Back in October of 2012, we set out to set the record straight about the supposed lack of rear-seat legroom in the 2013 Chevy Malibu. So we compiled all kinds of interior measurement data on the 2013 Malibu, the midsize sedans offered by competitors, as well as relevant vehicles from GM itself (such as the last-gen Malibu, the Chevy Cruze, and the Pontiac G6), and showed you the results.
As it turned out, the 2013 Malibu had more rear-seat legroom than only three of the 12 vehicles in our comparison losing out to nine cars. Since then, The General has unveiled the updated 2014 Malibu. Outside of updates to the exterior design, suspension, safety technologies, and powertrain, Chevy engineers and designers made it a point to improve second row legroom.
The efforts consisted of reshaping the front seatbacks, rescultping the rear seat cushions made of revised cushion material to allow passengers to sit deeper in the seats. All in all, the changes resulted in an increase of 1.25 inches (31.7 mm) in second-row knee room, according to GM.
So we’ve put together a new set of interior dimension comparisons, comparing the 2014 Malibu to the same vehicles we used in the first comparison.
The Results
The ensuing changes show a significant improvement in the Malibu’s favor: with the 2014 refresh, the Malibu has more rear-seat legroom than eight of the 12 vehicles in the initial comparison, with only four cars sporting more second row leg room, including the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, and VW Passat. And as logic would have it, the 2014 Mailbu doesn’t lose to these contenders in the second row legroom department as badly as the 2013 model did.
Before we show you the charts, it’s important that we disclose the following assumptions that we made during our research, including:
- More “knee room”, as per GM, is the equivalent of more “leg room” — and there’s no “trickery” behind the numbers of the 2014 Mailbu
- Other interior measurements haven’t changed as the result of the 2014 refresh; if they did, we will update our numbers and this article accordingly as soon as Chevrolet releases the official interior dimensions of the 2014 Malibu
The Measurements
Note: volume measurements in cubic feet; length measurements in inches.
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2012 Chevy Malibu
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2012 CHEVY MALIBU | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 97.7 | +2.6 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 39.4 | -0.4 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 53 | +2 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 42.2 | -0.1 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 55.9 | +1.6 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.2 | +0.3 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 52.1 | +2.2 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 37.6 | +0.55 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 53.9 | +3.2 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 112.3 | -4.5 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 15.1 | +1.2 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Honda Accord
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 HONDA ACCORD | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 103.2 | -2.9 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 39.1 | -0.1 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 55.6 | -0.6 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 42.5 | -0.4 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 58.6 | -1.1 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.5 | 0 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 54.7 | -0.4 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 38.5 | -0.35 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 56.5 | +0.6 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 109.3 | -1.5 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 15.8 | +0.5 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Nissan Altima
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 40 | -1 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 54 | +1 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 45 | -2.9 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 56.4 | +1.1 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.1 | +0.4 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 52.1 | +2.2 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 36.1 | +2.05 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 56.1 | +1 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 109.3 | -1.5 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 15.4 | +0.9 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Toyota Camry
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 102.7 | -2.4 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 38.8 | +0.2 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 54.5 | +0.5 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 41.6 | +0.5 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 58 | -0.5 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 38.1 | -0.6 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 54.5 | -0.2 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 38.9 | -0.75 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 56.6 | +0.5 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 109.3 | -1.5 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 15.4 | +0.9 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Ford Fusion
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 FORD FUSION | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 102.8 | -2.5 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 39.2 | -0.2 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 55 | N/A |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 44.3 | -2.2 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 57.8 | -0.3 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.8 | -0.3 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 54 | 0.3 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 38.3 | -0.15 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 56.9 | 0.2 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 112.2 | -4.4 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 16 | 0.3 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Subaru Legacy
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 SUBARU LEGACY | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 103 | -2.7 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 40.3 | -1.3 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 43 | -0.9 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 56.3 | +1.2 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.5 | 0 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | N/A | N/A |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 37.8 | +0.35 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 56.1 | +1 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 108.3 | -0.5 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 14.7 | +1.6 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Mazda6
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 MAZDA6 | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 101.9 | -1.6 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 39.4 | -0.4 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 55.1 | -0.1 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 42.5 | -0.4 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 57.3 | +0.2 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.3 | +0.2 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 55.9 | -1.6 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 38 | +0.15 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 56.5 | +0.6 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 109.8 | -2 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 16.6 | -0.3 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Volkswagen Passat
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 VW PASSAT | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 102 | -1.7 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 38.3 | +0.7 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 42.4 | -0.3 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 56.9 | +0.6 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.8 | -0.3 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | N/A | N/A |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 39.1 | -0.95 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 57 | +0.1 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 110.4 | -2.6 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 15.9 | +0.4 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Hyundai Sonata
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 103.8 | -3.5 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 40 | -1 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 55.2 | -0.2 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 45.5 | -3.4 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 57.9 | -0.4 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.8 | -0.3 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 54.9 | -0.6 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 34.6 | +3.55 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 56.7 | +0.4 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 110 | -2.2 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 16.4 | -0.1 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Chevy Cruze
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 CHEVY CRUZE | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | 94.6 | +5.7 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 39.3 | -0.3 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 53 | +2 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 42.28 | -0.18 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 54.76 | +2.74 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 37.9 | -0.4 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 52.4 | +1.9 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 35.35 | +2.8 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 53.9 | +3.2 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 105.7 | +2.1 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 15 | +1.3 |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Buick Regal
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 BUICK REGAL | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39 | 38.8 | +0.2 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55 | 55.4 | -0.4 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.1 | 42.1 | 0 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.5 | 56.7 | +0.8 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.5 | 36.8 | +0.7 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.3 | 52.3 | +2 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 37.3 | +0.85 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.1 | 54.4 | +2.7 |
WHEELBASE | 107.8 | 107.8 | 0 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.3 | 14.2 | 2.1+ |
Interior room - 2014 Chevy Malibu vs 2006 Pontiac G6
MEASUREMENT | 2014 CHEVY MALIBU | 2006 PONTIAC G6 | +/- 2014 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 95.00 | +5.30 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 39.00 | +0.00 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 52.70 | +2.30 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.20 | -0.10 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 55.40 | +2.10 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 36.50 | +1.00 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 51.90 | +2.40 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 38.15 | 37.60 | +0.55 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 55.40 | +1.70 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 112.30 | -4.50 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 14.00 | +2.30 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2012 Chevy Malibu
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2012 CHEVY MALIBU | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 97.70 | +2.60 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 39.40 | -0.40 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 53.00 | +2.00 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.20 | -0.10 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 55.90 | +1.60 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.20 | +0.30 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 52.10 | +2.20 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 37.60 | -0.70 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 53.90 | +3.20 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 112.30 | -4.50 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 15.10 | +1.20 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Honda Accord
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 HONDA ACCORD | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 103.20 | -2.90 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 39.10 | -0.10 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 55.60 | -0.60 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.50 | -0.40 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 58.60 | -1.10 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.50 | +0.00 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 54.70 | -0.40 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 38.50 | -1.60 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 56.50 | +0.60 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 109.30 | -1.50 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 15.80 | +0.50 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Nissan Altima
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.3 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 40.00 | -1.00 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 54.00 | +1.00 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 45.00 | -2.90 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 56.40 | +1.10 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.10 | +0.40 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 52.10 | +2.20 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 36.10 | +0.80 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 56.10 | +1.00 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 109.30 | -1.50 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 15.40 | +0.90 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Toyota Camry
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 TOYOTA CAMRY | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 102.70 | -2.40 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 38.80 | +0.20 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 54.50 | +0.50 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 41.60 | +0.50 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 58.00 | -0.50 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 38.10 | -0.60 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 54.50 | -0.20 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 38.90 | -2.00 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 56.60 | +0.50 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 109.30 | -1.50 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 15.40 | +0.90 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Ford Fusion
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 FORD FUSION | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 102.80 | -2.50 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 39.20 | -0.20 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 55.00 | N/A |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 44.30 | -2.20 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 57.80 | -0.30 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.80 | -0.30 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 54.00 | +0.30 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 38.30 | -1.40 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 56.90 | +0.20 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 112.20 | -4.40 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 16.00 | +0.30 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Subaru Legacy
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 SUBARU LEGACY | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 103.00 | -2.70 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 40.30 | -1.30 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 43.00 | -0.90 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 56.30 | +1.20 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.50 | 0 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | N/A | N/A |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 37.80 | -0.90 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 56.10 | +1.00 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 108.30 | -0.50 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 14.70 | +1.60 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Mazda6
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 MAZDA6 | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 101.90 | -1.60 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 39.40 | -0.40 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 55.10 | -0.10 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.50 | -0.40 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 57.30 | +0.20 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.30 | +0.20 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 55.90 | -1.60 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 38.00 | -1.10 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 56.50 | +0.60 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 109.80 | -2.00 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 16.60 | -0.30 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Volkswagen Passat
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 VW PASSAT | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 102.00 | -1.70 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 38.30 | +0.70 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.40 | -0.30 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 56.90 | +0.60 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.80 | -0.30 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | N/A | N/A |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 39.10 | -2.20 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 57.00 | +0.10 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 110.40 | -2.60 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 15.90 | +0.40 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Hyundai Sonata
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 103.80 | -3.50 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 40.00 | -1.00 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 55.20 | -0.20 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 45.50 | -3.40 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 57.90 | -0.40 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.80 | -0.30 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 54.90 | -0.60 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 34.60 | +2.30 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 56.70 | +0.40 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 110.00 | -2.20 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 16.40 | -0.10 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Chevy Cruze
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 CHEVY CRUZE | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 94.60 | +5.70 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 39.30 | -0.30 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 53.00 | +2.00 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.28 | -0.18 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 54.76 | +2.74 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 37.90 | -0.40 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 52.40 | +1.90 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 35.35 | +1.55 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 53.90 | +3.20 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 105.70 | +2.10 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 15.00 | +1.30 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2013 Buick Regal
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2013 BUICK REGAL | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | N/A | N/A |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 38.80 | +0.20 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 55.40 | -0.40 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.10 | +0.00 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 56.70 | +0.80 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 36.80 | +0.70 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 52.30 | +2.00 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 37.30 | -0.40 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 54.40 | +2.70 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 107.80 | +0.00 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 14.20 | +2.10 |
Interior room - 2013 Chevy Malibu vs 2006 Pontiac G6
MEASUREMENT | 2013 CHEVY MALIBU | 2006 PONTIAC G6 | +/- 2013 MALIBU |
PASSENGER VOLUME | 100.30 | 95.00 | +5.30 |
FRONT HEAD ROOM | 39.00 | 39.00 | +0.00 |
FRONT HIP ROOM | 55.00 | 52.70 | +2.30 |
FRONT LEG ROOM | 42.10 | 42.20 | -0.10 |
FRONT SHOULDER ROOM | 57.50 | 55.40 | +2.10 |
REAR HEAD ROOM | 37.50 | 36.50 | +1.00 |
REAR HIP ROOM | 54.30 | 51.90 | +2.40 |
REAR LEG ROOM | 36.90 | 37.60 | -0.70 |
REAR SHOULDER ROOM | 57.10 | 55.40 | +1.70 |
WHEELBASE | 107.80 | 112.30 | -4.50 |
TRUNK VOLUME | 16.30 | 14.00 | +2.30 |
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Comments
Why hasn’t anyone complained about the rear leg room in the Sonata? A huge 3-1/2″ less, I guess one dimension isn’t everything…
Fusion is MASSIVE! Wow – 4.4″ difference in wheelbase?!
I wonder if the Eco version of the 2014 Malibu will have any filled-in panels in the grille
along with shutters, as seen in those Impala testers running around with that interestingly
modded grillework?
Great job with such detail on all the models in the class! Lots of data!
It would’ve been interesting watching those engineers carving out seat foam and measuring
with their lazer tools, fretting over each .10″. My question is – how’d they pass such
a miniscule back seat in the first place? And, how did that awful looking front grille pass
muster for 2013?
I still would’ve like to see a more Impala-like grille on the car, like the renderings seen on
this site.
More side sculpting would’ve been nice, – and some tweaking on AT LEAST the lenses of the
( ugly? ) Camaro-esque rear taillights as well. I think for low budget – they could’ve made the
lenses more distinct w/o any sheetmetal mods.
The interior is still rental car so-so in my opinion. The roundy, double cockpit dash slays
me, as does the cheapie aqua interior sub-lighting.
I truly think the pre-2012 Malibu was better looking as a whole – and this one
went towards, rather than away from – the rental car stigma they so much wanted to
leave behind.
Knee room doesn’t equal rear leg room. Each of both has a different measurement. So I suppose the knee room improvement has nothing to do with rear leg room. Rear leg room dimension remains the same, but the alternations changed knee room. If rear leg room is going to improve, it must add wheelbase, I think that the rear leg room is already the best GM can do with 107.8 in long wheelbase. Look how they executed the alternation, then you will see what ever they did to the car can never effect the rear leg room, all it changed is the knee room. That’s why The General deliberately claimed they made improvement to knee room rather than rear leg room. Of course they knew both are different, claiming knee room improvement doesn’t mean rear leg room improvement, and that claim didn’t happen by chance. But in the end, improved knee room will make rear seat passenger feel much better.
But, these numbers don’t reflect the “feeling”/perception of tightnest. We own a 12 Fusion and it is WAY easier to ingress/egress than the ‘Boo, it feels like there is 5 INCHES of more room back there. Maybe it’s GM’s goofy raised “theater style” seating that makes it feel so bad? Or maybe they put the door hinges/B pillar in the wrong place? Either way, it won’t solve the controversy.
Can you also do the dimensions of the impala too.Alex?
Thanks for doing the research. That took a lot of work.
Good job on the comparison.. I think they’ve done good with this. Despite the lack of leg room in the previous year model it definitely doesn’t deserve the hate that it gets around the web.. Especially when you got a Hyundia Sonota with 3 1/2 inches less of leg room..
This is a deal that is more than just numbers.
When you get in the 2013 the door frame is small and it was just a poor packaging job. The 2014 has improved the packaging but the fact is the Malibu has to follow the last model like my 08 that regardless of numbers is much more comfortable in back.
The whole issue with the Bu is it was designed a few years ago and is on an older Opel platform. GM just has not given this car what it needs in this segment yet. It is coming and I expect it in the not too distant future.
Once GM puts this on a new platform and is able to put the development money into this as they have in other new platforms we will see a marked improvement. This one while a good car is one just to buy time.
Once the D2XX Cruze is out I expect the Bu, Regal and Opel will get what they need.
GM had to make the best with what they had as they have so many other projects going and things that needed addressed..
Thanks for the comparisons, it’s good to see the improvement in the rear seat area. I had hoped for a front more like the Impala but this looks OK too. I’m wondering, had the print media (You know the ones) not been so overly harsh on this and done the same comparisons you have done, if we’d be at this point today or what? Once again thank you for your efforts.
I stopped receiving most auto magazines because of what they have consistently done to all American auto manufacturing … But especially to General Motors. They will pick out, what would be a minor issue and magnify it to a world wide crisis. If people need more rear seat leg room for taller passengers… Then try it out while test driving the car. The fact is that most of the back seat usage is confined to extra clothing grocery’s and kids… None of which need lots of back seat space.
Only a few times do “experts”, ever address wind noise… Something that the Generals competitors fall down on big time. Give me a smaller back seat and very little road noise any day.
The malibu has 39 inches of headroom in the front but I need to carry adults sometimes in the backseat as well.
Is Chevrolet ever going to build a vehicle, once again, that can carry adults in the backseats?
I’m 6′-2″ and can’t sit in the rear seat of any of your vehicles including the new Impala
@Mike…… I’m 6’2″ and I can fit in the back of the Malibu, Impala, and even the LaCrosse….. Not sure how you sit…. but if you want go try out the Terrain….
I’ve got a Chevy Cruze as a rental while having some cosmetic work done on my Pontiac. I also almost recently purchased a Chevy Cruze but decided to keep my Pontiac. Have to say, that while I like the Cruze and can’t find to much wrong; the one big issue I have is the lack of front leg room. I looked at the measurements of both my Grand AM and the Cruze when thinking about purchasing a new car to replace my old one. And for nearly exact same measurements, I keep banging my knee and feel closed in when seated in the drivers seat of the Cruze but never have that feeling when seated in the drivers seat of my Grand AM. Come on GM, design the center stack a bit narrower so it’s got a couple of inches more width…