Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Q50 (except )’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti Q50 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Q50 (except Pure) offers optional Back-up Collision Intervention which use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Q50 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Q50 (except Pure) offers an optional Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Malibu Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Q50 and the Malibu Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid:

	Q50	Malibu Hybrid
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	190	235

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Q50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Malibu Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Malibu Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Malibu Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Malibu Hybrid’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 7 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Q50 2.0t’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 26 more horsepower (208 vs. 182) than the Malibu Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 3.0t’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 118 more horsepower (300 vs. 182) than the Malibu Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 178 more horsepower (360 vs. 182) than the Malibu Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 218 more horsepower (400 vs. 182) than the Malibu Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid:

	Q50	Malibu Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.6 MPH	88.5 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (base engine):

	Q50	Malibu Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	7.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.5 sec	20.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	90 MPH
Top Speed	153 MPH	153 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 4.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Malibu Hybrid (17.8 vs. 13 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Malibu Hybrid (20 vs. 13 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Malibu Hybrid:

	Q50	Q50 Sport	Malibu Hybrid
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	14 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	13.8 inches	11.3 inches

The Q50’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Malibu Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Malibu Hybrid:

	Q50	Malibu Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Malibu Hybrid (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 225/55R17).

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s 245/40R19 front and 265/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Malibu Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q50 offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Malibu Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Q50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Q50 Red Sport 400 RWD offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Malibu Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Q50 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Malibu Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q50 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Q50’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the Malibu Hybrid’s (58.4% to 41.6%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the Malibu Hybrid pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the Malibu Hybrid (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

Chassis

The Q50 is 4.2 inches shorter than the Malibu Hybrid, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q50 Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Q50 has 1.1 inches more front headroom and 2.5 inches more front legroom than the Malibu Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The Q50 has a much larger trunk than the Malibu Hybrid (13.2 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Q50’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Malibu Hybrid’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Q50 offers cargo security. The Malibu Hybrid’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q50. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The Q50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Malibu Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Malibu Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Q50 (except 2.0t), the optional memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Q50 (except 2.0t)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Q50’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Malibu Hybrid’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left down on the Q50 the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the Malibu Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Q50 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Q50’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Malibu Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q50’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Malibu Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Q50 Premium/Sport offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the Q50 with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Malibu Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Q50 offers optional automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Malibu Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Q50’s optional (except Pure) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Q50 V6 offers an optional Intelligent Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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