Compare the2023 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2023 Volvo S60

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 S60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Chevrolet Malibu has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The S60 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Malibu and the S60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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.

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 Volvo S60:

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 Volvo S60:

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 Volvo covers the S60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the S60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 10 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Volvo 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 S60 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 Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 109 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 33rd, 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 Volvo 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, Volvo is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 1 place higher in reliability than Volvo.

On the EPA test cycle the Malibu gets better mileage than the S60 running its gasoline engine:

Both the Malibu and the S60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Malibu’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The S60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Malibu uses regular unleaded gasoline. The S60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Malibu higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo S60 (5 to 7). This means the Malibu produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S60 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 S60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better traction, the Malibu’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S60 (245/45R18 vs. 235/45R18).

The front and rear suspension of the Malibu uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the S60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Chevrolet Malibu may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 1300 pounds less than the Volvo S60.

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 S60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Malibu LT is quieter than the S60 Core:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Malibu a Mid-size car, while the S60 is rated a Compact.

The Malibu has 6.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S60 (102.9 vs. 96).

The Malibu has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the S60.

The Malibu has a much larger trunk than the S60 (15.7 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

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 S60 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 S60 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 S60 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call 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 S60’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Malibu has standard extendable sun visors. The S60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Malibu to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S60 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 S60 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 S60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Malibu owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Malibu with a number “3” insurance rate while the S60 is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Malibu is less expensive to operate than the S60 because it costs $200 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Malibu than the S60, including $13 less for a muffler, $148 less for a starter, $64 less for fuel injection, $443 less for a fuel pump and $73 less for a power steering pump.

The Chevrolet Malibu outsold the Volvo 60 Series by over four to one during the 2021 model year.