Compare the2023 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2023 Audi A4

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 A4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Malibu and the A4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Audi A4:

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Audi A4:

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

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Malibu 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 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.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Malibu first among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A4 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.

On the EPA test cycle the Malibu gets better mileage than the A4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Malibu uses regular unleaded gasoline. The A4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 A4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Malibu higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi A4 (5). This means the Malibu produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A4 every 15,000 miles.

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 A4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Malibu stops shorter than the A4:

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Malibu is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the A4.

The Malibu handles at .88 G’s, while the A4 Premium pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Malibu executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the A4 Premium (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Malibu’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the A4’s (37 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Chevrolet Malibu may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 450 pounds less than the Audi A4.

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 A4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Malibu a Mid-size car, while the A4 is rated a Compact.

The Malibu has 10.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 (102.9 vs. 92).

The Malibu has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 2.4 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4.

The Malibu has a much larger trunk than the A4 (15.7 vs. 12 cubic feet).

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 A4 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 A4 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 A4 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 A4 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Malibu’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the A4’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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 A4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Malibu owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Malibu will cost $2215 less than the A4 over a five-year period.

The Malibu will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Malibu will retain 45.49% to 46.05% of its original price after five years, while the A4 only retains 43.4% to 44.48%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Malibu is less expensive to operate than the A4 because it costs $264 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Malibu than the A4, including $226 less for a water pump, $12 less for a muffler, $474 less for a starter, $24 less for fuel injection, $181 less for a fuel pump, $574 less for front struts, $195 less for a timing belt/chain and $109 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Malibu will be $17783 to $18651 less than for the Audi A4.

The Chevrolet Malibu outsold the Audi A4/S4 by over three to one during the 2021 model year.