Model Year | 2016 | 2015 | |
Model | Chevrolet Malibu | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | 1.8L I4 Hybrid DOHC-4v 122 hp@5000 129 lb-ft@4750 |
3.5L V6 Hybrid DOHC-4v 231 hp@5800 215 lb-ft@4800 |
|
Transmission | CVT | CVT | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,830 mm | 2,789 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,923 mm | 4,854 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,854 mm | 1,925 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,466 mm | 1,730 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,568 kg | 2,204 kg | -1 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 49 L | 73 L | -24 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 993 mm | 1,034 mm | 992 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,486 mm | 1,506 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 1,374 mm | 1,453 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,067 mm | 1,123 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 953 mm | 1,013 mm | 952 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,450 mm | 1,514 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 1,356 mm | 1,450 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 968 mm | 975 mm | -7 mm |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0 mm | 912 mm | -912 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0 mm | 1,397 mm | -1 mm |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0 mm | 1,158 mm | -1 mm |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0 mm | 704 mm | -704 mm |
Total Legroom | 2,035 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,802 mm (over 3 rows) | 0 mm |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 447 L | 391 L | 56 L |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 15.8 | 1,198 L | 14.8 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 15.8 | 2,370 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 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.