Compare the2023 Toyota CorollaVS 2023 Chevrolet Malibu

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Corolla are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Malibu doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Corolla has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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.

The Corolla’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 Corolla and the Malibu have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems 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 Toyota Corolla is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Corolla	Malibu
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	36%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	169 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Corolla	Malibu
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	92	160
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.3 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	232 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	137	365
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	1117 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
HIC	239	279

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Corolla is much safer than the Malibu:

	Corolla	Malibu
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	POOR
Head Injury Criterion	99	1178
Head Peak Forces	no contact	142 G’s
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	2.17 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	1.77 in
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	150	335
Head Peak Forces	no contact	74 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.38 in	1.93 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	892 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.81 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	9 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Malibu last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Corolla’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Malibu’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota 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 Corolla’s reliability 51 points higher than the Malibu.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Chevrolet is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 20th.

Engine

The Corolla’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (169 vs. 160) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Corolla is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Corolla	Malibu
Zero to 60 MPH	8.2 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.4 MPH	84.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Corolla
	LE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
	SE/XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
Malibu
	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The Corolla stops shorter than the Malibu:

	Corolla	Malibu
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Corolla’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Malibu LS’ standard 65 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Corolla handles at .89 G’s, while the Malibu LT pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Corolla’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Malibu’s (35.6 feet vs. 37 feet).

Chassis

The Corolla is 11.7 inches shorter than the Malibu, making the Corolla easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Corolla easier. The Corolla’s trunk lift-over height is 27.1 inches, while the Malibu’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

Ergonomics

The Corolla’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 Corolla the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Malibu can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla 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 Corolla’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 Corolla XLE/XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Malibu doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Chevrolet Malibu isn’t available as a four door hatchback or wagon.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corolla is less expensive to operate than the Malibu because it costs $164 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Corolla than the Malibu, including $217 less for a water pump, $258 less for a muffler, $112 less for front brake pads, $14 less for fuel injection and $59 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Corolla, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Malibu isn't recommended.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Chevrolet Malibu by over two to one during 2022.