2015 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2015 Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Altima
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2015 Nissan Altima is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,500 a year to fuel (31 MPG), versus $1,603 for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu (29 MPG). That's roughly $103 a year, or about $517 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
- Nissan Altima
Side by side
| Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Altima | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,603 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,500 |
| 29 MPG | Combined efficiency | 31 MPG |
| 25 MPG | City | 27 MPG |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 37 MPG |
| 100 cu ft | Passenger volume | 102 cu ft |
| 16 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 308 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 290 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 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| 6-speed automatic | Transmission | CVT |
| 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 Nissan Altima across model years
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Nissan Altima
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 cargo space (16 vs. 15 cu ft).
Among 69 2015 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Malibu ranks 22nd and the Nissan Altima 20th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu or the 2015 Nissan Altima?
Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Altima. The Chevrolet Malibu is rated 29 MPG combined and the Nissan Altima 31 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu vs. the Nissan Altima per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,603 for the Chevrolet Malibu and $1,500 for the Nissan Altima.
Which has more cargo space?
The Chevrolet Malibu, with 16 cu ft of luggage volume versus 15 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Altima in other years
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