Mercury Mariner (2006) vs. Chevrolet Malibu (2015) Specs

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2006 Mercury Mariner and 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Specifications

Model Year	2006	2015
Model	Mercury Mariner	Chevrolet Malibu
Engine	3.0L V6 DOHC-4v 200 hp@6000 193 lb-ft@4850	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@3000
Transmission	4-speed automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	FWD	FWD
Body	4dr SUV	4dr Sedan
			Difference
Wheelbase	103.2 in	107.8 in	-4.6 in
Length	174.9 in	191.5 in	-16.6 in
Width	70.1 in	73.0 in	-2.9 in
Height	68.0 in	57.6 in	10.4 in
Curb Weight	3295 lb.	3635 lb.	-340 lb.
Fuel Capacity	16.5 gal.	18.5 gal.	-2 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.4 in	39.0 in	1.4 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	56.8 in	57.5 in	-0.7 in
Hip Room, Row 1	53.5 in	55.0 in	-1.5 in
Legroom, Row 1	41.6 in	42.1 in	-0.5 in
Headroom, Row 2	39.2 in	37.5 in	1.7 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	55.9 in	57.1 in	-1.2 in
Hip Room, Row 2	49.1 in	54.3 in	-5.2 in
Legroom, Row 2	35.6 in	36.8 in	-1.2 in
Total Legroom	77.2 in (over 2 rows)	78.9 in (over 2 rows)	-1.7 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	29.3 ft³	16.3 ft³	13 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	66.3 ft³	16.3 ft³	50 ft³

2006 Mercury Mariner Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2007	4dr SUV 200-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic AWD	The seats have plush cushioning, lumbar control and position control. The seats are leather/vinyl (I think leather, but not sure) with center punched suede allowing some air circulation. All good for greater comfort on long trips see full Mercury Mariner review

2006 Mercury Mariner Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2006	4dr SUV 133-horsepower 2.3L I4 Hybrid CVT AWD	Rear seat room is limited, seats firm, but little side support see full Mercury Mariner review
2005	4dr SUV 153-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed automatic AWD	For long drives even with leather it can get uncomfortable. A little more support and padding would be good in the seat. see full Mercury Mariner 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

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