2018 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Elantra
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2018 Hyundai Elantra is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,329 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $1,550 for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (30 MPG). That's roughly $221 a year, or about $1,107 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Hyundai Elantra
Side by side
| Chevrolet Malibu | Hyundai Elantra | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,550 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,329 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 35 MPG |
| 27 MPG | City | 32 MPG |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 40 MPG |
| 100 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 14 cu ft |
| 292 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 256 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 8/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo |
| 6-speed automatic | Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Chevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Elantra across model years
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Hyundai Elantra
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Chevrolet Malibu has more passenger space (100 vs. 96 cu ft); the Hyundai Elantra has more cargo space (14 vs. 13 cu ft).
Among 74 2018 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Malibu ranks 27th and the Hyundai Elantra 20th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu or the 2018 Hyundai Elantra?
Measured by cost to drive, the Hyundai Elantra. The Chevrolet Malibu is rated 30 MPG combined and the Hyundai Elantra 35 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. the Hyundai Elantra per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,550 for the Chevrolet Malibu and $1,329 for the Hyundai Elantra.
Which has more cargo space?
The Hyundai Elantra, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Chevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Elantra in other years
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