Compare the2023 BMW 2 Series Gran CoupeVS 2023 Chevrolet Malibu

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The 2 Series Gran Coupe has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Malibu doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Malibu doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Malibu doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has standard Park Distance Control to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Malibu doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Malibu’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 2 Series Gran Coupe has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Malibu.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Malibu doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 2 Series Gran Coupe and the Malibu have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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 and rearview cameras.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 2 Series Gran Coupe the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 162 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Malibu last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The 2 Series Gran Coupe comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Malibu’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 6 years and unlimited miles longer than the Malibu’s (12/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 2 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Malibu.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s reliability 23 points higher than the Malibu.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 5 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The 228i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 68 more horsepower (228 vs. 160) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 141 more horsepower (301 vs. 160) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the 228i Gran Coupe is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	2 Series Gran Coupe	Malibu
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	8.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.6 sec	5.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96 MPH	86 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Malibu doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Malibu doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Malibu:

	228i	M235i xDrive	Malibu
Front Rotors	13 inches	14.2 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	13 inches	11.3 inches

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’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 are solid, not vented.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe stops much shorter than the Malibu:

	2 Series	Malibu
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 2 Series Gran Coupe has larger standard tires than the Malibu (225/45R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Malibu LS’ standard 65 series tires. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Malibu LT’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 2 Series Gran Coupe has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Malibu LS.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 2 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Malibu doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Malibu’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe 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’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58.3% to 41.7%) than the Malibu’s (61.6% to 38.4%). This gives the 2 Series Gran Coupe more stable handling and braking.

The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe handles at .91 G’s, while the Malibu LT pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Malibu LT (25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

Chassis

The 2 Series Gran Coupe is 1 foot, 3.7 inches shorter than the Malibu, making the 2 Series Gran Coupe easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe is quieter than the Malibu LT (36 vs. 42 dB).

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the 2 Series Gran Coupe. The Malibu doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Malibu doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The 2 Series Gran Coupe uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Malibu 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 14% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

Ergonomics

The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Malibu doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’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’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. The Malibu LT’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the 2 Series Gran Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Malibu can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Malibu doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’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’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Malibu’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 2 Series Gran Coupe offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Malibu doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Malibu LT.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Malibu offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Malibu LT.

Both the 2 Series Gran Coupe and the Malibu offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the 2 Series Gran Coupe has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Malibu doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Malibu LT’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

The 2 Series Gran Coupe will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 2 Series Gran Coupe will retain 47.21% to 48.43% of its original price after five years, while the Malibu only retains 45.49% to 46.05%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Malibu isn't recommended.