Compare the2025 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2025 Subaru Legacy

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

Safety

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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 Legacy doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Compared to metal, the Malibu’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Legacy has a metal gas tank.

Both the Malibu and the Legacy have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Subaru Legacy:

	Malibu	Legacy
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18%	26%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	281 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	57 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	36%	43%
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	51 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 Subaru Legacy:

	Malibu	Legacy
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	549 lbs.	681 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 Legacy’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are almost 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Subaru 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 third among midsize cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Legacy isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 176) than the Legacy 2.5i’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Chevrolet Malibu is faster than the Legacy 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Malibu	Legacy
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	8.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.3 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	16.9 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Malibu
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
Legacy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/35 hwy
		2.4 turbo flat-4	23 city/31 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Malibu uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Legacy Sport/XT requires premium for maximum efficiency, 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 Legacy doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Brakes and Stopping

The Malibu stops much shorter than the Legacy:

	Malibu	Legacy
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Malibu RS’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Legacy (245/45R18 vs. 225/55R17).

The Malibu LT’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Legacy Sport/Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

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

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Malibu’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Legacy (111.4 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

The Malibu handles at .88 G’s, while the Legacy Touring XT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Malibu executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.9 seconds quicker than the Legacy Sport (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The Chevrolet Malibu may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 550 pounds less than the Subaru Legacy.

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

	Malibu	Legacy
Full-Throttle	71 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The Malibu has .4 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Legacy.

Cargo Capacity

The Malibu has a larger trunk than the Legacy (15.7 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

Towing

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

Ergonomics

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 Legacy 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 Legacy does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the Malibu and the Legacy 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 Legacy 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 Legacy’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

On a hot day the Malibu’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Legacy can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Malibu has a standard Keyless Access System that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Entry and Start costs extra on the Legacy and isn’t available on the Legacy Base.

Consumer Reports rated the Malibu’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Legacy’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 Legacy doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 Legacy 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 Legacy 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 Legacy because it costs $482 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Malibu than the Legacy, including $76 less for a starter, $10 less for a fuel pump, $83 less for front struts, $91 less for a timing belt/chain and $4 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Chevrolet Malibu outsold the Subaru Legacy by over five to one during 2023.