Model Year | 2014 | 2014 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Dodge Durango | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@3000 |
5.7L V8 OHV-2v 360 hp@5150 390 lb-ft@4250 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 107.8 in | 119.8 in | -12 in |
Length | 191.5 in | 201.2 in | -9.7 in |
Width | 73.0 in | 75.8 in | -2.8 in |
Height | 57.6 in | 70.9 in | -13.3 in |
Curb Weight | 3635 lb. | 5176 lb. | -1541 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 24.6 gal. | -6.1 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.0 in | 39.9 in | -0.9 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.5 in | 58.5 in | -1 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 55.0 in | 57.0 in | -2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.1 in | 40.3 in | 1.8 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.5 in | 39.8 in | -2.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 57.1 in | 58.3 in | -1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 54.3 in | 56.0 in | -1.7 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 36.8 in | 38.6 in | -1.8 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 37.8 in | -37.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 50.4 in | -50.4 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 42.8 in | -42.8 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 31.5 in | -31.5 in |
Total Legroom | 78.9 in (over 2 rows) | 110.4 in (over 3 rows) | -31.5 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 16.3 ft3 | 17.2 ft3 | -0.9 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 16.3 | 47.7 ft3 | -31.4 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 16.3 ft3 | 84.5 ft3 | -68.2 ft3 |
2014 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
On paper, the Malibu's rear seat is only a little tighter than those in the 2008-2012 sedan and in competing cars. In person, rear knee room would only be marginally competitive in the compact sedan segment. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, my shins graze the front seatbacks. GM is rushing some revised seats to market. But if past attempts to fix a cramped rear seat are any indication, this won't make a substantial difference. The rear seat in the Ford Fusion is roomier, if also short of the segment's quasi-limos. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2014 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 196-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Both front & rear compartments very roomy & comfortable. Again, this is noted improvement over our 2009 Malibu. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2014 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 Hybrid 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
This is tight if front seats are postioned at or close to the back of their range; shorter wheelbase in this model compared to prior version. Rear seat access is excellent (i.e, for infant car seats, small item transport). see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2014 Dodge Durango Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | The Durango's relatively narrow width, a plus for handling, has the opposite impact on interior room. These are very much two sides of the same coin. Because the Durango's cabin isn't terribly wide it feels more agile than wider SUVs. But three passengers in the second row don't have as much space to spread out--those in a Nissan Pathfinder enjoy a couple more inches of shoulder room--and only two people can sit in the third row. (The Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and GM's large crossovers all have three belts back there.) Leg room in the Durango is much more competitive, but still a few inches short of class leading. This said, comfort isn't only a matter of interior dimensions. Both of the Durango's rear rows are well-upholstered and positioned higher off the floor than the three-row crossover norm. This benefits both thigh support and outward visibility. The Hyundai Santa Fe isn't far off in this regard, but the Nissan Pathfinder's seats are much closer to the floor, and less hospitable to adults as a result. Among the three, I'd prefer to be a rear seat passenger in the Dodge. Among large conventional SUVs, the Ford Expedition has a more comfortable third row, but the Chevrolet Tahoe (which retains a live rear axle despite a comprehensive redesign for the 2015 model year) doesn't come close. And the foot-shorter 4Runner? Its XXS third-row seat is best saved for emergencies. On the other side of the ledger, the Durango does have a higher floor than the typical car-based crossover. Getting in and out isn't as easy. This vies with curb weight as the top disadvantage of the Durango's conventional SUV configuration. see full Dodge Durango review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 Dodge Durango.