Compare the2023 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2023 Nissan Maxima

Both the Malibu and the Maxima have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, 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 Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Nissan Maxima:

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Nissan Maxima:

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

The Chevrolet Malibu has a better fatality history. The Malibu was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 7% lower per vehicle registered than the Maxima, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The Malibu’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Maxima’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Nissan dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Malibu’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Malibu first among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Maxima isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Malibu gets better fuel mileage than the Maxima (27 city/35 hwy vs. 20 city/30 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Malibu’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Maxima doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Malibu uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Maxima requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Malibu has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Maxima doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Malibu higher (7 out of 10) than the Nissan Maxima (3). This means the Malibu produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Maxima every 15,000 miles.

The Malibu stops shorter than the Maxima:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Malibu’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the Maxima (111.4 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

The Malibu handles at .88 G’s, while the Maxima Platinum pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Malibu executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Maxima Platinum (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Malibu’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (37 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Chevrolet Malibu may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Nissan Maxima.

The front grille of the Malibu (except 2.0 Turbo) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Maxima doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Malibu has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Maxima (102.9 vs. 98.5).

The Malibu has 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Maxima.

The front step up height for the Malibu is 1.6 inches lower than the Maxima (13.5” vs. 15.1”). The Malibu’s rear step up height is 1.4 inches lower than the Maxima’s (14.1” vs. 15.5”).

The Malibu has a much larger trunk than the Maxima (15.7 vs. 14.3 cubic feet).

The Malibu has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Maxima has no towing capacity.

The Malibu has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Maxima doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The Malibu’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Maxima’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Malibu and the Maxima have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Malibu is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Maxima prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Malibu’s standard front and rear power windows all lower 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 Maxima’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Malibu LS/LT’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Maxima doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Malibu to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Maxima doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Malibu LT offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Maxima doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Malibu LT offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Maxima doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Malibu LT’s optional Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Maxima doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Malibu owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Malibu will cost $185 to $6300 less than the Maxima over a five-year period.

The Malibu will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Malibu will retain 45.49% to 46.05% of its original price after five years, while the Maxima only retains 43.69% to 43.8%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Malibu is less expensive to operate than the Maxima because it costs $118 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Malibu than the Maxima, including $4 less for a muffler, $33 less for a starter, $84 less for fuel injection, $43 less for a fuel pump, $363 less for a timing belt/chain and $425 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Malibu will be $14301 to $18221 less than for the Nissan Maxima.

The Chevrolet Malibu outsold the Nissan Maxima by over 16 to one during 2022.