2018 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Sentra
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 Nissan Sentra is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,453 a year to fuel (32 MPG), versus $1,550 for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu (30 MPG). That's roughly $97 a year, or about $484 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
- Nissan Sentra
Side by side
| Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Sentra | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,550 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,453 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 32 MPG |
| 27 MPG | City | 29 MPG |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 37 MPG |
| 100 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 292 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 279 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 7/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 7/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 1.8L 4-cyl |
| 6-speed automatic | Transmission | CVT |
| 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 Nissan Sentra across model years
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Nissan Sentra
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 Nissan Sentra has more cargo space (15 vs. 13 cu ft).
Among 74 2018 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Malibu ranks 27th and the Nissan Sentra 24th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu or the 2018 Nissan Sentra?
Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Sentra. The Chevrolet Malibu is rated 30 MPG combined and the Nissan Sentra 32 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. the Nissan Sentra per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,550 for the Chevrolet Malibu and $1,453 for the Nissan Sentra.
Which has more cargo space?
The Nissan Sentra, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Sentra in other years
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