Compare the2025 Hyundai ElantraVS 2025 Chevrolet Malibu

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Elantra 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.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Elantra is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Chevrolet Malibu, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Elantra	Malibu
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-8 MPH
25 MPH	-20 MPH	-5 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-4 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-20 MPH	-3 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-4 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-1 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-4 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.1 sec	1.3 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-27 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.3 sec	No Warning

The Elantra has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Malibu’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Malibu and the Malibu’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Elantra’s 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 Elantra and the Malibu have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact 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 and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Elantra	Malibu
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	172
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 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 Hyundai Elantra is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Elantra	Malibu
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	83	160
Chest Movement	1.2 inches	1.3 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	345	365
Hip Force	355 lbs.	1117 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
HIC	184	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 Hyundai Elantra is much safer than the Malibu:

	Elantra	Malibu
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	POOR
Head Injury Criterion	189	1178
Head Peak Forces	no contact	142 G’s
Neck Tension	312 lbs.	402 lbs.
Neck Compression	-134 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	2.17 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.77 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	167	335
Head Peak Forces	no contact	74 G’s
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	469 lbs.
Neck Compression	-156 lbs.	22 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.18 in	1.93 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	892 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.81 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	870 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

The Hyundai Elantra achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Malibu is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

The Elantra comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Malibu’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Malibu. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Malibu ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Elantra’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Malibu’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, 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 Elantra’s reliability 31 points higher than the Malibu.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 9 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Elantra is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu:

	Elantra	Malibu
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	8.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.4 sec	5.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	86 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Elantra
	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/39 hwy
Malibu
	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy

The Elantra has a standard locking fuel door. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Malibu. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

The Elantra stops much shorter than the Malibu:

	Elantra	Malibu
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Elantra has standard rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Malibu’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Elantra has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Malibu doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Elantra Limited handles at .88 G’s, while the Malibu LT pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Elantra Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Malibu LT (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Elantra’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Malibu’s (35.4 feet vs. 37 feet).

Chassis

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Chevrolet Malibu.

The Elantra is 8.8 inches shorter than the Malibu, making the Elantra easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Elantra Limited is quieter than the Malibu LT (35 vs. 42 dB).

Passenger Space

The Elantra has 1.5 inches more front headroom and .8 inches more front legroom than the Malibu.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Elantra easier. The Elantra’s trunk lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the Malibu’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Elantra SEL Sport/Limited’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Malibu doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The Elantra’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

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra will cost $1210 less than the Malibu over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Elantra will be $6707 to $8962 less than for the Chevrolet Malibu.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Elantra second among compact cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Malibu isn’t in the top three in its category.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The Malibu has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Chevrolet Malibu by 3807 units during 2023.