Model Year | 2016 | 2015 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Dodge Durango | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000 |
5.7L V8 OHV-2v 360 hp@5150 390 lb-ft@4250 |
|
Transmission | 8-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | RWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,830 mm | 3,043 mm | -1 mm |
Length | 4,923 mm | 5,110 mm | -1 mm |
Width | 1,854 mm | 1,925 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,466 mm | 1,801 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,537 kg | 2,348 kg | -1 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 49 L | 93 L | -44 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 993 mm | 1,013 mm | 992 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,486 mm | 1,486 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 1,374 mm | 1,448 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,067 mm | 1,024 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 953 mm | 1,011 mm | 952 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,450 mm | 1,481 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 1,356 mm | 1,422 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 968 mm | 980 mm | -12 mm |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0 mm | 960 mm | -960 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0 mm | 1,280 mm | -1 mm |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0 mm | 1,087 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0 mm | 800 mm | -800 mm |
Total Legroom | 2,035 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,804 mm (over 3 rows) | 0 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 447 L | 487 L | -40 L |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 15.8 | 1,351 L | 14.8 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 15.8 | 2,393 L | 13.8 |
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.
2015 Dodge Durango Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2014 | The Durango's relatively narrow width, a plus for handling, has the opposite impact on interior room. These are very much two sides of the same coin. Because the Durango's cabin isn't terribly wide it feels more agile than wider SUVs. But three passengers in the second row don't have as much space to spread out--those in a Nissan Pathfinder enjoy a couple more inches of shoulder room--and only two people can sit in the third row. (The Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and GM's large crossovers all have three belts back there.) Leg room in the Durango is much more competitive, but still a few inches short of class leading. This said, comfort isn't only a matter of interior dimensions. Both of the Durango's rear rows are well-upholstered and positioned higher off the floor than the three-row crossover norm. This benefits both thigh support and outward visibility. The Hyundai Santa Fe isn't far off in this regard, but the Nissan Pathfinder's seats are much closer to the floor, and less hospitable to adults as a result. Among the three, I'd prefer to be a rear seat passenger in the Dodge. Among large conventional SUVs, the Ford Expedition has a more comfortable third row, but the Chevrolet Tahoe (which retains a live rear axle despite a comprehensive redesign for the 2015 model year) doesn't come close. And the foot-shorter 4Runner? Its XXS third-row seat is best saved for emergencies. On the other side of the ledger, the Durango does have a higher floor than the typical car-based crossover. Getting in and out isn't as easy. This vies with curb weight as the top disadvantage of the Durango's conventional SUV configuration. see full Dodge Durango review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 Dodge Durango.