Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews
Subaru Legacy
$563
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Chevrolet Malibu
$532
Average Annual
Repair Cost
Overall Reliability Rating
4
Above Average
The Subaru Legacy Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 16th out of 24 for midsize cars. The average annual repair cost is $563 which means it has average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average, and major issues are less frequent than average, so major repairs are not common for the Legacy.
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.
“Bought this car in 2009 with 103,000 miles for $850.00 She now has 114,000 on her and I had the A/C charged and that's it. She runs like a top. And I was lucky the original owner kept it garaged...”
“Bought this car in 2009 with 103,000 miles for $850.00 She now has 114,000 on her and I had the...”
The Chevrolet Malibu ranks highest in value and ranks lowest in comfort.
83% of reviewers would recommend this car.
“This car is the worst, by far, I have ever owned. Constant steering problems, steering system replaced 4 times. Power steering failures, rear wiper fixed twice. At least 20 times this car has been...”
“This car is the worst, by far, I have ever owned. Constant steering problems, steering system...”
The Chevrolet Malibu and the Subaru Legacy are two midsize, four-door sedans. The Malibu comes with front-wheel drive. The Legacy comes standard with all-wheel drive.
The Chevy Malibu’s standard engine has 160 horsepower, while Legacy’s standard engine comes with 175 horsepower. In terms of optional engines, the Malibu’s 250 horsepower trails Legacy’s 256 horsepower. Not a huge difference here.
When it comes to interior and trunk space for the Chevrolet Malibu and the Subaru Legacy, the tables are turned, though also by a small margin. The Malibu offers 102.9 cubic feet of passenger space, slightly more than Legacy’s 100.9 cubic feet. In the trunk, the Malibu narrowly leads with 15.8 cubic feet of space, a tad more than Legacy’s 15 cubic feet. Again, the difference is a small one.
Neither the Malibu nor the Legacy offers any advanced driver assistance features on the base models. But both offer them as options on other trim levels. This falls short of competing vehicles like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, which offer these safety features as standard equipment on every model.
Except for the Legacy’s standard all-wheel drive, the Malibu and the Legacy are very similar. Unless you live where all-wheel drive is a distinct advantage, such as in heavy snow, you should drive both of these vehicles and see which one you prefer.