Model Year | 2017 | 2015 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000 |
5.3L V8 OHV-2v 355 hp@5600 383 lb-ft@4100 |
|
Transmission | 9-speed shiftable automatic | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 111.4 in | 116.0 in | -4.6 in |
Length | 193.8 in | 204.0 in | -10.2 in |
Width | 73.0 in | 80.5 in | -7.5 in |
Height | 57.7 in | 74.4 in | -16.7 in |
Curb Weight | 3388 lb. | 5466 lb. | -2078 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.0 gal. | 26.0 gal. | -13 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.1 in | 42.8 in | -3.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 58.5 in | 64.8 in | -6.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 54.1 in | 60.8 in | -6.7 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.0 in | 45.3 in | -3.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.5 in | 38.7 in | -1.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 57.1 in | 65.1 in | -8 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 53.4 in | 60.3 in | -6.9 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.1 in | 39.0 in | -0.9 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 38.1 in | -38.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 62.6 in | -62.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 49.3 in | -49.3 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 24.8 in | -24.8 in |
Total Legroom | 80.1 in (over 2 rows) | 109.1 in (over 3 rows) | -29 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.8 ft3 | 15.3 ft3 | 0.5 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 15.8 | 51.6 ft3 | -35.8 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 15.8 ft3 | 94.7 ft3 | -78.9 ft3 |
2017 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 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2015 | Some (perhaps more than some) people are drawn to large SUVs because they like to feel like the king of the road when behind the wheel. Others need a lot of space while driving, or at least feel they do. Few vehicles have more front seat room than the new Tahoe. With an inch-and-a-half less shoulder room, the Ford's front-row dimensions aren't quite as generous, and its taller, shifter-festooned console is more intrusive. The front seats are comfortable in both. The Expedition's are a little wider and softer, and they're upholstered with especially rich hides in the King Ranch and Platinum (vs. the most recently tested and photographed Limited). Whether this is preferable is a matter of taste. see full Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban review |
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Both the Tahoe and Expedition have roomy, comfortable second-row seats, with a slight edge to the higher cushions in the Chevrolet. Bonus points to the Tahoe for automatic rear climate controls (they're manual in the Expedition). Move to the third-row seat, and you'll wonder why, despite redesigns for 2007 and 2015, General Motors has stubbornly refused to follow Ford's 2003 switch from a solid rear axle to an independent rear suspension. With a solid axle, the rear floor must be high to permit the rear differential to travel up and down when a wheel hits a bump. Consequently, the Tahoe's third row seat must be very thinly constructed and mounted very close to the floor. Even pre-teen children won't be comfortable in it. In sharp contrast, the Expedition's third-row seat is higher off the floor than its second-row seat, much less the ridiculously low third row in the Tahoe, and is--surprise--considerably more comfortable as a result. The Suburban's third-row seat is roomier than the Tahoe's but still far inferior to the Expedition's. see full Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe / Suburban.