You've got your work cut out for you if you're in the market for a mid-size sedan.
The choices are plentiful and they're all pretty darn good.
The Chevy Malibu's most obvious rival is the Ford Fusion.
It's nicely styled, but starting to feel a little dated.
The Honda Accord is this segment's sales leader, at least in terms of retail deliveries, and it's easy to see why: composure, quality, and value in spades.
But don't discount some of the underdogs here like the refined (and all-wheel drive) Subaru Legacy, the sporty Mazda 6, and the stylish Kia Optima.
Each has its own virtues and none will be a bad addition to your driveway.
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 2018 Chevrolet MalibuBrowse Used Listings |  2018 Ford FusionBrowse Used Listings |  2018 Kia OptimaBrowse Used Listings |  2018 Mazda MAZDA6Browse Used Listings |  2018 Subaru LegacyBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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A solid effort, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu offers plenty of compelling reasons to lure customers into showrooms. |
The six-year-old 2018 Ford Fusion Hybrid remains a handsome, comfortable mid-size sedan with good fuel efficiency and a plug-in hybrid option, but competitors now boast higher EPA ratings. |
The 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid is a fuel-efficient pick among mid-sizers that doesn’t wear its eco credentials on its sleeves. |
The 2018 Mazda 6 is a stylish, good handling sedan that finally has the underhood muscle to match. |
The 2018 Subaru Legacy may be the best mid-size sedan that buyers largely miss. It skips performance for a good safety record and relative value—not bad things. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $21,680 | $22,215 | $22,600 | $21,950 | $22,195 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 22 MPG City / 43 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 41 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 46 MPG Hwy | 23 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Turbocharged Gas I4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded H-4 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Midsize Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Large Cars | Mid-Size Cars | Mid-Size Cars |
| Style Name | ||||
| 4-Door Sedan L w/1VL | S FWD | LX Automatic | Sport Manual | 2.5i |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| 4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic | Automatic w/OD | Automatic w/OD | Manual w/OD | CVT w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2018 Ford Fusion | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2018 Kia Optima | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2018 Mazda MAZDA6 | 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2018 Subaru Legacy | |
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