Model Year | 2003 | 2012 | |
Model | Ford Focus | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | |||
Difference | |||
Total Legroom | 0 in (over 1 rows) | 0 in (over 1 rows) | 0 in |
2003 Ford Focus Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2004 | 2dr Hatch 145-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Adequate room for me, at six-foot-six and 275 pounds, and my normal-size wife. The back seat is, well - it's the back seat of a two-door hatchback. see full Ford Focus review |
2004 | 4dr Sedan 145-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
I like seat backs that are firm and have the bolstered sides fairly wide apart for my back comfort. I never get physically tired in this seat. see full Ford Focus review |
2003 | 4dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
The original Ford Focus actually had a roomier, more comfortable rear seat than the 2012+. The seat cushion is even high enough off the floor to provide adults with thigh support. see full Ford Focus review |
2003 | 2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
The Recaro sport seats are very supportive with adjustable lumbar support and electric height adjustment. see full Ford Focus review |
2003 Ford Focus Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2004 | 2dr Hatch 145-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Driver's seat collapses like clockwork every 50,000 miles and needs to be replaced. With a used one from a junkyard, since dealer cost is over $1,000. Yeah - a thousand bucks for a manual cloth seat! see full Ford Focus review |
2003 | 4dr Wagon 145-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
This is fine for small children, but the bench lacks padding. see full Ford Focus review |
2002 | 2dr Hatch 130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
little room see full Ford Focus review |
2012 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
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 |
2012 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
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 |