The spec sheets list the Malibu Wakesetter 21 XTi 2008 as v25 wake and the Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012 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 Wakesetter 21 XTi 2008 at 21,0 ft versus Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012 at 22,3 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012 tips the scales at 4 000 lbs - 600 lbs less than the Malibu Wakesetter 21 XTi 2008 at 3 400 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.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 400 hp, the Malibu Wakesetter 21 XTi 2008 has a 50-hp advantage over the Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012's 350-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012 carries 50 gallons versus 46 gallons in the Malibu Wakesetter 21 XTi 2008. 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 Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Malibu Wakesetter 21 XTi 2008 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water - it handles 15 passengers and at 22,3 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Wakesetter 21 XTi 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.