2019 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2019 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.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,453/ year to fuel
32 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,329/ year to fuel
35 MPG

The 2019 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 $1,453 for the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu (32 MPG). That's roughly $125 a year, or about $623 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 MalibuHyundai Elantra
$1,453 Your annual fuel cost $1,329
32 MPG Combined efficiency 35 MPG
29 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
281 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
CVT 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 68 2019 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Malibu ranks 28th and the Hyundai Elantra 22nd for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu or the 2019 Hyundai Elantra?

Measured by cost to drive, the Hyundai Elantra. The Chevrolet Malibu is rated 32 MPG combined and the Hyundai Elantra 35 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu vs. the Hyundai Elantra per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,453 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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