2017 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid vs Nissan Leaf

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

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,011/ year to fuel
46 MPG

FWD · 1.8L 4-cyl · CVT · 46 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$810/ year to fuel
112 MPGe

FWD · Electric motor (80 kW) · Single-speed · 112 MPGe · 107 mi

The 2017 Nissan Leaf is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $810 a year to fuel (112 MPGe), versus $1,011 for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid (46 MPG). That's roughly $201 a year, or about $1,004 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 Hybrid
  • Nissan Leaf

Side by side

Chevrolet Malibu HybridNissan Leaf
$1,011 Your annual fuel cost $810
46 MPG Combined efficiency 112 MPGe
49 MPG City 124 MPGe
43 MPG Highway 101 MPGe
— Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 30 kWh
— Driving range 107 mi
100 cu ft Passenger volume 92 cu ft
16 cu ft Cargo volume 24 cu ft
194 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 0 g/mi
10/10 EPA fuel economy score 10/10
10/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
— Charge time at 240V 6 hrs
Hybrid Powertrain Electric
Regular gasoline Fuel Electricity
1.8L 4-cyl Engine / motor Electric motor (80 kW)
CVT Transmission Single-speed
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 Hybrid vs Nissan Leaf across model years

  • Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
  • Nissan Leaf

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 Hybrid has more passenger space (100 vs. 92 cu ft); the Nissan Leaf has more cargo space (24 vs. 16 cu ft).

Among 67 2017 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid ranks 9th and the Nissan Leaf 4th for lowest fuel cost.

Because the Nissan Leaf is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid or the 2017 Nissan Leaf?

Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Leaf. The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid is rated 46 MPG combined and the Nissan Leaf 112 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid vs. the Nissan Leaf per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,011 for the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and $810 for the Nissan Leaf.

Which has more cargo space?

The Nissan Leaf, with 24 cu ft of luggage volume versus 16 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid vs Nissan Leaf in other years

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