2020 Honda Accord Hybrid vs. 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Honda Accord Hybrid are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Accord Hybrid deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Accord Hybrid’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Malibu Hybrid’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Accord Hybrid Touring has standard Parking Sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Accord Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Accord Hybrid and the Malibu Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Accord Hybrid the rating of “Top Pick” for 2020, a rating granted to only 30 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Malibu Hybrid last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

The Accord Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Malibu Hybrid’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Accord Hybrid’s reliability 30 points higher than the Malibu Hybrid.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 13 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Accord Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 30 more horsepower (212 vs. 182) than the Malibu Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Honda Accord Hybrid is faster than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Accord Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the Malibu Hybrid (48 city/47 hwy vs. 49 city/43 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Accord Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (5). This means the Accord Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Malibu Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Accord Hybrid’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Malibu Hybrid:

The Accord Hybrid stops shorter than the Malibu Hybrid:

The Accord Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Malibu Hybrid’s standard 55 series tires.

The Accord Hybrid offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Malibu Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Accord Hybrid has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Accord Hybrid’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Accord Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Accord Hybrid a Large car, while the Malibu Hybrid is rated a Mid-size.

The Accord Hybrid has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Malibu Hybrid (105.6 vs. 102.9).

The Accord Hybrid has .4 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear hip room than the Malibu Hybrid.

The Accord Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the Malibu Hybrid (16.7 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Accord Hybrid offers cargo security. The Malibu Hybrid’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Accord Hybrid. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

When two different drivers share the Accord Hybrid EX-L/Touring, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle and climate settings. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Accord Hybrid EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Accord Hybrid Touring has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Accord Hybrid’s standard front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Malibu Hybrid’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically. The Accord Hybrid EX/EX-L/Touring’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches.

If the windows are left open on the Accord Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Malibu Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Accord Hybrid’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Malibu Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Accord Hybrid Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

When the Accord Hybrid Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Malibu Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Accord Hybrid and the Malibu Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Accord Hybrid Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Malibu Hybrid.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Accord Hybrid Touring keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Accord Hybrid has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Accord Hybrid Touring has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Accord Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Accord Hybrid will retain 40.74% to 41.97% of its original price after five years, while the Malibu Hybrid only retains 36.53%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Accord Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid isn't recommended.

The Accord was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 24 of the last 26 years. The Malibu Hybrid has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Honda Accord outsold the Chevrolet Malibu by over two to one during 2019.