Hyundai Santa Fe (2011) vs. Chevrolet Malibu (2015) Specs

vs.

◆

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Specifications

Model Year	2011	2015
Model	Hyundai Santa Fe	Chevrolet Malibu
Engine	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 276 hp@6300 248 lb-ft@5000	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@3000
Transmission	6-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr SUV	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	106.3 in	107.8 in	-1.5 in
Length	184.1 in	191.5 in	-7.4 in
Width	74.4 in	73.0 in	1.4 in
Height	67.9 in	57.6 in	10.3 in
Curb Weight	3902 lb.	3635 lb.	267 lb.
Fuel Capacity	18.0 gal.	18.5 gal.	-0.5 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.2 in	39.0 in	1.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	59.5 in	57.5 in	2 in
Hip Room, Row 1	55.8 in	55.0 in	0.8 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.6 in	42.1 in	0.5 in
Headroom, Row 2	39.6 in	37.5 in	2.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	58.6 in	57.1 in	1.5 in
Hip Room, Row 2	55.0 in	54.3 in	0.7 in
Legroom, Row 2	36.8 in	36.8 in	0 in
Total Legroom	79.4 in (over 2 rows)	78.9 in (over 2 rows)	0.5 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	34.2 ft³	16.3 ft³	17.9 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	78.2 ft³	16.3 ft³	61.9 ft³

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2012	4dr SUV turbocharged 194hp 2.2L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual AWD	Seats are comfortable for my wife and myself, with more than adequate room, 3 people fit easily in the back. They have good foot room too. see full Hyundai Santa Fe review
2010	4dr SUV 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Fits my back and legs better than my last car see full Hyundai Santa Fe review

2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2011	4dr SUV 276-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD	Short seats, not very supportive at the sides. Strangely lumpy backrest. see full Hyundai Santa Fe 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

See TrueDelta's information for all SUVs

See TrueDelta's information for all Hyundai models.