Model Year | 2007 | 2015 | |
Model | Saturn ION | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | 2.4L I4 DOHC-4v 175 hp@6200 164 lb-ft@4800 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 259 hp@5500 295 lb-ft@3000 |
|
Transmission | 5-speed manual | 6-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.2 in | 107.8 in | -4.6 in |
Length | 184.5 in | 191.5 in | -7 in |
Width | 67.2 in | 73.0 in | -5.8 in |
Height | 57.4 in | 57.6 in | -0.2 in |
Curb Weight | 2752 lb. | 3635 lb. | -883 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 13.0 gal. | 18.5 gal. | -5.5 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 40.0 in | 39.0 in | 1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 53.7 in | 57.5 in | -3.8 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 49.5 in | 55.0 in | -5.5 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 42.2 in | 42.1 in | 0.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.0 in | 37.5 in | -0.5 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 52.8 in | 57.1 in | -4.3 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 48.6 in | 54.3 in | -5.7 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 33.3 in | 36.8 in | -3.5 in |
Total Legroom | 75.5 in (over 2 rows) | 78.9 in (over 2 rows) | -3.4 in |
Cargo Volume | 14.7 ft3 | 16.3 ft3 | -1.6 ft3 |
2007 Saturn ION Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 145-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
Lots of seat travel results in plenty of available leg room. Adjustable seat height results in plenty of available headroom. see full Saturn ION review |
2006 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
The front set has plenty of leg room. see full Saturn ION review |
2006 | 4dr Coupe 170-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
lots of leg room see full Saturn ION review |
2007 Saturn ION Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
minimal leg rom when front seat is back see full Saturn ION review |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 175-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Seat bottoms are too short. Not enough leg room when the front seats are set back and not enough foot room. There is a metallic bar on the bottom of the front seats that take too much space in the foot wells for the back passengers. see full Saturn ION review |
2007 | 4dr Coupe 145-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
small seat that lacks padding even though the back support is very good. see full Saturn ION review |
2006 | 4dr Coupe 170-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
no room in the back for tall people see full Saturn ION review |
2006 | 4dr Coupe supercharged 205hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Not passenger friendly but easy to access with the rear doors. see full Saturn ION 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 |