2024 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2024 Chevrolet Malibu vs Mazda 3

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

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✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG

FWD · 1.5L 4-cyl turbo · CVT · 31 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG

On fuel costs these two are nearly tied. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, the most efficient 2024 Chevrolet Malibu (31 MPG) costs about $1,500 a year to fuel and the 2024 Mazda 3 (31 MPG) about $1,500.

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
  • Mazda 3

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuMazda 3
$1,500 Your annual fuel cost $1,500
31 MPG Combined efficiency 31 MPG
28 MPG City 27 MPG
36 MPG Highway 37 MPG
102 cu ft Passenger volume 93 cu ft
16 cu ft Cargo volume 13 cu ft
282 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 287 g/mi
6/10 EPA fuel economy score 6/10
6/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 6/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.5L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.5L 4-cyl
CVT Transmission 6-speed automatic
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 Mazda 3 across model years

  • Chevrolet Malibu
  • Mazda 3

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 (102 vs. 93 cu ft); the Chevrolet Malibu has more cargo space (16 vs. 13 cu ft).

Among 43 2024 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Malibu ranks 19th and the Mazda 3 21st for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to fuel the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu vs. the Mazda 3 per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,500 for the Chevrolet Malibu and $1,500 for the Mazda 3.

Which has more cargo space?

The Chevrolet Malibu, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Malibu vs Mazda 3 in other years

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