When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV 2012 and the Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ 2013 are modified vee designs with fiberglass 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 Wakesetter 23 LSV 2012 at 23,0 ft versus Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ 2013 at 24,4 ft. At 41 lbs and 48 lbs respectively, both sit in a similar weight class — either should pair comfortably with most mid-size SUVs and half-ton trucks, though always confirm your specific tow rating with the motor added.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 555 hp, the Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ 2013 has a 205-hp advantage over the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV 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 24 MXZ 2013 carries 78 gallons versus 53 gallons in the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV 2012. 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 24 MXZ 2013 is rated for 18 passengers, while the Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV 2012 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Malibu Wakesetter 24 MXZ 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 18 passengers and at 24,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Malibu Wakesetter 23 LSV 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 15 that costs less to run day-to-day.