Acura MDX (2008) vs. Chevrolet Malibu (2015) Specs

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2008 Acura MDX and 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Specifications

Model Year	2008	2015
Model	Acura MDX	Chevrolet Malibu
Engine	3.7L V6 OHC-4v 300 hp@6000 275 lb-ft@5000	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@3000
Transmission	5-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	AWD	FWD
Body	4dr SUV	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	108.3 in	107.8 in	0.5 in
Length	190.7 in	191.5 in	-0.8 in
Width	78.5 in	73.0 in	5.5 in
Height	68.2 in	57.6 in	10.6 in
Curb Weight	4539 lb.	3635 lb.	904 lb.
Fuel Capacity	21.0 gal.	18.5 gal.	2.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.2 in	39.0 in	0.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	61.6 in	57.5 in	4.1 in
Hip Room, Row 1	59.0 in	55.0 in	4 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.2 in	42.1 in	-0.9 in
Headroom, Row 2	38.6 in	37.5 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	61.5 in	57.1 in	4.4 in
Hip Room, Row 2	59.1 in	54.3 in	4.8 in
Legroom, Row 2	38.7 in	36.8 in	1.9 in
Headroom, Row 3	35.7 in	0.0 in	35.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 3	57.1 in	0.0 in	57.1 in
Hip Room, Row 3	42.0 in	0.0 in	42 in
Legroom, Row 3	29.1 in	0.0 in	29.1 in
Total Legroom	109 in (over 3 rows)	78.9 in (over 2 rows)	30.1 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.0 ft³	16.3 ft³	-1.3 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	42.9 ft³	16.3	26.6 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	83.5 ft³	16.3 ft³	67.2 ft³

2008 Acura MDX Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2008	4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Vehicle is wide, and it feels very room from boht the drivers' and passengers' sides. see full Acura MDX review
2008	4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	It was the most comfortable of the vehicles we tested, including the Volvo XC90, Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited, and Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring. Soft leather, supportive seats. see full Acura MDX review
2007	4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	The 3rd row seat can eaily seat 2 adults or even 3 kids see full Acura MDX review
2007	4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	very comfortable for long trips of 500 or more miles see full Acura MDX review

2008 Acura MDX Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2008	4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Claustrophic, unusable 3rd row, with immovable knee-wall see full Acura MDX review
2007	4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Not enough thigh support. see full Acura MDX review
2007	4dr SUV 300-horsepower 3.7L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Leg room in far back seat to little. see full Acura MDX review

2015 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2016	Chevrolet's designers styled the new Malibu's instrument panel to appear low and out of the way, such that the front seat feels especially roomy and the view forward seems more open than in most competitors, including the Kia (the instrument panel in which seems significantly higher and more imposing). In the tested car, which had every option except the panoramic sunroof, headroom was so abundant I could have worn a fedora. The Kia Optima might have as much front headroom when similarly without a sunroof. The official specs, which often don't reflect real world differences, suggest it should have even more than the Malibu. But you cannot get a highly equipped Optima without the sunroof, as it's part of a large package on the SX and standard on the SX Limited. Though the Malibu's windshield is relatively large, you won't find outward visibility among the reasons to buy one. The Chevrolet's front pillars remain on the thick side, its instrument panel is considerably deeper than the Kia's, and the view to the sides and rear also could be more open. In the Optima, the view to the sides is more open but that to the rear is not. I did find the Cherolet's front seats more form-fitting and comfortable than the Optima's. The Kia's quilted seats aren't as cushy as they appear. see full Chevrolet Malibu review

2015 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

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