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Starting at
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| 27 / 36 | MPG | 28 / 37 |
| 250 hp | Max Horsepower | 245 hp |
Sedans are the most fun, affordable, and fashionable of any motorized vehicle, which is probably why they are one of the most popular categories of vehicle you will find on the street today. Their size and fuel efficiency are also ideal for general commuting. Overall sedans have a lot to offer, and no two sedans are better to compare than the 2018 Chevy Malibu vs. 2018 Kia Optima.
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is sleek, passionate, and priced to perfection. It’s your classic sedan with an upgrade in every category from style to performance. The 2018 Kia Optima is flashy as well but falls just short in both style and max performance when up against the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. All and all, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is your classic and stylish sedan with an upgrade, while the 2018 Kia Optima offers a more modern spin on things.
Neither one of these vehicles is a pushover, and they are packed with features and options. Choosing between the two can be difficult, but it is at least one that can be made easy by knowing the straight up facts. After comparing all the facts there is most certainly a clear winner, so let’s take a look.
p>Overall, both the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2018 Kia Optima offer several opportunities for customization across their various trim levels. Choosing which trim is right for you will come down to your lifestyle and individual needs.
Offering four trims the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu gives you a clear selection that will allow you to easily choose a level that matches both your automotive and budget requirements.
Starting at just under $22,000, the Chevrolet Malibu L is the standard model Malibu which is still above and beyond other vehicles in its class. With this trim you will get keyless entry, push-button start, a six-speaker sound system, surprising comfortable cloth upholstery, and rear seat reminder for not a cent more to you.
Upgrading to the Chevrolet Malibu LS will probably be the best option though considering this is where you will get a much more intelligent infotainment system with a 7-inch touch display and smartphone connectivity. Additionally, this trim level will offer a USB port, a rearview camera, and teen driver tech to keep those newer drivers on the right track for the future.
Next up is the Chevrolet Malibu TL which takes the Malibu to a whole new level of luxury with features like heated mirrors, satellite radio, and a whole list of brilliant add-on options. You can get the convenience and tech package which will give you an 8-inch display and wireless charging for your phone and the Driver Confidence Package with only the most advanced safety technology on the market.
Last up is the Chevrolet Malibu Premier trim which is just under $31,000. This is where you will get some of the most desirable, top of the line features for comfort, convenience, entertainment, safety, and performance. This trim comes with the 2.0L turbo engine and the 9-speed transmission. You will also get such luxurious features as heated and ventilated leather seating and heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment display, a nine-speaker sound system, two USB ports, one outlet, and a wireless smartphone charging station.
Offering five trims the 2018 Kia Optima is highly versed in customization and will allow you plenty of options to suit your budget and as well as your automotive needs.
The LX is base trim which will give you all your standard features at the starting price of just over $22,000. You will get cloth seating, a 7-inch infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alerting, and a 2.4L engine. You can also get the LX trim with the 1.6L turbo engine which includes a better transmission as well as more power.
Move up one level for a little over $1,000 more, and you will get the Kia Optima S with everything the LX offers plus larger wheels and spoilers, 10-way power-adjustable leather seating and leather on the steering wheel and shift knob as well.
The Kia Optima EX is the second to last highest trim which offers the more luxurious features such as upgraded interior materials, heated leather upholstery and steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED lights, power-fold mirrors, push-button start, and a proximity key.
The final trim level is the Kia Optima SX that starts at around $30,000 and will give you all the best amenities. You will get the 2.0 turbo engine, a sport-tuned suspension, an athletic style upgrade for the interior and exterior, and a panoramic sunroof.
Sedans may not be as power-driven as a truck or SUV, but when it comes to sleek handling and precise efficiency of the power they are giving, no automotive does it better. The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2018 Kia Optima are both excellent examples of what their class has to offer the world in power output and with the aerodynamic design they hold nothing back.
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is anything but bland when it comes to offering handling and power that is clean and agile. The standard engine options for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine that pairs well with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine can produce 150 hp and will allow you one of the highest fuel efficiencies of its class with 36 mpg highway.
Sometimes the base engine just won’t do though, and in that case, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu also offers a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that pairs with a smooth as butter 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine will give you more capability than you could ever desire in a sedan of this class by outputting 250 hp for seemingly limitless acceleration and effortless handling. In general, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu will keep your thrilled with its sporty capabilities and keep you comfortable with its suave transitioning.
The 2018 Kia Optima starts you offered respectably with a 185 hp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine and paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s well-mannered and excellent for everyday driving and offers a stunning 36 mpg highway that competes well with the Chevrolet Malibu. There are also two additional 4-cylinder turbo engines in a 178 hp 1.6L version and a 245 hp 2.0L edition that will really impress prospective drivers. If you want fuel efficiency, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sounds appealing, then go for the 1.6L engine. However, if you need some impressive acceleration, go for the 2.0L engine. You will find the 2018 Kia Optima to be well-versed in performance capability with its engine options, but overall it does not offer the same balance of power and handling as the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
Style may not be everything, but it most certainly does matter when it comes to choosing the vehicle that best fits you. While the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is basically the poster child for midsize sedans, the 2018 Kia Optima goes for a more striking design choice that may not offer the same personal appeal.
If love at first sight is a thing, then the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has mastered and manufactured it all across the nation. When it comes to style, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is everything you are looking for in a car of its class. The 2018 Malibu is a brilliant mix of sporty and professional with its sleek and aerodynamic body structure. Elegance with a touch of bold seems to be the ideal way to describe this artistic and stunning automotive. However, if you want more than a touch of boldness to bring out even more of its athletic appeal, you can always invest in the Malibu Redline Edition which gives you a black grille and black wheels with red accents along with a few other additional features. Overall, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is not only fun to drive, but mesmerizing to look at as well.
The style of the 2018 Kia Optima can most easily be described as sharp. The lights, grille, curves, and even the mirrors seem as if they would cut you with just a touch. This sharpness clearly offers an athletic appeal to those looking for a more fierce style of a sedan, but will not be everyone’s cup of tea. In short, the 2018 Kia Optima is both modern and commanding by design and delivers a clear vision of speed and dynamic driving, but with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu being well-founded in both refinement and athleticism that type of vision may be tough to sell.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.