2020 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid vs. 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Ioniq 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.

The Ioniq Hybrid Limited offers optional Rear 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 Ioniq 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 Ioniq Hybrid and the Malibu Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, its “Good” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ioniq Hybrid the rating of “Top Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 106 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Malibu Hybrid was last qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

The Ioniq Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Malibu Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years and 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Malibu Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Malibu Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Ioniq Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Malibu Hybrid’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2019 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 6th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 19 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the Malibu Hybrid:

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

The Ioniq Hybrid stops shorter than the Malibu Hybrid:

The Ioniq Hybrid Limited’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Malibu Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

The Ioniq Hybrid has standard front gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Malibu Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Ioniq 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 Ioniq Hybrid BLUE handles at .87 G’s, while the Malibu Hybrid pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Ioniq Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Malibu Hybrid’s (34.8 feet vs. 37 feet).

The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.

The Ioniq Hybrid is 1 foot, 6.2 inches shorter than the Malibu Hybrid, making the Ioniq Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ioniq Hybrid Limited is quieter than the Malibu Hybrid:

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

The Ioniq Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the Malibu Hybrid (26.5 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Ioniq Hybrid easier. The Ioniq Hybrid’s trunk lift-over height is 28.8 inches, while the Malibu Hybrid’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Ioniq Hybrid’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Malibu Hybrid’s useful trunk space.

When different drivers share the Ioniq Hybrid Limited, the optional memory seats make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Ioniq Hybrid Limited’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Malibu Hybrid’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Ioniq Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Ioniq Hybrid’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Malibu Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Ioniq Hybrid Limited offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Malibu Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Ioniq Hybrid SEL/Limited offers an optional Smart 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.

The Ioniq Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ioniq Hybrid will retain 42.38% to 42.93% of its original price after five years, while the Malibu Hybrid only retains 36.53%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid will be $1270 to $6808 less than for the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.