Model Year | 2013 | 2014 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Subaru Legacy | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@5200 |
3.6L H6 DOHC-4v 256 hp@6000 247 lb-ft@4400 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 5-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 107.8 in | 108.3 in | -0.5 in |
Length | 191.5 in | 187.2 in | 4.3 in |
Width | 73.0 in | 71.7 in | 1.3 in |
Height | 57.6 in | 59.3 in | -1.7 in |
Curb Weight | 3635 lb. | 3496 lb. | 139 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 18.5 gal. | 0 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.0 in | 40.3 in | -1.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.5 in | 56.3 in | 1.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 55.0 in | 0.0 in | 55 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.1 in | 43.0 in | -0.9 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.5 in | 37.5 in | 0 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 57.1 in | 56.1 in | 1 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 54.3 in | 0.0 in | 54.3 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 36.8 in | 37.8 in | -1 in |
Total Legroom | 78.9 in (over 2 rows) | 80.8 in (over 2 rows) | -1.9 in |
Cargo Volume | 16.3 ft3 | 14.7 ft3 | 1.6 ft3 |
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2012 | On paper, the Malibu's rear seat is only a little tighter than those in the 2008-2012 sedan and in competing cars. In person, rear knee room would only be marginally competitive in the compact sedan segment. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, my shins graze the front seatbacks. GM is rushing some revised seats to market. But if past attempts to fix a cramped rear seat are any indication, this won't make a substantial difference. The rear seat in the Ford Fusion is roomier, if also short of the segment's quasi-limos. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2013 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 |
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 Hybrid 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
This is tight if front seats are postioned at or close to the back of their range; shorter wheelbase in this model compared to prior version. Rear seat access is excellent (i.e, for infant car seats, small item transport). see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I'm 6'4" tall and 60 years old. I have a tough time getting in and out due to the low roof. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2014 Subaru Legacy Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Comment | |
2015 | Along with the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Volkswagen Passat, the Subaru Legacy has one of the roomiest rear seats in the segment. Rear seat passengers have a couple inches less knee room in the Ford Fusion. The rear seats in the Chrysler and Buick are tighter still. This said, especially with the optional sunroof rear seat headroom is somewhat limited. People taller than six feet might come into contact with the headliner. The top trim level includes rear air vents. see full Subaru Legacy review |
2014 Subaru Legacy Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
The front seats have an unusually high bulge just below my shoulder blades. This feels more odd than uncomfortable, at least to me. Partly depending on your height your experience might vary. These seats also provide very little lateral support, which admittedly isn't much of an issue given the limited grippiness of the tires. I had no such qualms with the armrest on the door. It's wide and cushy. In the front seats' favor, for 2015 Subaru has added fore-aft adjustability to the headrests, a rarity in recent moderately priced cars. see full Subaru Legacy review |
2014 Subaru Legacy Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 6-speed shiftable CVT AWD |
Both front and rear seat room are very good. see full Subaru Legacy review |
2013 | 0 | I had two tall passengers with me - even with the front seat pushed back to accomodate for height (6'4" guy and 5'10" woman), they said the backseat room was quite decent and no complaints on our hour+ long drive. The cloth seats are well padded and the fabirc was breathable - cool for summer and insulating for winter. see full Subaru Legacy review |