Model Year | 2015 | 2018 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Hyundai Kona | |
Engine | 2.5L I4 DOHC-4v 146 kW@6300 252 Nm@4400 |
turbocharged 1.6L I4 DOHC-4v 130 kW@5500 264 Nm@1500 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 7-speed automated manual | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,738 mm | 2,601 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,864 mm | 4,166 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,854 mm | 1,801 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,463 mm | 1,549 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,539 kg | 1,380 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 70 L | 50 L | 20 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 991 mm | 1,006 mm | 990 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,461 mm | 1,410 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 1,397 mm | 1,354 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,069 mm | 1,054 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 953 mm | 960 mm | -7 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,450 mm | 1,384 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 1,379 mm | 1,326 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 935 mm | 879 mm | 56 mm |
Total Legroom | 2,004 mm (over 2 rows) | 1,933 mm (over 2 rows) | 1 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 462 L | 544 L | -82 L |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 16.3 | 1,297 L | 15.3 |
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 |
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 |
2018 Hyundai Kona Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Hyundai packaged the Kona fairly efficiently, but only so much was possible given the crossover's compact exterior dimensions. At 5-9 I can barely sit behind someone else my height, my knees nearly touching the front seat back. Put taller people in the front seats, and the rear seat would become viable only for small adults and children. The Honda HR-V has a much roomier rear seat (but much less comfortable front seats, at least for me, as their headrests jut too far forward). Most other competitors fall between the two. One exception: the Mazda CX-3 has an even tighter rear seat than the Kona. For those who fit, the Kona's rear seat is mounted comfortably high off the floor. see full Hyundai Kona review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2018 Hyundai Kona.