Model Year | 2014 | 2015 | |
Model | Ford Fiesta | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | turbocharged 1.6L I4 DOHC-4v 147 kW@6000 274 Nm@2500 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 193 kW@5500 400 Nm@3000 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 2,489 mm | 2,738 mm | 0 mm |
Length | 4,409 mm | 4,864 mm | 0 mm |
Width | 1,722 mm | 1,854 mm | 0 mm |
Height | 1,476 mm | 1,463 mm | 0 mm |
Curb Weight | 1,262 kg | 1,649 kg | 0 kg |
Fuel Capacity | 47 L | 70 L | -23 L |
Headroom, Row 1 | 993 mm | 991 mm | 2 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 1,339 mm | 1,461 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 1,285 mm | 1,397 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 1 | 1,072 mm | 1,069 mm | 0 mm |
Headroom, Row 2 | 942 mm | 953 mm | -11 mm |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 1,245 mm | 1,450 mm | 0 mm |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 1,250 mm | 1,379 mm | 0 mm |
Legroom, Row 2 | 792 mm | 935 mm | -143 mm |
Total Legroom | 1,864 mm (over 2 rows) | 2,004 mm (over 2 rows) | -1 mm |
Cargo Volume | 362 L | 462 L | -100 L |
2014 Ford Fiesta Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
Just as the Ford Fiesta has some clear strengths, it also has some clear weaknesses. Its rear seat, though comfortably positioned well off the floor, is the tightest in the segment. At 5-9, I can barely squeeze behind myself. The Fit's rear seat is far roomier. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2014 Ford Fiesta Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Sedan 120-horsepower 1.6L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Narrow car with narrow seats. If you are a taller/bigger person, expect that the seats will feel like doll furniture after an hour. see full Ford Fiesta review |
2015 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 |
2015 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2014 | 4dr Sedan 196-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Both front & rear compartments very roomy & comfortable. Again, this is noted improvement over our 2009 Malibu. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |