Chevrolet Traverse (2013) vs. Chevrolet Malibu (2016) Specs

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2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Specifications

Model Year	2013	2016
Model	Chevrolet Traverse	Chevrolet Malibu
Engine	3.6L V6 DOHC-4v 288 hp@6300 270 lb-ft@3400	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000
Transmission	6-speed shiftable automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr SUV	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	118.9 in	111.4 in	7.5 in
Length	203.7 in	193.8 in	9.9 in
Width	78.5 in	73.0 in	5.5 in
Height	69.9 in	57.7 in	12.2 in
Curb Weight	4646 lb.	3388 lb.	1258 lb.
Fuel Capacity	22.0 gal.	13.0 gal.	9 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.4 in	39.1 in	1.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	61.5 in	58.5 in	3 in
Hip Room, Row 1	58.0 in	54.1 in	3.9 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.3 in	42.0 in	-0.7 in
Headroom, Row 2	39.4 in	37.5 in	1.9 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	61.0 in	57.1 in	3.9 in
Hip Room, Row 2	57.8 in	53.4 in	4.4 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.8 in	38.1 in	-1.3 in
Headroom, Row 3	37.8 in	0.0 in	37.8 in
Shoulder Room, Row 3	57.6 in	0.0 in	57.6 in
Hip Room, Row 3	48.3 in	0.0 in	48.3 in
Legroom, Row 3	33.2 in	0.0 in	33.2 in
Total Legroom	111.3 in (over 3 rows)	80.1 in (over 2 rows)	31.2 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	24.4 ft³	15.8 ft³	8.6 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	70.3 ft³	15.8	54.5 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	116.3 ft³	15.8 ft³	100.5 ft³

2013 Chevrolet Traverse Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2014	4dr SUV 281-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD	The second row captain's chairs are roomy and comfortable. The third row bench seat has a surprising amount of space, in particular with the 2nd row seats slid forward some. see full Chevrolet Traverse review

2013 Chevrolet Traverse Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2014	4dr SUV 281-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD	The seats we have on our LT are fine but the headrest on both cars I've had jut out too far and cannot be adjusted back far enough to be comfortable. This is particularly uncomfortable on longer trips. see full Chevrolet Traverse review
2012	4dr SUV 281-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Although the rear captain seats are quite comfortable, I do not like how they roll forward. There is a track in the floor in which the rear seats fold and slide up behind the front seats. All I notice when in the back seat is how extremely difficult it is to clean out the mud and grit and salt (I live in Canada, we use salt on our roads) that gets left behind in the track from passenger footwear. see full Chevrolet Traverse review

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.

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