Chevy Malibu vs Hyundai Sonata
Midsize sedans are great for your daily commute. You can throw your gym bag in the trunk, set the high-tech features to meet your preferences, and sit back to enjoy the ride.
When shopping for a new sedan, many Indianapolis, Fishers, and Speedway, IN, drivers find themselves trying to decide between two options: the 2020 Chevy Malibu vs. Hyundai Sonata. Our team at Andy Mohr Speedway Chevrolet put together this side-by-side comparison to help you make that decision.
Efficient Performance Specs
You’re going to need a pretty solid powertrain to help you achieve the acceleration you want on the highway. Both the Chevy Malibu and Hyundai Sonata are designed to be sleek and aerodynamic. To help complement that ease of movement, they have powerful engines under the hood.
The most powerful motor offered by the Hyundai Sonata is the available 1.6L Turbo GDI 4-cylinder engine. This powertrain is designed for responsive acceleration with up to 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Through the enhanced acceleration of the turbocharger, your vehicle will really get you moving when you hit the gas.
Drivers who are hungry for more performance will love the available 2.0L turbocharged ECOTEC® 4-cylinder engine offered by the Chevy Malibu. This impressive engine allows your vehicle to achieve up to 250 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Overall, drivers looking for more speed will likely want to get a closer look at the Chevy Malibu.
Transmission Options
In order to bring out the performance of your vehicle, these vehicles are designed with high-tech transmissions that deliver smoother acceleration. The Hyundai Sonata delivers a standard Smartstream 8-speed automatic transmission. With such a high gear count, you can be sure you’ll enjoy smooth acceleration every time.
Looking over to the Chevy Malibu, this vehicle offers a wide range of transmissions to choose from. Drivers will start out with a standard Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). This feature is designed to improve your fuel economy by giving you a spectrum of shift points rather than a set number of gears to work with.
If you want a traditional automatic transmission at your disposal, the Chevy Malibu can also be upgraded with an available 9-speed automatic transmission. With an extra gear over the Hyundai Sonata, you’ll enjoy much greater performance that will making highway driving a blast.
Wheel Options
If you want to get extra traction, a great place to start is by equipping yourself with larger wheels. The Hyundai Sonata treats us to some great wheel options with the ability to move up to 18-inch alloys. You’ll enjoy some fantastic handling thanks to the help of these impressive wheels.
Drivers who want to equip even larger wheels will want to look to the Chevy Malibu. This vehicle boasts available 19-inch wheels that will offer excellent cornering through the city. While the Hyundai Sonata offers some solid handling, it doesn’t manage to beat the wheel options offered by the Chevy Malibu.
Interior Features
It’s time to get comfortable in your new midsize sedan. Which one offers more interior amenities to help you do so?
If you’re carpooling, adult passengers will feel more comfortable in the back seat of the Malibu. This Chevy sedan offers 38.1 inches of rear legroom, while the Sonata only offers 34.8 inches of rear legroom. The Malibu also has more shoulder room in both the front and rear rows, so there’s less of a chance you’ll accidentally elbow your neighbor.
Drivers will be well taken care of inside their cabins thanks to the bevy of tech features these vehicles have to offer. One feature offered by both the Chevy Malibu and the Hyundai Sonata is the wireless charging pad. Just set your phone down on this built-in pad and your vehicle will keep your phone battery topped off everywhere you go.
When it comes to maximizing your comfort, these two vehicles deliver with available heated front seats. By heating up your seats, you’ll be able to relax when you’re driving on chilly winter days. Turn your seats to the heat level you want and lean back as your vehicle helps to keep you cozy on the long road ahead.
The Chevy Malibu takes your comfort even further by providing a set of available heated rear seats, as well. If you want to help your rear passengers settle in for a long ride, you’ll be well equipped to do so. Unfortunately, you won’t find a similar feature aboard the Hyundai Sonata, making it less suitable for driving with friends.
Driver-Assistance Technology
There’s no denying that cars are getting smarter. They can act as an extra set of eyes when you’re cruising through town, backing out of your driveway, or changing lanes on the highway. While many of these features are available in both sedans, the Malibu offers a few notable technologies that you won’t find in the Sonata.
Drivers will find that both sedans offer a full set of safety features to help you avoid collisions with ease. These technologies will watch out for other vehicles and apply maneuvers to help you avoid collisions. The features offered by both cars include:
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Side Blind Zone Alert
- Lane Keep Assist
- Intellibeam® Headlamps
The Malibu also offers Teen Driver technology, which helps ensure your teenager continues to drive safely even when you’re not in the car. Set this feature on and it will limit your vehicle’s entertainment functions to keep them focused on the road. To top it off, after a driving session, the feature will even provide a driving report card.
Should I Get a Chevy Malibu or Hyundai Sonata?
In our comparison of these two midsize sedans, we’ve found that the 2020 Chevy Malibu is more efficient and more comfortable. Plus, it offers some high-tech features that you won’t find in the 2020 Hyundai Sonata.
If you want to check out the Chevy Malibu near Indianapolis, Fishers, and Speedway, Indiana, contact Andy Mohr Speedway Chevrolet. We’ll schedule you for a test drive so you can experience its high-tech features for yourself!
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| Friday | 7:30AM - 6:00PM |
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| Sunday | Closed |