Kia Forte (2014) vs. Chevrolet Malibu (2015) Specs

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2014 Kia Forte and 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Specifications

Model Year	2014	2015
Model	Kia Forte	Chevrolet Malibu
Engine	turbocharged 1.6L I4 DOHC-4v 201 hp@6000 195 lb-ft@1750	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 Sedan	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	106.3 in	107.8 in	-1.5 in
Length	179.5 in	191.5 in	-12 in
Width	70.1 in	73.0 in	-2.9 in
Height	56.5 in	57.6 in	-1.1 in
Curb Weight	3036 lb.	3635 lb.	-599 lb.
Fuel Capacity	13.2 gal.	18.5 gal.	-5.3 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	39.1 in	39.0 in	0.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.1 in	57.5 in	-1.4 in
Hip Room, Row 1	53.0 in	55.0 in	-2 in
Legroom, Row 1	42.2 in	42.1 in	0.1 in
Headroom, Row 2	37.3 in	37.5 in	-0.2 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	54.9 in	57.1 in	-2.2 in
Hip Room, Row 2	53.1 in	54.3 in	-1.2 in
Legroom, Row 2	35.9 in	36.8 in	-0.9 in
Total Legroom	78.1 in (over 2 rows)	78.9 in (over 2 rows)	-0.8 in
Cargo Volume	14.9 ft³	16.3 ft³	-1.4 ft³

2014 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2014	People who need a roomy rear seat don't often buy coupes. So with the Civic Si the coupe is an inch and a half shorter (in both height and length) than the sedan, which translates to nearly three inches less headroom and nearly five inches less legroom in back, making it a very tight fit for even modestly sized adults. Those who do want a roomy rear seat in their coupe will be much happier with the Forte. Compared to the sedan, Kia shaved the Koup's roofline an inch but kept the wheelbase the same. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I had about an inch of clearance over my head and a hand's-width ahead of my knees. Switch to the four-door body styles, and both cars are about equally roomy in back. But only Forte rear seat passengers enjoy rear air vents--in every body style. see full Kia Forte review

2014 Kia Forte Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2014	4dr Sedan 148-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD	One of the best of his kind. Almost unbeatable for a car of this price. see full Kia Forte 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 Sedans, Coupes, and Hatchbacks.

See TrueDelta's information for all Kia models.