The spec sheets list the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2008 as cut diamond and the Malibu Wakesetter VLX 2011 as modified vee, so check how each hull rides in the conditions you use before you decide.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2008 at 20,0 ft versus Malibu Wakesetter VLX 2011 at 21,5 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Malibu Wakesetter VLX 2011 tips the scales at 3 500 lbs - 300 lbs less than the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2008 at 3 200 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 Sunscape 20 LSV 2008 and 410 hp for the Malibu Wakesetter VLX 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. 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 Wakesetter VLX 2011 is rated for 14 passengers, while the Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2008 caps at 11. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Wakesetter VLX 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Wakesetter VLX 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 14 passengers and at 21,5 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Sunscape 20 LSV 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 11 that costs less to run day-to-day.