Compare 2011 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2011 Ford Fusion vs 2011 Kia Optima

2011 Chevrolet Malibu
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2011 Ford Fusion
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2011 Kia Optima
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Select style
4-Door Sedan LS w/1LS
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Malibu 4-Door Sedan LS w/1LS 22 33 $20,876 $21,975
Malibu 4-Door Sedan LT w/1LT 22 33 $21,826 $22,975
Malibu 4-Door Sedan LT w/2LT 22 33 $24,115 $25,385
Malibu 4-Door Sedan LTZ 22 33 $25,806 $27,165
Select style
4-Door Sedan Hybrid FWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Fusion 4-Door Sedan Hybrid FWD 41 36 $26,270 $28,600
Fusion 4-Door Sedan S FWD 22 32 $18,594 $19,850
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SE FWD 22 29 $20,196 $21,850
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SEL AWD 18 26 $26,414 $28,760
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SEL FWD 23 33 $23,300 $25,300
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SPORT AWD 17 24 $26,630 $29,000
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SPORT FWD 18 27 $24,966 $27,150
Select style
4-Door Sedan 2.0T Automatic EX
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Optima 4-Door Sedan 2.0T Automatic EX 22 34 $23,080 $24,700
Optima 4-Door Sedan 2.0T Automatic SX 22 34 $24,480 $26,200
Optima 4-Door Sedan 2.4L Automatic EX 24 34 $21,210 $22,700
Optima 4-Door Sedan 2.4L Automatic EX Hybrid 34 39 $24,760 $26,500
Optima 4-Door Sedan 2.4L Automatic LX 24 34 $19,780 $20,700
Optima 4-Door Sedan 2.4L Manual LX 24 35 $18,800 $19,200
Pricing
Invoice Price
$20,876
$26,270
$23,080
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$21,975
$28,600
$24,700
Monthly Payment Estimate
$366 / month
$477 / month
$412 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
7.8
8.4
8.6
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2011 Chevrolet Malibu isn't edgy or high-performance, but it has everything that most mid-size sedan shoppers seek. The 2011 Ford Fusion comes in a few finely developed flavors; Sport, Hybrid and base are a few of the best tastes. Kia simply gets it; basic doesn't have to be boring, and the 2011 Kia Optima shows that mid-size sedan shoppers don't have to settle to design boredom or a lack of features.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
22 mpg 41 mpg 22 mpg
Highway
33 mpg 36 mpg 34 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Midsize Mid-Size Sedan Midsize Cars
Interior Dimensions
Second Head Room (in)
37.2 37.8 37.6
Second Shoulder Room (in)
53.9 56.5 55.7
Front Leg Room (in)
42.2 42.3 45.5
Passenger Capacity
5 5 5
Front Hip Room (in)
53.0 54.0 54.7
Second Leg Room (in)
37.6 36.7 34.7
Front Head Room (in)
39.4 38.7 40.0
Second Hip Room (in)
52.1 53.4 54.5
Front Shoulder Room (in)
55.9 57.4 57.2
Passenger Volume (ft³)
97.7 99.8 102.2
Exterior Dimensions
Height, Overall (in)
57.1 56.8 57.3
Track Width, Rear (in)
60.0 61.0 62.8
Wheelbase (in)
112.3 107.4 110.0
Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.3 72.2 72.1
Track Width, Front (in)
59.6 61.3 62.8
Min Ground Clearance (in)
- TBD - - TBD - 5.3
Length, Overall (in)
191.8 190.6 190.7
Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³)
15.1 11.8 15.4
Brakes
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
10.87 x - TBD - - TBD - 11.2 x - TBD -
Brake Type
Pwr Pwr Pwr
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.65 x - TBD - - TBD - 12.6 x - TBD -
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
16.4 17.5 18.5
Steering
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
39.4 37.7 35.8
Steering Type
Electric Pwr Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
2.7 - TBD - 2.9
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
16.4 16.0 - TBD -
Tires
Spare Tire Size
NA Compact - TBD -
Front Tire Order Code
NA T7C NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA - TBD - NA
Rear Tire Size
P225/50R17 P225/50VR17 P215/50R17
Rear Tire Order Code
NA T7C NA
Front Tire Size
P225/50R17 P225/50VR17 P215/50R17
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3432 3720 3385
Wheels
Rear Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 x - TBD - 17 x - TBD - 17 x 6.5
Front Wheel Material
Steel Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
NA Steel - TBD -
Front Wheel Size (in)
17 x - TBD - 17 x - TBD - 17 x 6.5
Spare Wheel Size (in)
NA Compact - TBD -
Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
7.5 - TBD - 3.5
Electrical
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- TBD - - TBD - 600
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
- TBD - - TBD - 110
Engine
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
169 @ 6400 156 @ 6000 274 @ 6000
Engine Type
Gas 4-Cyl Gas/Electric I4 Turbocharged Gas I4
Fuel System
SFI SMPI Direct Injection
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
160 @ 4500 136 @ 2250 269 @ 1750
Engine Order Code
LE5 993 NA
Displacement
2.4L/145 2.5L/152 2.0L/122
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
22 41 22
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
26 39 26
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
33 36 34
Transmission
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 NA 1.00
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
2.88 - TBD - 3.39
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.87 NA 2.83
Trans Order Code
MH8 44H NA
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
2.77 - TBD - 2.88
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.41 NA 1.38
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD Continuously variable ratio Automatic w/manual shift
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.74 NA 0.77
First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.48 NA 4.65
Clutch Size (in)
NA NA NA
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.84 NA 1.84
Trans Type
6 1 6
Summary
Body Style
4 Door Sedan 4 Door Sedan 4 Door Sedan
Vehicle Name
Chevrolet Malibu Ford Fusion Kia Optima
Suspension
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
0.87 0.94 - TBD -
Suspension Type - Rear
4-Link Independent Independent Multi-link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA w/Stabilizer Bar w/Coil Springs
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Suspension Type - Front
MacPherson Strut Independent SLA MacPherson Strut
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
0.75 0.63 - TBD -
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA w/Stabilizer Bar w/Coil Springs
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Emissions
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
6 9 -
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
7.2 4.8 7.1
Crash Test Ratings
Overall Rating
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
Overall Side Crash Rating
Side Barrier Rating
Side Barrier Rating Driver
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
Rollover Rating

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