Compare the2023 Toyota CamryVS 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 Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry 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 Camry 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Camry XLE/XSE offers an optional Rear Cross Traffic 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 Camry offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Malibu doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Camry XLE/XSE offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera 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.

Both the Camry and the Malibu have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Camry is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Camry	Malibu
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	140	172
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	29 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	21%	36%
Neck Stress	136 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 Camry is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Camry	Malibu
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	134	160
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.3 inches
Abdominal Force	136 lbs.	232 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	289	365
Spine Acceleration	48 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	752 lbs.	1117 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	164	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 Camry is much safer than the Malibu:

	Camry	Malibu
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	POOR
Head Injury Criterion	249	1178
Head Peak Forces	no contact	142 G’s
Neck Tension	290 lbs.	402 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	2.17 in
Shoulder Force	290 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.77 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	937 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	185	335
Head Peak Forces	no contact	74 G’s
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.79 in	1.93 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	892 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 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, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Camry its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Malibu last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Camry 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 Camry’s reliability 32 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 Camry AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 42 more horsepower (202 vs. 160) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Camry’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (203 vs. 160) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Camry XSE AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (205 vs. 160) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Camry XSE’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 46 more horsepower (206 vs. 160) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Camry’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 141 more horsepower (301 vs. 160) and 83 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. 184) than the Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Camry 4 cyl. is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Camry	Malibu
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.4 MPH	84.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Camry
	FWD	LE/SE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/39 hwy
		XLE 2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/38 hwy
Malibu
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Camry	Camry TRD	Malibu
Front Rotors	12 inches	12.9 inches	11.8 inches

The Camry stops much shorter than the Malibu:

	Camry	Malibu
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	133 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Camry has larger standard tires than the Malibu (215/55R17 vs. 205/65R16).

The Camry LE’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 Camry LE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Malibu LS.

Suspension and Handling

The Camry 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 Camry’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (59.5% to 40.5%) than the Malibu’s (61.6% to 38.4%). This gives the Camry more stable handling and braking.

The Camry TRD handles at .94 G’s, while the Malibu LT pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Camry XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Malibu LT (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Camry SE is quieter than the Malibu LT (41 vs. 42 dB).

Passenger Space

The Camry has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear hip room than the Malibu.

Cargo Capacity

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

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

Servicing Ease

The Camry 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 Camry XLE/XSE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer 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 Camry’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 Camry 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 Camry 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 Camry’s 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 Camry’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.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Camry is less expensive to operate than the Malibu because typical repairs cost much less on the Camry than the Malibu, including $36 less for a water pump, $279 less for a muffler and $71 less for front brake pads.

Recommendations

The Toyota Camry has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Camry	Malibu
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The Toyota Camry outsold the Chevrolet Malibu by almost three to one during 2022.