Chevrolet Malibu vs Kia Forte
Overview | |
MSRP$21,680 | MSRP$16,600 |
Listings896 | Listings474 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews8.3 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.3 out of 10 |
Reviews SummaryRodney Dangerfield was a legendary stand-up comedian, and while his on-stage shtick was all about how he didn’t get any respect, as a comedic talent he was held in the highest esteem. That’s not the case for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The oft-maligned Malibu literally gets no respect, which is too bad because with its most recent redesign for the 2016 model year, the car absolutely deserves it. | |
Reviews SummaryIn the extremely competitive compact sedan segment, the Forte has to deal with the Civic, the Mazda3, the Jetta and the Focus, just to name a few. Because of this, staying relevant means near-constant updates and improvements. For 2017, Kia has taken the Forte and restyled the front end, tossed in some new lights front and back, added a more efficient 2.0-liter engine and a sport trim, and made more features standard throughout the trim lineup. | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine1.5L 160 hp I4 | Engine2.0L 147 hp I4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainFWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower160 hp @ 5700 rpm | Horsepower147 hp @ 6200 rpm |
MPG City27 | MPG City25 |
MPG Highway36 | MPG Highway34 |
Engine | |
Engine Name1.5L 160 hp I4 | Engine Name2.0L 147 hp I4 |
Torque184 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm | Torque132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm |
Horsepower160 hp @ 5700 rpm | Horsepower147 hp @ 6200 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainFWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City27 | MPG City25 |
MPG Highway36 | MPG Highway34 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall5 | Front Crash Overall4 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space15.8 cu ft | Cargo Space14.9 cu ft |
Curb Weight3086 lbs | Curb Weight2811 lbs |
Height57.6 in | Height56.3 in |
Length193.8 in | Length179.5 in |
Width73.0 in | Width70.1 in |
Wheelbase111.4 in | Wheelbase106.3 in |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $21,680 | $16,600 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | ||
Expert reviews | 8.3 out of 10Read full review | 7.3 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | ||
Summary | Rodney Dangerfield was a legendary stand-up comedian, and while his on-stage shtick was all about how he didn’t get any respect, as a comedic talent he was held in the highest esteem. That’s not the case for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The oft-maligned Malibu literally gets no respect, which is too bad because with its most recent redesign for the 2016 model year, the car absolutely deserves it. | In the extremely competitive compact sedan segment, the Forte has to deal with the Civic, the Mazda3, the Jetta and the Focus, just to name a few. Because of this, staying relevant means near-constant updates and improvements. For 2017, Kia has taken the Forte and restyled the front end, tossed in some new lights front and back, added a more efficient 2.0-liter engine and a sport trim, and made more features standard throughout the trim lineup. |
Video | ||
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 1.5L 160 hp I4 | 2.0L 147 hp I4 |
Drive Train | FWD | FWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 160 hp @ 5700 rpm | 147 hp @ 6200 rpm |
MPG City | 27 | 25 |
MPG Highway | 36 | 34 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 1.5L 160 hp I4 | 2.0L 147 hp I4 |
Torque | 184 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm | 132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm |
Horsepower | 160 hp @ 5700 rpm | 147 hp @ 6200 rpm |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 27 | 25 |
MPG Highway | 36 | 34 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | 4 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 15.8 cu ft | 14.9 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3086 lbs | 2811 lbs |
Height | 57.6 in | 56.3 in |
Length | 193.8 in | 179.5 in |
Width | 73.0 in | 70.1 in |
Wheelbase | 111.4 in | 106.3 in |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |

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