Chrysler Pacifica (2017) vs. Chevrolet Malibu (2016) Specs

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2017 Chrysler Pacifica and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Specifications

Model Year	2017	2016
Model	Chrysler Pacifica	Chevrolet Malibu
Engine	3.6L V6 DOHC-4v 287 hp@6400 262 lb-ft@4000	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000
Transmission	9-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr Minivan, ext.	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	121.6 in	111.4 in	10.2 in
Length	203.6 in	193.8 in	9.8 in
Width	79.6 in	73.0 in	6.6 in
Height	69.9 in	57.7 in	12.2 in
Curb Weight	4330 lb.	3388 lb.	942 lb.
Fuel Capacity	19.0 gal.	13.0 gal.	6 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.1 in	39.1 in	1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	63.8 in	58.5 in	5.3 in
Hip Room, Row 1	59.0 in	54.1 in	4.9 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.1 in	42.0 in	-0.9 in
Headroom, Row 2	39.6 in	37.5 in	2.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	63.0 in	57.1 in	5.9 in
Hip Room, Row 2	64.8 in	53.4 in	11.4 in
Legroom, Row 2	39.0 in	38.1 in	0.9 in
Headroom, Row 3	38.7 in	0.0 in	38.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 3	61.2 in	0.0 in	61.2 in
Hip Room, Row 3	49.6 in	0.0 in	49.6 in
Legroom, Row 3	36.5 in	0.0 in	36.5 in
Total Legroom	116.6 in (over 3 rows)	80.1 in (over 2 rows)	36.5 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	32.3 ft³	15.8 ft³	16.5 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	87.5 ft³	15.8	71.7 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	140.5 ft³	15.8 ft³	124.7 ft³

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	Chrysler has revised its "Stow 'n Go" seats a few times to improve their comfort, and the latest ones are better. But they still feel smaller, firmer, and less comfortable than the conventional captain's chairs in competitors. This noted, unless you'll regularly carry adults in back, and they're picky about seat comfort, the Pacifica's seats should be good enough. A removable center seat for the second row has been added to the options list. With this seat the Pacifica can, like the Sienna and Odyssey, carry eight people in a pinch. But the same seat in the Sienna is much more comfortable. The Pacifica's third row is more competitive in terms of comfort. Roominess in both cases is better than in the Kia Sedona, perhaps about even with the Toyota Sienna, and less than in the Honda Odyssey, which is the roomiest of the bunch. If you're used to a crossover any of these minivans will seem very roomy. The third-row seats in most crossovers aren't in the same league. see full Chrysler Pacifica review

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2017	4dr Minivan, ext. 287-horsepower 3.6L V6 9-speed automatic FWD	The seats are still more thinly padded than the competition - and the third row seat angle is merely adequate. My mother in law noted that our Ody 3rd row is really like a standard seat - not "3rd class" - but the Pacifica made her feel like she was "stuck in the back". see full Chrysler Pacifica 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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