The Chevrolet Malibu does 27.3 mpg combined (24.4 city, 32.3 highway), which works out to about $1,407 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid does 46 mpg while 3.6L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $1,085 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Chevrolet Malibu engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Chevrolet Malibu ranges from 46 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $1,085 a year across 9 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid | 48.5 / 43.8 | 2016–2019 | $835 | |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 28 / 35.9 | 2016–2025 | $1,239 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 25 / 36 | 2014–2015 | $1,324 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl Hybrid | 25.3 / 33.3 | 2008–2010 | $1,357 | |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 21.4 / 31.6 | 1998–2013 | $1,518 | |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 21 / 30.8 | 2004–2007 | $1,548 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 19.3 / 29.1 | 2004–2010 | $1,677 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 17.7 / 26.3 | 1997–2003 | $1,829 | |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 17 / 25 | 2011–2012 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Chevrolet Malibu burns a gallon every 27.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 440 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.117 |
| Fuel per year | $1,407 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,035 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$87 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,391 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Chevrolet Malibu gives up 7.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 32.3 out there against 24.4 in town, a 32% drop worth $385 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 24.4 mpg | $1,574 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 32.3 mpg | $1,189 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.9 mpg (32%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Malibu changed over the years
The Malibu peaked in 2019 at 39 mpg (39 city, 39.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2003 at 21 — 18 mpg apart, or $844 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2025 car does 31. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2024 | 28 / 36 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2023 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2022 | 29 / 36 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2021 | 29 / 36 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2020 | 29 / 36 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2019 | 39 / 39.5 | 2 | $985 | |
| 2018 | 38 / 39.5 | 2 | $1,011 | |
| 2017 | 38 / 39.5 | 2 | $1,011 | |
| 2016 | 37 / 41 | 2 | $1,011 | |
| 2015 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2014 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2013 | 25 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2012 | 19.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2011 | 19.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2010 | 22.3 / 32 | 3 | $1,477 | |
| 2009 | 22.3 / 32 | 3 | $1,477 | |
| 2008 | 21.3 / 31 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2007 | 20 / 30.5 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2006 | 20.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,634 | |
| 2005 | 20.5 / 30.5 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2004 | 20.5 / 30 | 2 | $1,600 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2002 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 18.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1999 | 18 / 27 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1998 | 18.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1997 | 18 / 26 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 48 EPA ratings of the Chevrolet Malibu — 9 engines across 1997–2025. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,391. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Chevrolet Malibu get?
27.3 mpg combined on average — 24.4 in the city and 32.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1997–2025.
How much does a Chevrolet Malibu cost in fuel per year?
About $1,407 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,035 over five years, or 0.117 dollars a mile.
Which Malibu engine is the most economical?
The 1.8L 4-cyl Hybrid at 46 mpg, against 20 for the 3.6L 6-cyl — a difference of about $1,085 a year.
Is the Malibu good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Malibu figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Chevrolet Malibu is $2,391 against the $1,407 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 46 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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