When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V 2009 and the Malibu FXi 2009 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
The Malibu FXi 2009 tops out at 400 hp. Engine specs for the Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V 2009 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Malibu FXi 2009 carries 46 gallons versus 37 gallons in the Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V 2009 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Malibu FXi 2009 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V 2009 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Corvette Limited Edition Sport-V 2009 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 8 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu FXi 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.