Model Year | 2016 | 2017 | |
Model | Subaru Forester | Chevrolet Malibu | |
Engine | turbocharged 2.0L H4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5600 258 lb-ft@2000 |
turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 250 hp@5300 260 lb-ft@2000 |
|
Transmission | 8-speed shiftable CVT | 9-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | |
Body | 4dr SUV | 4dr Sedan | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 111.4 in | -7.5 in |
Length | 180.9 in | 193.8 in | -12.9 in |
Width | 70.7 in | 73.0 in | -2.3 in |
Height | 66.4 in | 57.7 in | 8.7 in |
Curb Weight | 3624 lb. | 3388 lb. | 236 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 15.9 gal. | 13.0 gal. | 2.9 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 41.4 in | 39.1 in | 2.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.0 in | 58.5 in | -1.5 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 0.0 in | 54.1 in | -54.1 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 43.0 in | 42.0 in | 1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 39.8 in | 37.5 in | 2.3 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 56.5 in | 57.1 in | -0.6 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 0.0 in | 53.4 in | -53.4 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.0 in | 38.1 in | -0.1 in |
Total Legroom | 81 in (over 2 rows) | 80.1 in (over 2 rows) | 0.9 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 34.4 ft3 | 15.8 ft3 | 18.6 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 74.7 ft3 | 15.8 ft3 | 58.9 ft3 |
2016 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2015 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD |
I'm 6'3" and often don't fit comfortable in vehicles. I found this had a very nice amount of front seat room. The center console tends to stay out of the way as well, some newer designs have the center stack moving into where my right knee would be. It's a very noticeable improvement over my previous 2009 Escape. I actually found the Forester more comfortable for me than the Outback. I was expecting the opposite. see full Subaru Forester review |
2015 | 4dr SUV 170-horsepower 2.5L H4 CVT AWD |
After looking at Explorer's, I was surprised how much more room the Forester had in the back seat. Granted it doesn't have a third row, but if you don't need a 3rd row, the Forester is hard to beat in this segment for rear seat room. We can put a forward facing child seat in the back, move the front seat up a about 2 inches from all the way back and there's still plenty of front passenger room and my 1.5 year old son can't kick the back of the seat. see full Subaru Forester review |
2016 Subaru Forester Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2017 | 4dr SUV turbocharged 250hp 2.0L H4 8-speed shiftable CVT AWD |
- Terrible front seat support - The cushions are too short - It's not noticeable on a test drive right away. I would not have bought the car! Test drive extensively! - Surfaces where your elbows would lay are too hard - I purchased foam pads to make it feel better. - Tall drivers like myself will struggle with the telescoping wheel's short extension range. - It is hard to get into a fully comfortable driving position. The memory seats in the XT help somewhat by retaining your seat settings if moved. - Front seat cushions are too short - Yes I said this twice - Front seat cushions are too short - Yes I said this THREE times! Subaru are you listening? The front seat cushions are WAY TOO SHORT! see full Subaru Forester 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.