There are a lot of great mid-size cars on the market, including the Malibu, Camry, and Altima, but how can you choose between the three? The choice becomes a little easier when you can compare them side by side. This 2024 Chevrolet Malibu vs. Toyota Camry vs. Nissan Altima comparison breakdown may help you pick the best vehicle for you.
Fuel Economy
Paying less money at the pump means more money in your wallet, so picking the car with the best gas mileage may be a determining factor for you. Of the three mid-size cars, the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry get the best fuel economy, with an average of 27 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway, both featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
The base-level Malibu, meanwhile, only gets 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, even with its slightly underpowered 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
Even though Altima and Camry have the best mileage, it’s not a huge difference. However, you may notice the difference if you do a lot of highway driving.
Price
Price is a huge reason many people choose one vehicle over another. Out of the three, the Chevy Malibu has the lowest MSRP starting at $25,100.
The Camry and Altima both offer a 2.5L engine. With the Altima, you can expect to pay a starting MSRP of $25,730 for the base trim. The Toyota Camry is the most expensive option, with a starting MSRP of $26,420 for the base trim.
Safety
All three vehicles have an excellent rating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the safest of the three is the Toyota Camry. It has a five-star rating with the NHTSA overall with five stars in the passenger frontal barrier crash rating, side crash and rollover ratings. Finally, it has a “good” Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rating.
The Nissan Altima is the next safest vehicle and also has a five-star rating with the NHTSA. The worst ratings are on the front crash rating with four stars. The IIHS rating for the Nissan is also recorded as “good.”
Finally, the Chevy Malibu is the least safe. It has only an overall score of four stars from the NHTSA, it scored lower in the side and rollover crash tests. The IIHS ratings for the Camry are not yet available.
Warranty
All three vehicles offer the same basic warranty for three years or 36,000 miles, and the manufacturers also offer a similar drivetrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles.
Technology
Technology makes driving much more enjoyable, so you want a vehicle with a great entertainment system. The Toyota Camry stands out among the rest in this category because it has dual-zone climate control, six total speakers, a 7-inch touch display, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, USB ports, proximity keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, and a rearview camera. On top of that, you’ll get an array of driver assistance features.
The next best is the Chevy Malibu since it offers an 8-inch touch display and teen driver monitoring system, while the Altima is lacking in this regard.
