Compare the2023 Subaru LegacyVS 2023 Chevrolet Malibu

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Legacy have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chevrolet Malibu doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Legacy 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 Legacy Sport/Limited/Touring has standard Reverse Automatic Braking 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 Legacy has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Malibu doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Legacy’s optional 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 Legacy and the Malibu have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Subaru Legacy is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Legacy	Malibu
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	158	172
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	252/306 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 Subaru Legacy is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Legacy	Malibu
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	50	160
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.3 inches
Abdominal Force	216 lbs.	232 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	220	365
Hip Force	581 lbs.	1117 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	104	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 Subaru Legacy is much safer than the Malibu:

	Legacy	Malibu
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	POOR
Head Injury Criterion	71	1178
Head Peak Forces	no contact	142 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.14 in	2.17 in
Shoulder Force	379 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.42 in	1.77 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1026 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	269	335
Head Peak Forces	no contact	74 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.34 in	1.93 in
Shoulder Force	402 lbs.	892 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 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 Legacy 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 Legacy’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Malibu’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 Legacy’s reliability 20 points higher than the Malibu.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 13 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Legacy 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (182 vs. 160) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Legacy Sport/XT’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 100 more horsepower (260 vs. 160) and 93 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Legacy is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Legacy 2.5i	Legacy Sport/XT	Malibu
Zero to 60 MPH	8.1 sec	6.1 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	14.8 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.5 MPH	94.5 MPH	84.6 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Legacy lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Malibu doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Legacy has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Malibu (18.5 vs. 15.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Legacy’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Malibu:

	Legacy	Malibu
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	11.3 inches

The Legacy’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 Legacy stops shorter than the Malibu:

	Legacy	Malibu
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Legacy has larger tires than the Malibu (225/55R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The Legacy Base/Premium’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.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Legacy Base/Premium has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Malibu LS.

Suspension and Handling

The Legacy’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (58% to 42%) than the Malibu’s (61.6% to 38.4%). This gives the Legacy more stable handling and braking.

The Legacy Limited handles at .85 G’s, while the Malibu LT pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The Legacy is 3.1 inches shorter than the Malibu, making the Legacy easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Legacy Sport is quieter than the Malibu LT (40 vs. 42 dB).

Passenger Space

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

The Legacy has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Malibu (105.5 vs. 102.9).

The Legacy has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Malibu.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Legacy easier. The Legacy’s trunk lift-over height is 26.8 inches, while the Malibu’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Legacy’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Malibu’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

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

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Legacy is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Malibu. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Legacy’s standard front power windows 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 Legacy Limited/Touring’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Malibu LT’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The Legacy 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 Legacy’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 Legacy has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Malibu doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Legacy’s optional 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Legacy owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Legacy will cost $475 to $4220 less than the Malibu over a five-year period.

The Legacy will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Legacy will retain 49.53% to 51.53% 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 Legacy is less expensive to operate than the Malibu because typical repairs cost much less on the Legacy than the Malibu, including $129 less for a water pump, $411 less for a muffler, $93 less for front brake pads and $123 less for fuel injection.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Legacy will be $2806 to $2877 less than for the Chevrolet Malibu.

Recommendations

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