Model Year | 2008 | 2013 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Mazda CX-5 | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 112.3 in | 106.3 in | 6 in |
Length | 191.8 in | 178.7 in | 13.1 in |
Width | 70.3 in | 72.4 in | -2.1 in |
Height | 57.1 in | 65.7 in | -8.6 in |
Curb Weight | 3450 lb. | 3194 lb. | 256 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 16.0 gal. | 14.8 gal. | 1.2 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.4 in | 40.1 in | -0.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 55.9 in | 57.5 in | -1.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 53.0 in | 55.2 in | -2.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.2 in | 41.0 in | 1.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.2 in | 39.0 in | -1.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.9 in | 55.5 in | -1.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 52.1 in | 53.7 in | -1.6 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.6 in | 39.3 in | -1.7 in |
Total Legroom | 79.8 in (over 2 rows) | 80.3 in (over 2 rows) | -0.5 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 15.1 ft3 | 34.1 ft3 | -19 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 15.1 ft3 | 64.8 ft3 | -49.7 ft3 |
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
The rear legroom and seat comfort are suitable for two adults on extended trips. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
The Malibu seats have the comfort of a Lexus and the supportive nature of an Accord. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
during a six hour drive felt no fatigue see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2007 | 4dr Hatch 217-horsepower 3.5L V6 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear seat adjusts 7 inches, has recline feature and fold flat for additional storage. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 145-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I'm 6'5" and my wife is 5'0" - we can both drive this car comfortably. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
After driving this car for a half hour, my back was in pain. How absolutely useless on a roadtrip. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
The front passenger seat is like sitting in a hole. It can be difficult to get out of. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 252-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I like the seating for the front seats. it fits me very good. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 252-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I tried the LS cloth, LT2 Ultralux, and LTZ leather seats...all of them were uncomfortable. Too little padding. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2013 Mazda CX-5 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | There's plenty of legroom in the rear seat, but the same can be said of most compact crossovers. Based on the official specs the Mazda has 4.4 inches more total legroom than a VW Tiguan, but to me the Tiguan's rear seat seemed slightly roomier and more comfortable owing to a higher position. The rear seat reclines in the VW and some other compact crossovers, but not in the Mazda. The Escape's rear seat is considerably less spacious than the others. Adults will fit, but with less knee room to spare. see full Mazda CX-5 review |
2013 Mazda CX-5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
There's no clear winner in rear seat room and comfort, either. The Mazda's rear seat is mounted a little lower than the Toyota's, and when sitting in it my knees are considerably closer (if still not close) to the front seat backs. Also, the Toyota's rear seat reclines, while the Mazda's does not. Neither car has air vents in the rear passenger compartment, but the RAV4 has a large vent high on the instrument panel apparently intended to push cool air into the rear seat via the ceiling. To counter these RAV4 advantages, the CX-5 offers about five inches more rear hip room. So three passengers will fit more comfortably. see full Mazda CX-5 review |
2013 Mazda CX-5 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr SUV 184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
While recently shopping for a new car for the first time in over 10 years, I found that driver's seats are now made with high sides. For me, a 5'1" female driver, this makes it a bit awkward getting in and out. Combined with the higher ground clearance of a compact SUV, it's not the ideal setup. The Mazda CX-5 is not as bad as others, but it's still an issue. see full Mazda CX-5 review |
2013 | 4dr SUV 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Could use some more support on the front of the seats, the back seems to fully support me. see full Mazda CX-5 review |
2013 | 4dr SUV 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The rear seat is roomy enough for an average or above average adult, but the seats themselves could be better-- perhaps more sculpted and padded. Not nearly as comfortable as the front seats after an hour or two. I'm sure, however, that this is a common complaint on other smaller SUVs too, having tried them out at dealers, so it's not unique to Mazda. Again, a modest complaint since I'm in the driver's seat most of the time! (which is VERY comfortable, I might add, even for long drives!) see full Mazda CX-5 review |