Model Year | 2009 | 2016 | |
Model | Ford Fusion | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | 3.0L V6 DOHC-4v 221 hp@6250 205 lb-ft@4800 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 107.4 in | 111.4 in | -4 in |
Length | 190.2 in | 193.8 in | -3.6 in |
Width | 72.2 in | 73.0 in | -0.8 in |
Height | 57.2 in | 57.7 in | -0.5 in |
Curb Weight | 3280 lb. | 3388 lb. | -108 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 17.5 gal. | 13.0 gal. | 4.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.7 in | 39.1 in | -0.4 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.4 in | 58.5 in | -1.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 54.0 in | 54.1 in | -0.1 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.3 in | 42.0 in | 0.3 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.8 in | 37.5 in | 0.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 57.1 in | -0.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 53.6 in | 53.4 in | 0.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 37.0 in | 38.1 in | -1.1 in |
Total Legroom | 79.3 in (over 2 rows) | 80.1 in (over 2 rows) | -0.8 in |
Cargo Volume | 15.8 ft3 | 15.8 ft3 | 0 ft3 |
2009 Ford Fusion Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
All passengers have commented about the generous space and overall comfort of the rear seat. see full Ford Fusion review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed automatic FWD |
Controls are easily adjusted to fit any driver. Lateral support is good without feeling pinched into the seat. Dead pedal is perfectly positioned. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic AWD |
The power drivers seat makes it easy to find a seating position suitable to any driver. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic FWD |
Lots of leg room. see full Ford Fusion review |
2009 Ford Fusion Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic FWD |
Limited legroom. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed automatic FWD |
The roofline should be a few inches higher, and the lower section of the centre stack should be narrower to provide more room for the right knee. see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 160-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
not for full size adults, but good for pre-teens see full Ford Fusion review |
2008 | 4dr Sedan 221-horsepower 3.0L V6 6-speed automatic FWD |
Seat support seemed to break down over the 2 years I drove this vehicle. Window was very high in relation to the seat. see full Ford Fusion 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.