Chevrolet Malibu (2015) vs. Acura TLX (2020) Specs

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2015 Chevrolet Malibu and 2020 Acura TLX Specifications

Model Year	2015	2020
Model	Chevrolet Malibu	Acura TLX
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@3000	3.5L V6 OHC-4v 290 hp@6200 267 lb-ft@4500
Transmission	6-speed shiftable automatic	9-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	107.8 in	109.3 in	-1.5 in
Length	191.5 in	191.7 in	-0.2 in
Width	73.0 in	73.0 in	0 in
Height	57.6 in	57.0 in	0.6 in
Curb Weight	3635 lb.	3616 lb.	19 lb.
Fuel Capacity	18.5 gal.	17.2 gal.	1.3 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.0 in	37.2 in	1.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	57.5 in	57.5 in	0 in
Hip Room, Row 1	55.0 in	55.3 in	-0.3 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.1 in	42.6 in	-0.5 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.5 in	36.7 in	0.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	57.1 in	55.4 in	1.7 in
Hip Room, Row 2	54.3 in	54.9 in	-0.6 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.8 in	34.5 in	2.3 in
Total Legroom	78.9 in (over 2 rows)	77.1 in (over 2 rows)	1.8 in
Cargo Volume	16.3 ft³	14.3 ft³	2 ft³

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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu

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

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu

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

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2020 Acura TLX

2020 Acura TLX Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	It might seem unfair to compare the Acura TLX to the Genesis G70, as the latter is considerably smaller: 194.6 vs. 184.4 inches long, 75.2 vs. 72.8 inches wide, and 56.4 vs. 55.1 inches tall. The TLX is also two-to-three-hundred pounds heavier, 3,709 vs. 3,516 pounds for the 2WD fours, 4,221 vs. 3,887 pounds for the AWD V6s. In fact, compared to the second Legend--which seemed like a fairly large car in the early 1990s--the new TLX is virtually as long, four inches wider, and an inch taller. The car that was intended to replace the TSX as well as the TL has grown to the size of the final TL, which many (including me) thought too large, and weighs about 250 pounds more. Size and weight aren't good for handling agility, performance, or fuel efficiency. So, to keep match-ups fair in these and other areas, normally I compare cars that are close in size. But, the thing is, part of the cost of the TLX's dramatically lengthened dash-to-axle is a rear seat with no more legroom than in the smaller G70. Also, despite the TLX's additional width and height, it provides only slightly more rear shoulder room and less rear headroom than the rear-drive Genesis. Adults any taller than the average man will find the TLX's rear seat a tight fit. The Kia Stinger, which is a half-foot longer than the G70 but still a few inches shorter than the TLX, provides a useful additional inch-and-a-half of legroom. Front-wheel-drive transverse powertrains were originally adopted because, when turned sideways, the engine and transmission take up much less of a car's length. By taking a conventional front-wheel-drive powertrain and merely shifting it forward nearly eight inches, while only adding half as much to the wheelbase, Acura has sacrificed this advantage, and then some.* The no-longer-closely-related Honda Accord is 2.4 inches less lengthy but has 5.3 inches more legroom--a huge difference. Add these two number up and you get...the TLX's increased dash-to-axle. The Accord also weighs 300 pounds less. Acura's been here before--with the Vigor. Okay, not quite. The Vigor's rear seat was so tight only children and small adults fit. The new TLX has about 3.5 more inches of legroom. This not only brings it even with the G70, but if you compare its shoulder and leg room to those of the best-selling 3rd TL you'll find they're surprsingly close. A coincidence? I doubt it. But some people might expect more from the new TLX given its larger exterior. * One alternative at least one manufacturer has considered: rotating a transverse powertrain 180 degrees, putting the engine behind the axle rather than ahead of it. The decreased front overhang this would enable would compensate for the increased dash-to-axle, and together they would yield even better proportions. But no one has produced a car with such a layout. The impediment for Acura or Audi: it would make AWD very difficult. see full Acura TLX review

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