Model Year | 2013 | 2015 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | 2.4L I4 Hybrid DOHC-4v 182 hp@6700 172 lb-ft@4900 |
3.5L V6 Hybrid DOHC-4v 231 hp@5800 215 lb-ft@4800 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | CVT | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 107.8 in | 109.8 in | -2 in |
Length | 191.5 in | 191.1 in | 0.4 in |
Width | 73.0 in | 75.8 in | -2.8 in |
Height | 57.6 in | 68.1 in | -10.5 in |
Curb Weight | 3589 lb. | 4860 lb. | -1271 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 18.5 gal. | 19.2 gal. | -0.7 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.0 in | 40.7 in | -1.7 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.5 in | 59.3 in | -1.8 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 55.0 in | 57.2 in | -2.2 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.1 in | 44.2 in | -2.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.5 in | 39.9 in | -2.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 57.1 in | 59.6 in | -2.5 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 54.3 in | 57.1 in | -2.8 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 36.8 in | 38.4 in | -1.6 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 35.9 in | -35.9 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 55.0 in | -55 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 45.6 in | -45.6 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 27.7 in | -27.7 in |
Total Legroom | 78.9 in (over 2 rows) | 110.3 in (over 3 rows) | -31.4 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 16.3 ft3 | 13.8 ft3 | 2.5 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 16.3 | 42.3 ft3 | -26 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 16.3 ft3 | 83.7 ft3 | -67.4 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 |
2015 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review |
None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 Toyota Highlander.