Home > Chevrolet Malibu vs. Toyota Camry
The Chevy Malibu vs. Toyota Camry are midsize sedan champions: They don’t pull punches when it comes to elevated cabin technology, attractive exterior designs, and comfortably spacious interiors. Yet three defining features settle the Malibu versus Camry debate and make the Chevy sedan a better investment: powertrain design, Remote Start capability, and starting MSRP.
With these new model year changes, we think there’s a clear winner of this 2025 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2025 Toyota Camry rivalry, and you can test-drive it at the Bravo Chevrolet showroom.
It’s one thing to detail Camry vs. Malibu reliability and performance on paper – or on-screen, as it were – but it’s another story entirely to take a vehicle out on the open road and see how it performs.
When our team test-drove the 2025 Malibu and its 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder gas engine, we noticed that the car’s chassis was responsive, ride quality was above average for the midsize sedan segment, and its balanced damping and lower ride height created a sporty driving experience. (You can also take your ride height to stunning curve-hugging levels in one of our new Corvette trims!)
What’s more, a new Chevy Malibu battery should last between three and 10 years and only cost between $346 and $358 to replace, including parts and labor.3 Do the math, and this means that even if you pay the highest fee to get a new battery every three years, you’re still only spending $1,074 over 10 years.
In stark contrast, the new Toyota Camry comes with a higher ground clearance for looser cornering, and its hybrid battery setup is a much bigger financial risk. Yes, the Camry has a more fuel-efficient 2.5-liter four-cylinder powertrain, but that savings at the pump will look different when it’s time to replace the car’s hybrid battery.
Even a well-maintained hybrid battery may only last 100,000 miles – that’s all it’s warrantied for, after all – and many drivers reach this mileage marker in their first five years of ownership. Run those numbers, and you’re looking at spending between $3,000 and $5,000 or more out-of-pocket to install a new Camry battery4 over the course of 10 years, according to J.D. Power. That’s a shocking price difference compared to the new Chevrolet Malibu for sale and its $1,074 battery fee.
2025 Chevrolet Malibu | 2025 Toyota Camry | |
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Engine | 1.5L turbo 4-cyl | 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid |
Horsepower | 163 |
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Torque | 184 lb-ft | 163 lb-ft |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD / AWD |
Transmission | CVT | ECVT |
EPA-Est MPG (City / Hwy) | 28 / 36 MPG2 |
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Exterior Dimensions (Length / Width) | 194.2 / 73 in | 193.5 / 72.4 in |
Next up in this new Malibu vs. Camry comparison are interior features. Both cabins are comfortable, start their lineups with fabric upholstery, mount 8-inch touchscreens on their dashboards, and showcase six-speaker audio systems – so far, it seems like an even matchup, right?
Take a closer look at each sedan’s features, however, and you’ll see that only the 2025 Malibu has Remote Start capability, which makes a huge difference on hot summer days or frigid winter mornings. The Chevy car also comes with standard OnStar® services for extra roadside assistance, a Following Distance Indicator to prevent collisions in traffic, and two more airbags than the Camry. You can also add a dual-pane power sunroof to upper-level Malibu builds, along with perforated leather upholstery and heated front seats in the top-spec Malibu 2LT.
The new Camry sedan tries to hold its own by offering standard wireless phone charging, but we’re not sure this outweighs the Malibu and its ability to fire up the engine and kick on the heat or air conditioning with the click of a button. It’s also worth noting that we didn’t find any voice command inside the 2025 Toyota Camry, though the Malibu has this luxe feature in every trim. The new hybrid Camry does give you leather upholstery in its top-tier trims, but not even the flagship Camry XSE has heated front seats – you’ll need to purchase that separately as part of an option package.
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2025 Chevrolet Malibu![]() |
2025 Toyota Camry![]() |
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Passenger Seating | 5 | 5 |
Trim Levels | 4 | 4 |
Infotainment | 8-in color touchscreen | 8-in touchscreen |
Standard Tech Features |
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Standard Safety Features |
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Passenger Volume w / Sunroof | 102.9 cu ft | 98.8 cu ft |
Front / Rear Headroom | 39.1 / 37.5 in | 37.5 – 38.3 / 37.6 in |
Front / Rear Legroom | 41.5 / 38.1 in | 42.1 / 38 in |
Standard Cargo Space | 15.7 cu ft | 15.1 cu ft |
For decades, Chevrolet and Toyota have duked it out for top billing, but since Toyota dropped its competent V-6 gas-powered engine entirely to fit every 2025 Camry with a four-cylinder hybrid, the Camry car will now be much more expensive to repair when that hybrid battery fails. The 2025 Malibu keeps its all-gasoline powertrain, still delivers a high MPG, and won’t cost nearly as much to replace its traditional battery. Plus, it comes with standard Remote Start, extra safety features and airbags, and a lower starting MSRP!
If you’re looking for a sedan that gets the job done with reliable performance, classy technology, and bonus safety systems, then the price is right in the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu. Test-drive your favorite new Malibu trim at Bravo Chevrolet, or take a peek at our other high-performance models like the new Camaro. Either way, we can set you up with outstanding lease and finance terms and help you drive home in affordable style.
Compare the Malibu vs. Camry size using our chart above, and you’ll see that the Chevrolet Malibu is slightly longer and wider than its Toyota rival. The Malibu also has more standard cargo space, front headroom, and passenger volume. Take a new Malibu for a test drive, and you’ll also notice that its lower ground clearance makes it more fun to ride around corners.
The Chevy Malibu vs. Toyota Camry matchup features the most evenly matched sedans in both automaker’s lineups, making this comparison page so necessary. Drivers might enjoy the wireless phone charging and hybrid powertrain of the 2025 Camry, or they may prefer the lower MSRP, less-expensive battery, voice-command technology, extra passenger volume and cargo space, and Remote Start capabilities of the 2025 Malibu.
For 61 years, the Chevy Malibu has captured driver’s hearts with its premium technology options, sleek exterior designs, reliable powertrains, and fuel-efficient performance. The Malibu sedan was first introduced as a reflection of 1960s Los Angeles beach culture and quickly became one of America’s best-loved family vehicles. Since then, the Malibu has grown in popularity, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to the 2025 model.
1Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle’s condition and how/where you drive. See www.fueleconomy.gov.
2EPA-estimated 28 city/36 hwy [1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder].
3Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://repairpal.com/estimator/chevrolet/malibu/battery-replacement-cost
4Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this rating, visit https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-much-does-a-camry-hybrid-battery-replacement-cost