Chevrolet Malibu (2007) vs. Volkswagen Jetta (2012) Specs

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2007 Chevrolet Malibu and 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Specifications

Model Year	2007	2012
Model	Chevrolet Malibu	Volkswagen Jetta
Engine	3.5L V6 OHV-2v 217 hp@5800 217 lb-ft@4000	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700
Transmission	4-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr Sedan	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	106.3 in	104.4 in	1.9 in
Length	188.3 in	182.2 in	6.1 in
Width	69.9 in	70.0 in	-0.1 in
Height	57.5 in	57.2 in	0.3 in
Curb Weight	3297 lb.	3157 lb.	140 lb.
Fuel Capacity	16.3 gal.	14.5 gal.	1.8 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.6 in	38.2 in	1.4 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.7 in	55.2 in	1.5 in
Hip Room, Row 1	53.2 in	0.0 in	53.2 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.9 in	41.2 in	0.7 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.6 in	37.1 in	0.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	56.1 in	53.6 in	2.5 in
Hip Room, Row 2	52.4 in	0.0 in	52.4 in
Legroom, Row 2	38.5 in	38.1 in	0.4 in
Total Legroom	80.4 in (over 2 rows)	79.3 in (over 2 rows)	1.1 in
Cargo Volume	15.4 ft³	15.5 ft³	-0.1 ft³

2007 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	during a six hour drive felt no fatigue 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
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
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 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
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
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 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

2012 Volkswagen Jetta Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2013	The Jetta is a little longer than the ILX (182 vs. 179 inches), and all of the additional inches appear to have gone into the rear seat. While the average adult will barely fit into the back seat of the Acura (those over 5-9 will be on close terms with the headliner), the Jetta has significantly more rear headroom and more rear legroom than the average midsize sedan, much less the average compact. If you like a roomy rear seat, you'll love the Jetta. Room is one thing, comfort another. The rear seat feels overly hard, and neither the cushion nor the backrest was set at a comfortable angle for me. Clearly some German engineer found these angles optimal, though. So maybe it's just me. see full Volkswagen Jetta review

2012 Volkswagen Jetta Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2011	4dr Sedan 115-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	While the Jetta is extremely roomy and comfortable, the center console is slightly too close and can interfere with the driver's right knee and calf. see full Volkswagen Jetta review

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