Chevrolet Malibu (2016) vs. BMW X5 (2014) Specs

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2016 Chevrolet Malibu and 2014 BMW X5 Specifications

Model Year	2016	2014
Model	Chevrolet Malibu	BMW X5
Engine	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000	turbocharged 4.4L V8 DOHC-4v 445 hp@5500 480 lb-ft@2000
Transmission	8-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	111.4 in	115.5 in	-4.1 in
Length	193.8 in	193.2 in	0.6 in
Width	73.0 in	76.3 in	-3.3 in
Height	57.7 in	69.4 in	-11.7 in
Curb Weight	3388 lb.	5150 lb.	-1762 lb.
Fuel Capacity	13.0 gal.	22.4 gal.	-9.4 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.1 in	40.5 in	-1.4 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	58.5 in	60.5 in	-2 in
Hip Room, Row 1	54.1 in	0.0 in	54.1 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.0 in	40.4 in	1.6 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	53.4 in	0.0 in	53.4 in
Legroom, Row 2	38.1 in	36.6 in	1.5 in
Total Legroom	80.1 in (over 2 rows)	77 in (over 2 rows)	3.1 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	15.8 ft³	22.9 ft³	-7.1 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	15.8 ft³	66.0 ft³	-50.2 ft³

2016 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

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.

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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