Chevrolet Impala vs. Chevrolet Malibu

Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews

Chevrolet Impala

$568
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Chevrolet Malibu

$532
Average Annual
Repair Cost

Overall Reliability Rating

4
Above Average
The Chevrolet Impala Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 5th out of 12 for fullsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $568 which means it has average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Impala.
4
Excellent
The Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 9th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $532 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. Repairs are less severe and less frequent than the average car, so the Malibu is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road.
Cost
Average annual repairs total
$568
inexpensive
expensive
$532
inexpensive
expensive
Frequency
Average annual repair shop visits
0.21
not often
very often
0.28
not often
very often
Severity
Percentage of annual repairs that are urgent
13%
not urgent
urgent
11%
not urgent
urgent

Overall Car Ratings & Details

5 (8)
4 (42)
3 (28)
2 (7)
1
(0)
The Chevrolet Impala ranks highest in comfort and ranks lowest in performance.
“Great overall car that I inherited from my folks.”
“Great overall car that I inherited from my folks.”
5 (5)
4 (35)
3 (31)
2 (29)
1 (6)
The Chevrolet Malibu ranks highest in value and ranks lowest in comfort.
83% of reviewers would recommend this car.
“I have had this car for 6 years, bought it new with 88,000 miles on it. I can't say that all I ever changed was the oil, but for the most part, I guess the car has been reliable. Last year's...”
“I have had this car for 6 years, bought it new with 88,000 miles on it. I can't say that all I...”

Vehicle Comparison Rundown

The Chevrolet Impala and the Chevrolet Malibu are two different sizes of four-door sedans. The Impala is a full-size sedan, while the Malibu is a midsize sedan. Both come with front-wheel drive.

There are some variations in the engines available in these two vehicles. The larger Chevrolet Impala has a standard engine with 197 horsepower, with options up to 305. The smaller Chevrolet Malibu starts with 160 horsepower, with options for up to 250, including a hybrid version.

As you would expect, there is a difference in interior space between the Chevrolet Impala and the Chevrolet Malibu. The Impala gives you 105 cubic feet of interior volume and 18.8 cubic feet of space in the trunk. The Malibu provides 102.9 cubic feet of interior space and 15.8 cubic feet in the trunk. The Impala has a bit more interior space than the Malibu, plus a trunk that’s about 20% larger.

Deciding between the Impala and the Malibu boils down to trunk space and style. These two vehicles are very close in interior space. But if you need a huge trunk, you prefer the Impala’s looks and you’re willing to more money for it, the Impala is for you. If you can be satisfied with almost as much, for a much lower price, the Malibu is clearly the value leader in this comparison.