

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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Subaru Forester

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

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2013 Subaru Forester

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

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

2009 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD	This is a big one for me since I'm 6'6". The seat is very comfortable, even with my long legs. With it all the way back, I can fit in the rear seat as well. Also, heated seats are a wonderful thing. see full Subaru Outback review
2010	4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD	It seems to have as much room as my Chevy Suburban. see full Subaru Outback review
2010	4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed manual AWD	More then enough room for my children and their car seats. Much more room compared to my VW Passat Wagon I traded in. see full Subaru Outback review
2010	4dr Wagon 256-horsepower 3.6L H6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	The driver's seat with its 10 way adjustments was rival to Volvo's orthopedic chair. The passenger seat, however was akin to something out of a Yaris & this was the main reason we did not buy this car. see full Subaru Outback review

2009 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	4dr Wagon 256-horsepower 3.6L H6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	There are no adjustements for height, lumbar or tilt for the passenger in any of the available trim levels. We would have bought this car new from the dealer otherwise. see full Subaru Outback review
2010	4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD	One complaint is the hard, short driver's seat. I use a gel cushion. I had after market leather installed. see full Subaru Outback review
2008	4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	A little tight in the left portion of the footwell; small dead pedal. see full Subaru Outback review
2008	4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Footroom too short. see full Subaru Outback review
2008	4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed shiftable automatic AWD	not long enough for a 6 foot 2 inch frame but I manage see full Subaru Outback review

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs

See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.