Subaru Forester Subaru Forester 2013 Subaru Outback Subaru Outback 2011

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

Subaru Forester (2013) vs. Subaru Outback (2011) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2013 Subaru Forester and 2011 Subaru Outback specs.

2013 Subaru Forester and 2011 Subaru Outback Specifications

Model Year 2013 2011  
Model Subaru Forester Subaru Outback  
Engine turbocharged
2.5L H4
DOHC-4v
224 hp@5600
226 lb-ft@3600
3.6L H6
DOHC-4v
256 hp@6000
247 lb-ft@4400
 
Transmission 4-speed shiftable automatic 5-speed shiftable automatic  
Drivetrain AWD AWD  
Body 4dr SUV 4dr Wagon  
      Difference
Wheelbase 103.0 in 107.9 in -4.9 in
Length 169.5 in 188.2 in -18.7 in
Width 70.1 in 71.7 in -1.6 in
Height 65.9 in 65.7 in 0.2 in
Curb Weight 3440 lb. 3544 lb. -104 lb.
Fuel Capacity 16.9 gal. 18.5 gal. -1.6 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 41.6 in 40.8 in 0.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 56.1 in 56.3 in -0.2 in
Legroom, Row 1 43.1 in 43.0 in 0.1 in
Headroom, Row 2 40.0 in 39.3 in 0.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 55.6 in 56.1 in -0.5 in
Legroom, Row 2 38.0 in 37.8 in 0.2 in
Total Legroom 81.1 in (over 2 rows) 80.8 in (over 2 rows) 0.3 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 33.5 ft3 34.3 ft3 -0.8 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 68.3 ft3 71.3 ft3 -3 ft3

Return to top

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

2013 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
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
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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 2011 Subaru Outback

2011 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2012 4dr Wagon 256-horsepower 3.6L H6
5-speed shiftable automatic AWD
I am a big guy. 5'10 and about 290 lbs. This car is very comfortable for me. I can reach the controls nicely, love the heated leather seats. see full Subaru Outback review
2012 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
I have found our 2012 Outback to be very comfortable for long drives. The driver's seat has plenty of adjustment to accommodate my frame. Legroom is outstanding. My wife got so spoiled with the heated seats in our 99 Outback Limited that she balks at cars without. So our 2010 and now the 2012 have had the heated seats. see full Subaru Outback review
2012 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
Rear seat comfort is excellent even for very tall teenagers and 20 somethings. The redesign of the Outback in 2010 noticeably improved rear seat space. One note when flipping down the back seats. Make sure your head is out of the way when you lift the release lever. The seat back springs forward quickly. The angle of the rear seat can also be reclined for additional comfort. The fold down center cup holder is a nice touch. The seating position is high so visibility is great. see full Subaru Outback review
2012 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
Very comfortable. see full Subaru Outback review
2012 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
0 see full Subaru Outback review
2011 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
Wide space with lots of shoulder, hip, leg and head room. Seats are comfy too without being decadent. see full Subaru Outback review
2011 4dr Wagon 170-horsepower 2.5L H4
6-speed shiftable CVT AWD
Impressed with the seat comfort/adjustability/durability. 12+hours in the chair is no problem. 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 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
2011 Subaru Outback Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
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
 
See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs
See TrueDelta's information for all Subaru models.