Compare the2023 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2022 Volkswagen Passat

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
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 Passat 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 Passat doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the Malibu and the Passat have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 Volkswagen Passat:

	Malibu	Passat
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18%	28.5%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	263 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	61 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	252/306 lbs.	166/453 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	1 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36%	46.5%
Neck Stress	169 lbs.	265 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	147 lbs.

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 Volkswagen Passat:

	Malibu	Passat
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	279	359
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	549 lbs.	720 lbs.

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

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 Passat has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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

There are almost 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Volkswagen 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 Passat isn’t in the top three.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, 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 Volkswagen 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, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 7 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Chevrolet Malibu is faster than the Volkswagen Passat:

	Malibu	Passat
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	8.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.9 sec	9 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.9 sec	6.3 sec
Top Speed	130 MPH	116 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Malibu gets better fuel mileage than the Passat (27 city/35 hwy vs. 24 city/36 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Malibu’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Passat doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 Passat 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 Passat doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Malibu stops much shorter than the Passat:

	Malibu	Passat
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Malibu is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Passat.

The Malibu handles at .87 G’s, while the Passat pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Malibu executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Passat R-Line (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The Chevrolet Malibu may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Volkswagen Passat.

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 Passat doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Malibu has .8 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Passat.

The front step up height for the Malibu is 2.3 inches lower than the Passat (13.5” vs. 15.8”). The Malibu’s rear step up height is 1.4 inches lower than the Passat’s (14.1” vs. 15.5”).

Towing

The Malibu has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Passat has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

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 Passat 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 Passat does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Malibu’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Passat has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

On a hot day the Malibu’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Passat can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

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 Passat doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Car-Net 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 Passat’s headlights, which were rated “Fair” to “Good” (depending on model and options).

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

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Malibu LT offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Passat doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Malibu is less expensive to operate than the Passat because it costs $209 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Malibu than the Passat, including $62 less for a muffler, $377 less for a starter, $68 less for a fuel pump, $137 less for front struts, $424 less for a timing belt/chain and $180 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Chevrolet Malibu outsold the Volkswagen Passat by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.