2018 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs Subaru Impreza

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,550/ year to fuel
30 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,453/ year to fuel
32 MPG

The 2018 Subaru Impreza 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
  • Subaru Impreza

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuSubaru Impreza
$1,550 Your annual fuel cost $1,453
30 MPG Combined efficiency 32 MPG
27 MPG City 28 MPG
36 MPG Highway 38 MPG
100 cu ft Passenger volume 100 cu ft
13 cu ft Cargo volume 12 cu ft
292 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 282 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 2.0L 4-cyl
6-speed automatic Transmission CVT
FWD Drivetrain AWD

✓ 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 Subaru Impreza across model years

  • Chevrolet Malibu
  • Subaru Impreza

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 cargo space (13 vs. 12 cu ft).

Among 74 2018 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Malibu ranks 27th and the Subaru Impreza 25th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu or the 2018 Subaru Impreza?

Measured by cost to drive, the Subaru Impreza. The Chevrolet Malibu is rated 30 MPG combined and the Subaru Impreza 32 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. the Subaru Impreza 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 Subaru Impreza.

Which has more cargo space?

The Chevrolet Malibu, with 13 cu ft of luggage volume versus 12 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Malibu vs Subaru Impreza in other years

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