The Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2018 vs Malibu Sunscape 247 LSV 2006 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2018 at 21,1 ft versus Malibu Sunscape 247 LSV 2006 at 24,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2018 tips the scales at 4 850 lbs — 4 811 lbs more than the Malibu Sunscape 247 LSV 2006 at 39 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 — 450 hp for the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2018 and 450 hp for the Malibu Sunscape 247 LSV 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 Boats Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2018 carries 182 gallons versus 87 gallons in the Malibu Sunscape 247 LSV 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 Sunscape 247 LSV 2006 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2018 caps at 6. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Sunscape 247 LSV 2006 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Sunscape 247 LSV 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 24,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Boats Wakesetter 22 MXZ 2018 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.