Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Malibu 2012 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Volkswagen Golf / GTI 2017

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Chevrolet Malibu (2012) vs. Volkswagen Golf / GTI (2017) Specs

How powerful is the engine? How much room is in the back seat? Get the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu and 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI specs.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu and 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Specifications

Model Year 2012 2017  
Model Chevrolet Malibu Volkswagen Golf / GTI  
Engine  
Transmission  
Drivetrain  
Body 4dr Sedan 4dr Hatch  
      Difference
Wheelbase 112.3 in 103.8 in 8.5 in
Length 191.8 in 167.5 in 24.3 in
Width 70.3 in 70.8 in -0.5 in
Height 57.1 in 57.2 in -0.1 in
Curb Weight 3415 lb. 2963 lb. 452 lb.
Fuel Capacity 16.0 gal. 13.2 gal. 2.8 gal.
Headroom, Row 1 39.4 in 38.4 in 1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1 55.9 in 55.9 in 0 in
Hip Room, Row 1 53.0 in 0.0 in 53 in
Legroom, Row 1 42.2 in 41.2 in 1 in
Headroom, Row 2 37.2 in 38.1 in -0.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2 53.9 in 53.9 in 0 in
Hip Room, Row 2 52.1 in 0.0 in 52.1 in
Legroom, Row 2 37.6 in 35.6 in 2 in
Total Legroom 79.8 in (over 2 rows) 76.8 in (over 2 rows) 3 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum 15.1 ft3 22.8 ft3 -7.7 ft3
Cargo Volume, Maximum 15.1 ft3 52.7 ft3 -37.6 ft3

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TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2012 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearComment
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
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

2012 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2011 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
Good legroom. Hip room is alittle tight in this year's Malibu. see full Chevrolet Malibu review
2012 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
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
2011 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4
6-speed shiftable automatic FWD
drivers seat is hard on my back, no matter how much I adjust...seems to be missing some foam on left side bolster...taking into dealer for possible replacement of seat cushion soon see full Chevrolet Malibu review
 

TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
YearComment
2016 As I've noted before (when reviewing the e-Golf), the seventh-generation Golf's front seats are shaped and padded to provide nearly ideal comfort and support in daily driving. The CX-5's driver seat also fit me well, but not quite as well as the Volkswagen's. Compared to other compact hatchbacks and its ancestors, the current Golf has a roomy rear seat. I can sit behind my 5-9 self with about five inches of air ahead of my knees. Unless unusually tall people populate both rows, the amount of space should be beyond adequate. Compare the Golf SportWagen's rear seat to that in the CX-5, and a funny thing happens. On paper, the Mazda provides about 3.5 more inches of legroom. When sitting behind myself in both vehicles, though, I had about half as much space ahead of my knees in the CX-5. I've noticed in the past that VW measures rear legroom very conservatively, and apparently they continue to do so. The Golf's interior is roomier than the official specs suggest. Plus its rear seat passengers get air vents. The Mazda's do not. This said, I'm not entirely comfortable in the Golf SportWagen's rear seat. To me it feels overly reclined. In neither the GSW nor the CX-5 is the degree of recline adjustable. It is in some compact crossovers. see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI

2017 Volkswagen Golf / GTI Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2016 2dr Hatch turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4
6-speed manual FWD
Difficult ingress and egress see full Volkswagen Golf / GTI review
 
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