Compare the2023 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2023 Audi A3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Malibu are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Malibu and the A3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Malibu the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 221 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A3 has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Malibu 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 10 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Malibu’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Malibu first among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 92 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Malibu uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Malibu has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 FWD’s standard fuel tank (15.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Malibu has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the A3 Quattro’s standard fuel tank (15.8 vs. 14.5 gallons).

The Malibu has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The A3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The Malibu has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The A3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Malibu’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A3 (245/45R18 vs. 225/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Malibu LT offers optional 19-inch wheels. The A3’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Malibu’s wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the A3 (111.4 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Malibu is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the A3.

Chassis

The front grille of the Malibu (except 2.0 Turbo) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The A3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Malibu a Mid-size car, while the A3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Malibu has 15.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A3 (102.9 vs. 87).

The Malibu has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the A3.

Cargo Capacity

The Malibu has a much larger trunk than the A3 (15.7 vs. 10.9 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Malibu offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Malibu Premier’s standard easy entry system 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 A3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Malibu’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The A3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Malibu LS/LT’s available exterior PIN entry system. The A3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Audi Connect CARE can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports rated the Malibu’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the A3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Malibu’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The A3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Malibu to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The A3 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Both the Malibu and the A3 offer available heated front seats. The Malibu Premier also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the A3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Malibu LT keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The A3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Malibu LT’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The A3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Malibu LT offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The A3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Malibu will be $5931 to $9907 less than for the Audi A3.

Recommendations

The Chevrolet Malibu outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over 13 to one during the 2021 model year.