The Malibu 21 vRIDE 2009 vs Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 VLX 2017 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 400 hp for the Malibu 21 vRIDE 2009 and 410 hp for the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 VLX 2017. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 46 gal and 48 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Malibu 21 vRIDE 2009 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 VLX 2017 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu 21 vRIDE 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu 21 vRIDE 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 21,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 VLX 2017 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.