When you’re shopping for a new mid-sized sedan, there are lots of qualities to consider. Things like passenger space, fuel economy and safety are at the top of the checklist for most sedan drivers. The Hyundai Sonata and Chevy Malibu are two seemingly similar sedans on the market today, but they have some key differences that put one ahead of the other. What are your must-haves? If you’re hoping for a reliable, good-looking vehicle with surprising cargo capacity, the Sonata might be just right for you.
Exterior and Interior Style
For starters, the Sonata sports the signature Hyundai chrome grille that a Chevy simply can’t match. With the Hyundai name behind it, the Sonata already starts a few steps ahead of the Malibu. It’s sleeker and longer than the rounded Malibu, turning heads on the road effortlessly with it’s chrome accent door handles. The Sonata has a whopping 3.2 cubic feet of passenger volume on the Malibu, maxing out at 106.1 cubic feet of space. There’s more headroom, legroom and hip room all around for Hyundai passengers. The trunk of the Sonata is larger and features an optional hands-free trunk lift. This as well as a lockable glove box cannot be found in the Malibu. For driver peace-of-mind and overall passenger comfort, the Sonata outshines the Malibu all around.
Capability Features
Both vehicles sport an automatic front-wheel drive transmission and match up to 36 miles per gallon on the highway. Both vehicles have standard driver and passenger airbags, side-impact and knee airbags. They also each have standard four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems, lane departure warning systems, rear parking sensors and more. The Sonata goes 0 to 60 miles per hour almost a whole second quicker than the Malibu and has a faster, more efficient engine overall. There’s 2.7 more gallons of fuel capacity in the Sonata and better fuel economy, too. In 2018, Consumer Reports stated that Hyundai vehicles were higher quality overall than Chevrolet, and the Sonata is proof.
Safety and Tech
A feature not found in the Malibu, there are height-adjustable seat belts in the Sonata to ensure that all passengers have personalized safety measures. Though they both earned mostly five safety stars (save for a four-star passenger safety rating in the Malibu), the Sonata has lower injury risks. You can drive confidently in the Sonata knowing that there’s a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, verses the 5-year/ 36,000 mile warranty that comes with the Malibu. The powertrain warranty in the Sonata is 10 years or 100,000 miles. This means that any engine, transmission, joint, driveshaft or axle repairs are covered. In a Malibu, you only get this warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
Shop the Sonata Today at Ed Voyles Hyundai!
There’s no need to consider your options when the best choice is right around the corner. Located convenient to all of metro Atlanta, Ed Voyles Hyundai in Smyrna, GA has an impressive selection of Sonata sedans waiting to be test driven and taken home. Our product specialists look forward to showing you why this vehicle is superior to the competition, inside and out. Getting started is simple! Just fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 678-509-7959.