Model Year | 2014 | 2012 | |
Model | Honda Fit | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr Hatch | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 98.4 in | 112.3 in | -13.9 in |
Length | 161.6 in | 191.8 in | -30.2 in |
Width | 66.7 in | 70.3 in | -3.6 in |
Height | 60.0 in | 57.1 in | 2.9 in |
Curb Weight | 3252 lb. | 3415 lb. | -163 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 10.6 gal. | 16.0 gal. | -5.4 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.4 in | 39.4 in | 1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 52.7 in | 55.9 in | -3.2 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 51.5 in | 53.0 in | -1.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.3 in | 42.2 in | -0.9 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.0 in | 37.2 in | 1.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 51.3 in | 53.9 in | -2.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 51.3 in | 52.1 in | -0.8 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 34.5 in | 37.6 in | -3.1 in |
Total Legroom | 75.8 in (over 2 rows) | 79.8 in (over 2 rows) | -4 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 20.6 ft3 | 15.1 ft3 | 5.5 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 57.3 ft3 | 15.1 ft3 | 42.2 ft3 |
2014 Honda Fit Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2013 | The new Honda Fit's first row has a a few more inches of elbow room than those in the Versa Note and Fiesta. Consequently, it feels like a larger car--unless you also need leg room. Then it's no better than the Nissan. Drivers with long legs will wish the front seat could slide back farther--but this would cramp the magic style of the rear seat. Even drivers of middling height (e.g. me) might find the driver seat uncomfortable. The headrest and non-adjustable lumbar bulge both jut well forward. Depending on your personal size and shape, this might or might not be an issue. Pay close attention before you buy. see full Honda Fit review |
2014 Honda Fit Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 117-horsepower 1.5L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
The best in this category (when you take into consideration the size of the trunk). see full Honda Fit review |
2014 Honda Fit Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 117-horsepower 1.5L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Seat bottoms are typical Japanese style short bottomed and not conducive to long duration drives. see full Honda Fit review |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 117-horsepower 1.5L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
One more thing. Rear seat comfort was obviously not a big selling point, nor a necessary feature. But one piece of it was worse than it had to be: the rear seat headrests. The artful circular shape and limited adjustment made the rear seats even harder to use; the headrest would tend to jab passengers in their spine. A better solution which was more even with the seat back would really have helped here. see full Honda Fit 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 |