Chevrolet Cobalt (2009) vs. Chevrolet Malibu (2015) Specs

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Specifications

Model Year	2009	2015
Model	Chevrolet Cobalt	Chevrolet Malibu
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 260 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@3000
Transmission	5-speed manual	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	103.3 in	107.8 in	-4.5 in
Length	180.5 in	191.5 in	-11 in
Width	67.9 in	73.0 in	-5.1 in
Height	57.1 in	57.6 in	-0.5 in
Curb Weight	2975 lb.	3635 lb.	-660 lb.
Fuel Capacity	13.0 gal.	18.5 gal.	-5.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	38.5 in	39.0 in	-0.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	53.0 in	57.5 in	-4.5 in
Hip Room, Row 1	49.5 in	55.0 in	-5.5 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.8 in	42.1 in	-0.3 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.7 in	37.5 in	0.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	51.4 in	57.1 in	-5.7 in
Hip Room, Row 2	49.6 in	54.3 in	-4.7 in
Legroom, Row 2	33.7 in	36.8 in	-3.1 in
Total Legroom	75.5 in (over 2 rows)	78.9 in (over 2 rows)	-3.4 in
Cargo Volume	13.9 ft³	16.3 ft³	-2.4 ft³

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2009	4dr Sedan turbocharged 260hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	4 door has more headroom and backseat is much improved over the 2 door i previously owned see full Chevrolet Cobalt review

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2010	2dr Coupe turbocharged 260hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	With only 2 doors, the rear seats are pretty much useless. Obviously, if you really have to, you can fit people back there, but no one will want to climb back there when everyone at work is going out to lunch. see full Chevrolet Cobalt review
2009	2dr Coupe turbocharged 260hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD	Not alot of head room and the steering wheel does not telescope. I fit in it fine but someone tall might not. minor thing really. see full Chevrolet Cobalt review
2008	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD	Hard and thin seat cushions. Legs would feel fatigue after a couple hours of driving. see full Chevrolet Cobalt 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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