Compare the2025 Chevrolet MalibuVS 2025 Hyundai Elantra

The Chevrolet Malibu has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 Elantra doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Malibu’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the front seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Elantra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Malibu and the Elantra 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, 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 Hyundai Elantra:

	Malibu	Elantra
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18%	21%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	29 lbs.	51 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	272	314
Neck Injury Risk	36%	42%
Neck Stress	169 lbs.	177 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 Hyundai Elantra:

	Malibu	Elantra
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	549 lbs.	954 lbs.

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

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

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked 13th.

The Malibu’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (163 vs. 147) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 132) than the Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Chevrolet Malibu is faster than the Hyundai Elantra:

	Malibu	Elantra
Zero to 60 MPH	8 sec	8.1 sec
Top Speed	130 MPH	124 MPH

The Malibu has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Elantra (15.8 vs. 12.4 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 Elantra doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

	Malibu	Elantra
Front Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.3 inches	10.3 inches

The Malibu’s standard front disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The front discs on the Elantra are solid, not vented.

The Malibu stops shorter than the Elantra:

	Malibu	Elantra
70 to 0 MPH	167 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver

For better traction, the Malibu has larger standard tires than the Elantra (205/65R16 vs. 195/65R15). The Malibu RS’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Elantra (245/45R18 vs. 225/45R17).

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 Elantra SEL Sport/Limited’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Malibu LS has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Elantra SE. The Malibu LT’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Elantra SEL Sport/Limited.

For superior ride and handling, the Chevrolet Malibu has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Hyundai Elantra has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Malibu has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Malibu flat and controlled during cornering. The Elantra’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Malibu’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the Elantra (111.4 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

The Malibu handles at .88 G’s, while the Elantra Limited pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Malibu executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Elantra Limited (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

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 Elantra doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

	Malibu	Elantra
Full-Throttle	71 dB	79 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	68 dB

The Malibu has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Elantra (102.9 vs. 99.4).

The Malibu has .7 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, 2.9 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Elantra.

The Malibu has a much larger trunk than the Elantra (15.7 vs. 14.2 cubic feet).

The Malibu’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Elantra’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

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

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 Elantra 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 Elantra 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 Elantra has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Malibu’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Elantra has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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 Elantra’s standard power windows’ passenger windows don’t open automatically.

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

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 Elantra doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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. Only the Elantra SEL/Limited offers a Proximity Key.

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 Elantra’s passenger power window and power mirror 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 Elantra’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 Elantra 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 Elantra’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Malibu and the Elantra 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 Elantra.

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 Elantra 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 Elantra doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Malibu and the Elantra 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 Elantra 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 Elantra 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 Elantra doesn’t offer an automated parking system.