2021 Honda Accord vs Chevy Malibu

Whether you’re exploring the Appalachian foothills in Zanesville or collecting glass art in Cambridge, a sleek sedan is a fantastic road companion. You’ll do well with a robust and sophisticated car that can get you from the suburbs of Ohio (like Pickerington) to fun attractions like McPeek’s Mighty Maze in Coshocton.

Our team at Zanesville Honda has created this 2021 Honda Accord vs. Chevy Malibu comparison to help you decide which car suits your lifestyle best. Read on to learn why each one is a favorite among sedan lovers.

Accord vs Malibu: Engine Performance

The base models for the 2021 Honda Accord and 2021 Chevy Malibu come standard with a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, but the Accord has a bit more get-up-and-go. Its engine generates 192 horsepower, while the Malibu gets 160 horsepower.

The Accord base trim also comes with standard Active Noise Cancellation™ for quieter rides in your cabin. It comes with Eco Assist™, too, which tracks your driving conditions in real time and helps improve fuel efficiency as you drive. Have a look at the following table to see how the two models compare on performance…

As you can see, the Honda takes the lead in fuel economy. The LX and EX-L trims have an EPA-estimated 30 city/38 highway MPG when equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), while the Malibu follows closely with an EPA-estimated 29 city/36 highway MPG.¹

Interior Comforts

While the Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu are known for dialing up on interior comfort, the Accord offers a little more interior space.

You and your passengers will enjoy 42.3 inches of legroom up front and 40.4 inches in the back. Comparatively, the Malibu offers 41.5 inches of legroom in the front and 38.1 inches in the back.

See the table below for a quick comparison of the two interiors…

If you’re out exploring “Clay City” to collect pottery or glass art, you and your passengers will have plenty of room for the ride in either of these cars, but they’ll have a tad bit more room to spread out in the Accord. Its overall passenger volume is 105.6 cubic feet, while that in the Malibu is 102.9.

Trunk space is 15.7 cubic feet in the Malibu and 16.7 cubic feet in the Accord, so you’d be able to fit one or two more pieces of your art haul in the trunk of the Accord. Plus, with the dual-zone automatic climate control that comes standard with all Accord trims, you’ll be a little more comfortable on the ride home.

Accord and Malibu: Advanced Tech

For optimum convenience and entertainment, the Accord and Malibu offer an array of technologies. At the base trim level, both models offer keyless start so that you can begin your drive without putting the key into the ignition.

Then, once you’re rolling, you will enjoy some exceptional sound systems. The Accord offers an available 180-watt audio system with eight speakers. At the highest trim level, the 450-watt premium audio system is available with 10 speakers and a subwoofer.

The Accord also comes standard with features like:

• Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
• Bluetooth® Streaming Audio

By comparison, the Malibu comes standard with a 6-speaker audio system that can be upgraded to an available Bose® premium 9-speaker audio system at the highest trim level.

Schedule Your Test Drive Today

The 2021 Honda Accord has a long-standing reputation for offering style balanced with reliability to countless drivers in Zanesville, Cambridge, Coshocton, and Pickerington, OH. We invite you to stop into Zanesville Honda after reading this 2021 Honda Accord vs. Chevy Malibu comparison to decide if it will be your top pick.

Schedule your test drive now!

¹30 city/38 highway/33 combined rating for LX and EX-L trims. 29 city/35 highway/32 combined MPG rating for Sport and Special Edition 1.5T trims. 22 city/32 highway/25 combined MPG rating for Sport and Touring 2.0T trims. 48 city/48 highway/48 combined MPG rating for Hybrid, Hybrid EX, and Hybrid EX-L trims. 44 city/41 highway/43 combined MPG rating for the Hybrid Touring trim. Based on 2021 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition (hybrid trims), and other factors.