When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu Response 2006 and the Malibu Sunsetter 23 XTi 2006 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?
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 400 hp for the Malibu Response 2006 and 400 hp for the Malibu Sunsetter 23 XTi 2006. 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 Sunsetter 23 XTi 2006 carries 47 gallons versus 35 gallons in the Malibu Response 2006. 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 Sunsetter 23 XTi 2006 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Malibu Response 2006 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Sunsetter 23 XTi 2006 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Sunsetter 23 XTi 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 14 passengers and at 23,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Response 2006 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.