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2024 Kia Soul ReviewHead-to-Head: Nissan Altima vs Chevy Malibu
The Nissan Altima and the Chevy Malibu are two of the most popular sedans but we want to know which is best.
Nissan Altima vs Chevy Malibu
As two of the last sedans available in the American market, the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu and the 2022 Nissan Altima are vying for the same buyers. These cars are so geared towards one another that each one of their trim lines is priced within just $1,500 of their rival. To find out which is worth your buck, we’re going to compare them on paper but we’ll also consider the way they drive, how comfortable they are, and what features are available on each vehicle. Then, we’ll pick a winner.
Specs
The Chevrolet Malibu starts at just $24,395 and can cost as much as $34,445 if you go for the top trim level. It’s only on that top trim that you’ll get a 250-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The other trims get a 1.5-liter 163-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a CVT. Every Malibu, regardless of drivetrain, sends power to the front wheels only. The more powerful engine gets an EPA estimated 26 mpg combined while the smaller engine gets up to 32 mpg combined.
Nissan offers a pair of engines on the 2022 Altima. The base motor makes 188-horsepower and drives the front wheels. Buyers can opt for an all-wheel-drive version which drops power to 182. It gets a maximum of 32 mpg combined according to the EPA. An optional 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is also available with front-wheel-drive only. It gets up to 29 mpg combined. Every Altima regardless of engine or drive wheels uses a CVT. The price range for the 2022 Nissan Altima spans from $25,775 to $35,475.
Driving Dynamics
Chevrolet knows how to make a car behave admirably on the road and the Malibu is no different. Both pedals offer satisfying linear feedback and are easy to modulate through traffic and on the highway. We’d like a little bit better communication from the somewhat numb steering but the body control through turns is excellent. The base engine feels under-powered and the CVT doesn’t help. It’s also pretty buzzy and loud as it works hard to bring the Malibu to highway speeds. The 2.0-liter engine is on a different level. It’s the best of the bunch here and offers excellent power on demand and has a real nine-speed automatic gearbox.
The 2022 Nissan Altima is impressive from behind the wheel. It’s always been a sharp driver but when compared to the Malibu back to back it becomes even more impressive. The steering is crisp and accurate. The brake and accelerator react quickly and predictably. And the base engine is better than the one in the Chevy. We also love the option to add AWD for those in tough climates. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine would benefit from having an AWD option in our opinion as it can light the front tires up without trouble. It might have less horsepower than the Chevy, but it has more torque, and we can feel it.
Comfort and Interior
Most drivers will find the Malibu more than spacious enough to get comfortable. Compared to the Altima, it offers almost identical headroom up front and even more in the rear seats. The dash and center console feel outdated though. The Malibu has a bit of an old-person stereotype about it and the interior demonstrates why because it looks a bit like what a car made by the Jitterbug phone company might look like. It’s cheap looking and seems unrefined. Still, the infotainment system is simple and easy to use with good bright graphics and enough physical controls that you won’t be sorting through multiple menus to do something very basic.
Right away from the moment you look at the inside of the Altima, it feels nicer. It’s not much more expensive but the seats are more supportive and the materials are more modern. The infotainment system isn’t as easy to use but it’s close enough that we won’t penalize it too harshly. While the Chevy has more headroom, the Altima provides more legroom in both the front and rear. We like the way both cars mute poor road conditions but the Nissan is notably quieter in the cabin. In addition, the Altima is the only car here that comes with safety features like lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and more on every trim. You can only add those as optional extras to the Malibu even if you spring for the expensive Premier trim.
Features and Trims
Chevrolet starts out the Malibu with the LS trim. It gets an 8-inch infotainment system with Android and Apple connectivity as well as 16-inch wheels, automatic headlights, cruise control, air conditioning, six speakers, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.
Above that is the RS which adds dual-exhaust outlets, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and black trim.
The LT drops back down to 17-inch wheels but adds dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, rear climate vents, heated front seats, LED running lights, LED tail lights, and heated mirrors.
At the top of the lineup is the Premier with its 2.0-liter engine, 19-inch wheels, heated outboard rear seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, wireless charger, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a dual pane sunroof, ambient interior lighting, and LED headlights.
Nissan offers five trims and starts the Altima out with the S. It’s the only trim of the two cars here without Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, it does get a 7-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, cloth upholstery, 16-inch wheels, remote start, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and six speakers.
The SV adds blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, rear parking sensors, 17-inch wheels, an 8-inch infotainment system with Android and Apple connectivity, satellite radio, LED headlights, and an additional USB port.
The SR is the sporty version with access to the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine as well as slew of standard features like 19-inch wheels, paddle shifters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a sport-tuned suspension for buyers who don’t select AWD.
Above that is the SL with its heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, sunroof, fog lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, integrated navigation system, and nine-speaker Bose audio system.
At the top of the lineup is the Platinum. It gets 19-inch wheels, a 360-degree camera system, ambient interior lighting, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and driver’s seat memory settings.
The Verdict
There’s simply no way that we could recommend the Malibu over the Altima if these were the only two sedans on the market. Nissan offers more flexibility, more capability, and a much better cabin than Chevrolet does. The Altima is also more economical and has considerably more standard safety equipment. If we were saving thousands by going with the Chevy the battle might be closer but in the real world, the Altima takes the crown here.
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