Model Year | 2014 | 2017 | |
Model | Mazda Mazda3 | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | 2.5L I4 DOHC-4v 184 hp@5700 185 lb-ft@3250 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 9-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 106.3 in | 111.4 in | -5.1 in |
Length | 180.3 in | 193.8 in | -13.5 in |
Width | 70.7 in | 73.0 in | -2.3 in |
Height | 57.3 in | 57.7 in | -0.4 in |
Curb Weight | 3004 lb. | 3388 lb. | -384 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.2 gal. | 13.0 gal. | 0.2 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 38.6 in | 39.1 in | -0.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.2 in | 58.5 in | -1.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 55.5 in | 54.1 in | 1.4 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.2 in | 42.0 in | 0.2 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.5 in | 37.5 in | 0 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 54.4 in | 57.1 in | -2.7 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 53.5 in | 53.4 in | 0.1 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 35.8 in | 38.1 in | -2.3 in |
Total Legroom | 78 in (over 2 rows) | 80.1 in (over 2 rows) | -2.1 in |
Cargo Volume | 12.4 ft3 | 15.8 ft3 | -3.4 ft3 |
2014 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
The Mazda3 also isn't a clear choice if a roomy rear seat is a top priority. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, I had little room to spare. The rear seat in the Ford Focus is at least as tight, but has a more comfortably positioned cushion. A Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, or Toyota Corolla has far more rear seat room. If you like how the Mazda3 looks and drives, but need more rear seat legroom, the Mazda6 offers another three inches for another $2,100 to $3,700 (depending on trim level). see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2014 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Nice contoured, form fitting seats offer plenty of support, quite comfortable. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2014 Mazda Mazda3 Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Hatch 155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Rear seat a bit tight, needs more room back there. see full Mazda Mazda3 review |
2017 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 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.