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| 27 / 36 | MPG | 27 / 38 |
| 5 | Seating Capacity | 5 |
| 260 lb-ft | Maximum Torque | 251 lb-ft |
When it comes to comparing the 2018 Chevy Malibu vs. 2018 Nissan Altima, the 2018 Nissan Altima did not score well among drivers and critics. In fact, critics were not very excited when delving into the Altima’s specifications because Nissan didn’t see any changes for 2018. The lack of changes means the vehicle is just as lackluster as the 2017 model. Nissan missed an opportunity to at least compete with Toyota and Honda, both of which made a point to make massive upgrades to their 2018 lineup, to offset disappointment from consumers. If critics had anything favorable to say about the Altima, it was that it was roomy and somewhat fuel-efficient.
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, however, is much roomier in the cabin and has a much smoother ride with comfortable handling. Chevrolet engineers and designers made a point to design the Malibu, so it would be a go-to for sedan shoppers. Car buyers will not be disappointed with all that the Malibu will offer them.
Exterior and interior styling, powerful and refined engines, and top-level infotainment are all standard with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Chevrolet manufacturers want you to look no further when searching for your perfect sedan, making the Malibu a one-size-fits-all class-leading sedan.
Although it is clear that the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is the favored sedan among drivers and critics, it is important to compare these two vehicles in more depth to help you along in your decision-making process. Here we’ll compare the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. the 2018 Nissan Altima in a few important categories including power, fuel economy, and infotainment. When it comes time to purchase your new sedan, we’re sure you’ll be sold on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu!
Whether or not you’re planning on having passengers in your new sedan, infotainment is an important factor to consider. From offering entertainment on long rides to keeping you connected with your devices, infotainment has become an important part of the car-buying experience.
Chevrolet made a point to ensure that every car buyer of a 2018 vehicle gets all of the latest in top-of-the-line technology in every car that comes off the line. The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is no exception, offering standard features like the 7-inch diagonal touchscreen display and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility starting with the 2nd level trim. With the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, you can also upgrade to several advanced entertainment features like built-in 4G LTE WIFI and an 8-inch touchscreen with Navigation. For the tech-savvy driver, critics note that the LT trim will offer the best entertainment features for its value, these include the 7-inch touchscreen display system and SiriusXM Radio, as well as an available upgrade to the Bose 9-speaker sound system and the 4.2″ driver information system.
The 2018 Nissan Altima comes with a few nice entertainment features standard on their base trim level including USB ports, a 6-speaker sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 5″ color display system for the AM/FM radio. With the 2018 Nissan Altima, you’ll have to upgrade to higher trim levels to experience the 7-inch touchscreen display system and Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility. Also available with an upgrade is the Bose Premium Audio System and Sirius Satellite Radio. Overall, drivers aren’t pleased with the number of upgrades you’ll have to pay for in order to experience what many other vehicles in its class offer as standard features among lower trim levels. For example, upgrading to even 2nd level trim still means you’ll have to pay even more to upgrade to the 7-inch touchscreen display. However, as more of a convenience feature, the 2018 Nissan Altima does come with a Rearview Monitor for no additional cost.
No more drab interior for Malibu drivers. With the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, car buyers will squeal with delight for the newest interior designs. Designers have provided consumers with the most in leather interior luxury. This includes a black leather-wrapped steering wheel and a plush leatherette interior.
This interior makes a great backdrop to the exciting infotainment options, gadgets, and buttons. The dashboard looks especially nice behind the large screen that comes standard and is just one more great-looking modern feature of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
One thing critics did like about the 2018 Nissan Altima’s was its interior which seemed to be designed to please and to make up for its lackluster ride. One of the most comfortable aspects of the Altima is the spacious seating in the front cabin. If you spend a lot of time in the driver’s seat but don’t plan on having to cart around passengers regularly, you will be happy with what Nissan has provided. This is because the room in the cabin seems to take up the majority of the legroom in the rear, which makes for a bit of a cramped ride for any passengers.
And just as the car lacks in space overall, it definitely lacks in overall design. Especially on the dash, which is lacking those sleek modern looks that the Malibu has. Many car buyers are looking for luxury and would be disappointed with the plastics they get in the basic model. Plastic might be more affordable than leatherette in this instance, but it ends up looking cheap and not at all luxurious.
The only place that the Altima impresses once again is cabin space. Critics consider it “cavernous” with ample legroom, headroom, and front visibility. Once again, however, the 2018 Nissan Altima has little to no headroom in the rear, and if you upgrade to the sunroof, you have even less headroom, which makes it almost impossible for your passengers to get in and out and ride comfortably.
When it comes to fuel economy, both sedans are impressively efficient. Overall, the 2018 Nissan Altima has the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu beat but only at an additional cost to upgrade its engine.
No one necessarily expects an up-to-the-minute sedan to not be fuel-efficient in some way, and the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu stands up to the test. The numbers are clear: 27 city / 36 highway, the 2018 Malibu was built to impress. And these fuel-efficient engines are standard with every 2018 model. This is one of the areas where both the Malibu and the 2018 Nissan Altima shine, although the Altima only earned three stars from critics.
Overall, with upgrades to its engine, the 2018 Nissan Altima produces a 38 mpg EPA rating. This is obviously a high number, one that might even sway car buyers to overlook the Malibu. However, testers say that numbers like that don’t always show up when it comes to real-world testing. And while the CVT is somewhat disappointing in drivability, it’s what Nissan insists helps get its highway its highway EPA test rating up so high. Critics disagree, however, suggesting that with better powertrains the numbers could possibly get that high. Once again, it requires an upgrade to even get the engine that achieves the highest mpg rating.
When it comes to power, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu offers an impressive performance for a sedan. Meanwhile, the 2018 Nissan Altima boasts a few enhancements when it comes to handling. But let’s take a close look at the performance of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2018 Nissan Altima.
When it comes to power, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu offers an impressive performance for a sedan. Meanwhile, the 2018 Nissan Altima boasts a few enhancements when it comes to handling. But let’s take a close look at the performance of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2018 Nissan Altima.
The 2018 Nissan Altima comes standard with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, producing 179 hp. The 2018 Nissan Altima also offers a 3.5L V6 engine which will increase the horsepower to an impressive 270 hp. Both the 1.5L and 3.5L engines are paired with a CVT and are front-wheel drive. Many critics noted that drivers are increasingly moving to turbocharged engine options, as well as traditional automatic transmissions. However, the 2018 Nissan Altima is still able to compete with others in its class when it comes to power. Critics also noted that the 2018 Nissan Altima offers fair handling, but that many other vehicles in its class provide even smoother handling.
While both engines on the 2018 Nissan Altima produce more horsepower than the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu’s available engines, the amount is truly minor. If you’re looking for the perfect balance between handling and power, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is the more suitable option.
*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.