Compare the2023 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2023 Toyota Corolla

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

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Malibu are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Corolla doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Chevrolet Malibu has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Corolla doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Malibu and the Corolla 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, 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 Toyota Corolla:

	Malibu	Corolla
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	172	187
Neck Injury Risk	18%	27%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	243 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	50 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	252/306 lbs.	330/310 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	272	356
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	86 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	162/232 lbs.	301/156 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Toyota Corolla:

	Malibu	Corolla
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	32 G’s
Hip Force	549 lbs.	623 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

There are over 2 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Malibu’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Malibu first among midsize cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Corolla was rated second 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 Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 14th.

Engine

The Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 151) than the Corolla’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Chevrolet Malibu is faster than the Toyota Corolla:

	Malibu	Corolla
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	8.2 sec
Top Speed	130 MPH	118 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 Corolla 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 Corolla requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Malibu has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla (15.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Corolla doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Malibu	Corolla
Front Rotors	11.8 inches	10.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.3 inches	10.2 inches

The Malibu stops much shorter than the Corolla:

	Malibu	Corolla
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Malibu’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla (245/45R18 vs. 225/40R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Malibu LT offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Corolla’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Malibu’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the Corolla (111.4 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Malibu is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Corolla.

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

The Malibu executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Corolla XSE (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

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 Corolla doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Malibu LT is quieter than the Corolla:

	Malibu	Corolla
At idle	42 dB	42 dB
Full-Throttle	71 dB	77 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	71 dB

Passenger Space

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

The Malibu has 14.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla (102.9 vs. 88.6).

The Malibu has .8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 5.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla.

Cargo Capacity

The Malibu has a much larger trunk than the Corolla (15.7 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

Towing

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

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Malibu LT, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Corolla doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Malibu Premier’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Corolla doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Malibu’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Corolla does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 Corolla doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Malibu’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Corolla’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Consumer Reports rated the Malibu’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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

When the Malibu LT with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Corolla’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Malibu LT’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Corolla doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Both the Malibu and the Corolla offer available heated front seats. The Malibu Premier also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Corolla.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Malibu LT keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Corolla doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Malibu LT’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Corolla doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Malibu LT’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Corolla doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Malibu and the Corolla offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Malibu LT has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Corolla doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Corolla 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 Corolla doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Malibu is less expensive to operate than the Corolla because typical repairs cost much less on the Malibu than the Corolla, including $56 less for a starter, $44 less for a fuel pump, $591 less for a timing belt/chain and $160 less for a power steering pump.