Model Year | 2006 | 2013 | |
Model | Subaru Forester | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | |||
Transmission | |||
Drivetrain | |||
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 99.4 in | 107.8 in | -8.4 in |
Length | 176.6 in | 191.5 in | -14.9 in |
Width | 68.3 in | 73.0 in | -4.7 in |
Height | 65.0 in | 57.6 in | 7.4 in |
Curb Weight | 3165 lb. | 3393 lb. | -228 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 18.5 gal. | -2.6 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.8 in | 39.0 in | 0.8 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 53.5 in | 57.5 in | -4 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 51.6 in | 55.0 in | -3.4 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.6 in | 42.1 in | 1.5 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.7 in | 37.5 in | 2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 53.6 in | 57.1 in | -3.5 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 51.6 in | 54.3 in | -2.7 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 33.7 in | 36.8 in | -3.1 in |
Total Legroom | 77.3 in (over 2 rows) | 78.9 in (over 2 rows) | -1.6 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 32.0 ft3 | 16.3 ft3 | 15.7 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 57.7 ft3 | 16.3 ft3 | 41.4 ft3 |
2006 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
easy to find comfortable position; no problems driving over an hour or more; good upright position see full Subaru Forester review |
2005 | 4dr SUV 165-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
There is leg room. The seat is adjustable enough. see full Subaru Forester review |
2006 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 224hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Front driver leg room is a little cramped from side to side. see full Subaru Forester review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
No thigh or lumbar support, seats hrad, minimal leg room for front passenger see full Subaru Forester review |
2007 | 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
Not acceptable for an adult in any of the three rear seating positions see full Subaru Forester review |
2006 | 4dr SUV 173-horsepower 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
Again, cramped and too small for larger people. see full Subaru Forester review |
2006 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 230hp 2.5L H4 5-speed manual AWD |
This is honesty the only complaint i have about the 2006 XT. The rear seat is a bit tight. We took three other adults on about a 4 hour trip and it was a tight fit - good thing we're good friends! My wife's 2009 Forester is much better in the rear legroom department. see full Subaru Forester review |
2005 | 4dr SUV 165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
Rear seat is just too small, but that has been fixed for the 2009 models. The front seat, actually the cabin of the car is just a bit too narrow. It needs more elbow room. see full Subaru Forester review |
2005 | 4dr SUV 165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
Not enough elbow room. see full Subaru Forester review |
2005 | 4dr SUV 165-horsepower 2.5L H4 4-speed automatic AWD |
Rear seat room is a bit tight for larger people. Car seats are a little tight in both rear and forward facing positions. see full Subaru Forester review |
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
2012 | On paper, the Malibu's rear seat is only a little tighter than those in the 2008-2012 sedan and in competing cars. In person, rear knee room would only be marginally competitive in the compact sedan segment. Sitting behind my 5-9 self, my shins graze the front seatbacks. GM is rushing some revised seats to market. But if past attempts to fix a cramped rear seat are any indication, this won't make a substantial difference. The rear seat in the Ford Fusion is roomier, if also short of the segment's quasi-limos. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2013 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 |
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2013 | 4dr Sedan 182-horsepower 2.4L I4 Hybrid 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
This is tight if front seats are postioned at or close to the back of their range; shorter wheelbase in this model compared to prior version. Rear seat access is excellent (i.e, for infant car seats, small item transport). see full Chevrolet Malibu review |
2012 | 4dr Sedan 169-horsepower 2.4L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
I'm 6'4" tall and 60 years old. I have a tough time getting in and out due to the low roof. see full Chevrolet Malibu review |