Were you driving a Subaru at the turn of the century? The Car Connection recently compared the 2014 Forester to a 2000 Outback and found some interesting things.
Why did they decide to compare a Forester with an Outback? In 2000, cars in general were much smaller than they are today. SUVs have become supersized and trucks are much bigger and wider now than in 2000. The 2000 Outack was the mid-size vehicle for Subaru at that time and the Forester now fills that spot in the Subaru lineup. It makes sense to compare the lineup from 2000 to today’s lineup, The Car Connection says. Today's Outback is much larger than the Outback of 2000.
The 2000 Outback is only slightly smaller that today's Forester, though. “The new car is actually 3 inches wider inside--though the other front-seat dimensions are all within 2 inches--and it clearly has a more spacious rear seat,” writes The Car Connection. What seems like a small difference in numbers makes a huge difference when you’re inside the car. It’s much more spacious and comfortable but also uses space well by reducing waste when compared to the old car.
One of the main reasons the 2014 models are larger than the older models is the additional safety gear. Safety requirements are much more stringent today than in 2000. The 2000 Outback has just two airbags compared to the 2014 Forester’s seven. There’s more protective gear all around inside the Forester, on top of new technology, starting with a stronger body.
Inside the Forester, driving feels more open than
in the car-like Outback and that’s really the difference between the two and
where comparison stops. The current Outback has that same car-like quality of
the 2000 Outback and it’s hard to compare the Forester to that model’s interior
because they're just not the same car.
Cars in general are getting bigger; the newer models of almost every make are at least a few inches larger than those of a decade or two ago. A lot of this is a result of new safety requirements, but it's also a response to consumer preference. Americans are choosing bigger cars.
Subaru still offers a great range of sizes, but if you want the same size you used to drive, you might need to look at a different model. Come see us at Adventure Subaru and find the perfect vehicle for your needs.
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