Compare the2023 Hyundai SonataVS 2023 Chevrolet Malibu

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Sonata 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sonata Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Malibu doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sonata Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Malibu only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Sonata 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 Sonata has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Malibu and the Malibu’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Sonata’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 Sonata 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 and rearview cameras.

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

	Sonata	Malibu
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	36%
Neck Stress	98 lbs.	169 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/21 lbs.	162/232 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, results indicate that the Hyundai Sonata is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Sonata	Malibu
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.3 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	301	365
Hip Force	539 lbs.	1117 lbs.

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 Hyundai Sonata is much safer than the Malibu:

	Sonata	Malibu
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	POOR
Head Injury Criterion	195	1178
Head Peak Forces	no contact	142 G’s
Neck Tension	379 lbs.	402 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.54 in	2.17 in
Shoulder Force	357 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.77 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	111	335
Head Peak Forces	no contact	74 G’s
Neck Tension	312 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.75 in	1.93 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	892 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.81 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 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 Sonata 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 Sonata comes with a full 5-year/60,000-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 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Sonata 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Malibu. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Malibu ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Sonata’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Malibu’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sonata for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai 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 Sonata’s reliability 34 points higher than the Malibu.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 7 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Sonata SEL Plus/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (180 vs. 160) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Sonata’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 31 more horsepower (191 vs. 160) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Sonata N Line’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 130 more horsepower (290 vs. 160) and 127 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Sonata SEL Plus/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Sonata	Malibu
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	2.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	20 sec	24.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.8 sec	8.9 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	4.3 sec	4.9 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.1 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	85 MPH
Top Speed	135 MPH	130 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Sonata
	SE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/38 hwy
	SEL 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
Malibu
	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy

Transmission

The Sonata N Line’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 Sonata’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Malibu:

	Sonata	Sonata N Line	Malibu
Front Rotors	12 inches	13.6 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	12.8 inches	11.3 inches

The Sonata stops much shorter than the Malibu:

	Sonata	Malibu
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Sonata 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 Sonata 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.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sonata is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Malibu.

The Sonata N Line handles at .93 G’s, while the Malibu LT pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonata N Line executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Malibu LT (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sonata’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Malibu’s (35.9 feet vs. 37 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Sonata Limited is quieter than the Malibu LT (37 vs. 42 dB).

Passenger Space

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

The Sonata has .9 inches more front headroom, 4.6 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more rear headroom and 1 inch more rear hip room than the Malibu.

Cargo Capacity

The Sonata has a larger trunk than the Malibu (16 vs. 15.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Sonata easier. The Sonata’s trunk lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Malibu’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Sonata. The Malibu doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind 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 Sonata 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.

Ergonomics

The Sonata Limited has a standard 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 Sonata’s standard driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Malibu’s standard driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully. The Sonata SEL/SEL Plus/Limited/N Line’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Malibu LT’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Sonata 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 Sonata’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Malibu’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Sonata Limited’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

The Sonata’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.

The Sonata’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 Sonata Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Malibu LT’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Sonata owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sonata will cost $155 less than the Malibu over a five-year period.

The Sonata will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sonata will retain 46.08% to 47.23% of its original price after five years, while the Malibu only retains 45.49% to 46.05%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonata is less expensive to operate than the Malibu because typical repairs cost less on the Sonata than the Malibu, including $187 less for a water pump, $12 less for a muffler, $107 less for front brake pads, $81 less for a starter, $101 less for fuel injection, $85 less for a fuel pump and $93 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Sonata will be $1193 to $1212 less than for the Chevrolet Malibu.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonata second among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Malibu isn’t in the top three.