When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu Response LX 2005 and the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 are modified vee designs with composite 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?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Malibu Response LX 2005 at 2,0 ft versus Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 at 2,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Malibu Response LX 2005 tips the scales at 245 lbs — 213 lbs more than the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 at 32 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 400 hp for the Malibu Response LX 2005 and 410 hp for the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011. 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. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 carries 48 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Malibu Response LX 2005. 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 Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 is rated for 11 passengers, while the Malibu Response LX 2005 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 could be the deciding factor.
At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Malibu Response LX 2005. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 11 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Response LX 2005 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.