New & Used: 9673 Kings Auto Mall Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249
Used: 435 E Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45215
Sales:
(513) 741-1111
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(513) 697-5200
Starting at
Starting at
| Std. | Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Avl. |
| Dual-Pane | Moonroof | Single-Pane |
| Yes | Teen Driver Mode | No |
There's always a place on the market for stylish, affordable, midsize sedans. However, when you have to choose between two very popular midsize sedans in the form of the 2022 Chevy Malibu vs 2022 Honda Accord, you're probably left wondering which one accommodates what you want most out of a midsize vehicle? It all boils down to features, style, safety, and performance. Which one gives you more for less without shortchanging your driving experience? That's what we delve into with this comparison.
For the 2022 Chevy Malibu, it carries over many returning features that were added to the outgoing model year, including standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, perfect for effortlessly syncing your smartphone to the vehicle. Additionally, the all-new Cherry Tintcoat color made available for the previous model year is still available for the 2022 model year, along with the new Buckle To Drive safety feature. The 2022 Honda Accord doesn't add anything new for this year. Most of the new features were made available in the outgoing model year and carried over into the current model year, including an 8-inch touchscreen and the availability of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android on select trims.
The performance of the 2022 Chevy Malibu and 2022 Honda Accord are both very similar. Both have a standard 1.5-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder, and both have an optional 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder. There are a lot of similarities between the two 2.0-liter turbocharged powertrains, both hovering around 250 horsepower. However, there is a slight advantage for those who want a performance-themed midsize sedan in favor of the Malibu, and it's with the fuel economy.
While both 2.0-liter engines are mated to automatic transmissions and are configured in a front-wheel drivetrain, the Malibu edges out the Accord in fuel economy. With the 2.0-liter powertrain setup, the Accord and Malibu both achieve 22 miles to the gallon in the city. But on the highway, the Malibu manages to inch ahead with 33 miles to the gallon compared to the Accord's 32 miles to the gallon. For those who wanted the performance-oriented version of both vehicles but with the benefits of efficient fuel economy, the Malibu is the one that manages to achieve both.
Both vehicles are outfitted with all manner of standard stability and traction control, with the Accord and Malibu both configured with MacPherson strut front suspension and electronic parking brakes. On the Malibu, you have the StabiliTrak for stability management and traction control, while on the Accord, you have the Vehicle Stability Assist system that comes with built-in traction control. But while both also have brake assistance, the Malibu does come with DuraLife brake rotors, standard across the entire trim line for the front and rear wheels. The DuraLife rotors increase rotor life with a corrosion-resistant design, perfecting for minimizing wear, which helps give the Malibu another slight edge over the Accord in the performance department.
When comparing the 2022 Chevy Malibu vs 2022 Honda Accord, the battle of style is a prominent one. Why? Because both vehicles are known for their stylish designs. If you look at the silhouette of both vehicles, you can see that they're aerodynamically refined, with a lot of conservative lines along the body and hood. You also see a lot of similarities when it comes to the sports aspects of the midsize sedans, such as both vehicles having available rear spoilers. In the case of the Malibu, this spoiler is a great addition for those who opt for the Redline or Sport Edition of the LT trim. Meanwhile, a decklid spoiler is available on the Sport and Sport Special Edition of the Honda Accord.
Where we see the differences begin to manifest is in some of the options. For instance, the 2022 Honda Accord's base trims are available with 17-inch painted alloy wheels, whereas the upper-end trims come standard with 19-inch machine-finished alloy wheels. There is no in-between for the Accord. However, with the Malibu, you have 16-inch aluminum wheels on the LS trim, 17-inch aluminum wheels on the RS and LT, and 19-inch wheels on the Premium. You can opt to outfit the Malibu with a variety of other custom wheel configurations, including 18-inch bright machined aluminum wheels with lunar gray pockets, as well as 19-inch black-painted aluminum wheels with red hash marks.
The options for the Malibu extend beyond the wheel selections, though. You also have more color options and material customization for the interior of the Malibu compared to the Accord. The Accord is only outfitted with either black cloth or black leather for its interior. The Malibu, however, has four different interior options, including Dark Atmosphere with Medium Ash Gray cloth, Jet Black cloth, Jet Black leather, and Dark Atmosphere with Light Wheat leather. This gives you more options to customize your vehicle.
The two-tone interior options really expand on the visual splendor of the Malibu's interior. And on the subject of the interior, while both models offer sunroofs, the Accord is limited to a basic single-pane sunroof. However, the Malibu comes with an available dual-pane power sunroof that stretches across both rows of seats. If you plan on carrying rear seat passengers in your midsize sedan, Chevy gives you moonroof access both for the front passengers and the rear passengers, a welcome feature that isn't present on the Accord.
The technology of today's midsize sedans continues to expand and evolve, with more vehicles than ever before coming equipped with lots of standard features for connectivity, networking, and smart device integration. It's difficult to choose between the 2022 Chevy Malibu vs 2022 Honda Accord in this category, but tech falls in favor of the Malibu for a couple of key reasons, mostly in regard to safety. Otherwise, both vehicles give you a lot of great standard equipment out of the box.
Both the Malibu and Accord feature standard 8-inch touchscreens with media and app access, as well as wireless compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. However, only the Chevy model offers wireless smartphone integration as a standard feature across its entire lineup. The Malibu also comes with a bonus 8-inch driver information display center for vehicle health information and a customizable telematics display. Both vehicles also come with premium audio systems and available SiriusXM satellite radio functionality.
Where things begin to separate between the two is in safety. While the Accord comes with the Honda Sensing safety suite, and the Malibu has an assortment of available active and passive safety features and assists, there is one striking difference between them: Teen Driver Mode. It may not seem like a big deal, but according to a Harris Poll survey, 55% of parents were more worried about their teen drivers being on the road than any other social vice they might encounter.
With Teen Driver Mode standard across the entire Malibu trim line, it adds a whole new level of safety that just isn't present in the Accord. With Teen Driver mode, you have access to a maximum speed limiter, configurable audio volume limit, and more. The Teen Driver mode also has report cards for parents, giving you a great opportunity to see how well your teens are driving. And with features like Buckle To Drive, which restricts the vehicle from being shifted out of park until the driver seat belt is fastened, this creates a significant advantage for the Malibu in terms of safety over the Accord.
It is time to visit a dealership that doesn't make you feel like your car shopping needs are secondary to the dealership's goals. Get more out of your shopping experience in less time, with fewer hassles and fewer headaches at McCluskey Chevrolet. We remove all of the complications from the car shopping experience by offering prospective buyers a great inventory of new and used Chevy vehicles at prices you just can't argue with.
Find brand-new model year vehicles available at our dealership by visiting in person or shopping online. Or you can look through our lineup of used cars, consisting of great pre-owned vehicles at prices that accommodate your wallet. In fact, you can find some used vehicles on our lot for under $10,000. Need help getting financed? We have finance experts who can help you get set up with the loan or lease terms you need to purchase the vehicle that you want.
With our certified service center and experienced technicians, we are also here to take care of your new car for the long run. We even offer discounts and specials on our service and OEM parts replacements, giving you more of what you need for your driving lifestyle for far less. Call, email, or visit us at McCluskey Chevrolet to learn more about how you can get more for less at our dealership.
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.
