Chevrolet Malibu (2013) vs. BMW X5 (2014) Specs

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu and 2014 BMW X5 Specifications

Model Year	2013	2014
Model	Chevrolet Malibu	BMW X5
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@5200	turbocharged 4.4L V8 DOHC-4v 445 hp@5500 480 lb-ft@2000
Transmission	6-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	107.8 in	115.5 in	-7.7 in
Length	191.5 in	193.2 in	-1.7 in
Width	73.0 in	76.3 in	-3.3 in
Height	57.6 in	69.4 in	-11.8 in
Curb Weight	3635 lb.	5150 lb.	-1515 lb.
Fuel Capacity	18.5 gal.	22.4 gal.	-3.9 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.0 in	40.5 in	-1.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	57.5 in	60.5 in	-3 in
Hip Room, Row 1	55.0 in	0.0 in	55 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.1 in	40.4 in	1.7 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.5 in	38.8 in	-1.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	57.1 in	58.3 in	-1.2 in
Hip Room, Row 2	54.3 in	0.0 in	54.3 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.8 in	36.6 in	0.2 in
Total Legroom	78.9 in (over 2 rows)	77 in (over 2 rows)	1.9 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	16.3 ft³	22.9 ft³	-6.6 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	16.3 ft³	66.0 ft³	-49.7 ft³

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
2012	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

2013 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

2013 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
2012	4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I'm 6'4" tall and 60 years old. I have a tough time getting in and out due to the low roof. see full Chevrolet Malibu review

2014 BMW X5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2014	BMW's multicontour seats, a $1,300 option on six-cylinder X5s and standard with the V8, deliver a rarely matched combination of support in turns and comfort on long drives. In a reversal of traditional tendencies, the buckets in the Range Rover Sport feel firmer and less comfortable. Though you'll find a commanding view forward in either driver seat, the Range Rover Sport maintains an edge in this area. Unusually large windows are one thing that makes a Land Rover a Land Rover. see full BMW X5 review

2014 BMW X5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	Audi and Mercedes both offer much longer SUVs. At least until BMW fields an X7, the X5 is available with an optional third-row seat. Especially considering the size and price of the X5, said third row is absurdly tight, thinly upholstered, and difficult to access. The door openings are small, and the entire second row seat pivots forward and upward off the floor in an only partially successful attempt to compensate. To provide even minimal legroom for those using it, the second row must slide forward a few inches, to the point that its occupants find their own legroom severely compromised. Both rows are too low to the floor for adult comfort. The third-row seat optional in the Range Rover Sport probably isn't much better, and deletes the spare tire (not available on the BMW regardless). This might explain why it wasn't on the tested vehicle. If you want a usable third row, Land Rover offers the less stylish, but also much less expensive and roomier LR4. Shift focus to the second-row seat, and I found that in the smaller X3 at least as comfortable, and easier to get into and out of thanks to the more compact vehicle's lower ride height. That in the Range Rover Sport, though also not the roomiest or the most comfortable, is better than the X5's. see full BMW X5 review

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2014 BMW X5.

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