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| 160 | Horsepower (hp) | 182 |
| 184 | Torque (lb-ft) | 182 |
| 29/36 | Fuel Economy (city/hwy mpg) | 27/35 |
It’s hard to identify exactly what a driving experience is, but we know a good one from a bad one. We can assume that the three most vital components which make up the common driving experience are performance, design, and technology. These three components can either combine forces to provide an integrated driving experience or divide themselves, causing a scattered, frustrating, and ineffective journey. This integration is especially important when looking for a sporty commuter vehicle.
Since long-term durability and efficiency are vital to cultivating the performance needed for ongoing commuting, design and technology serve to create the comfortable environment needed for those often lengthy daily rides. Different vehicles integrate themselves in different ways, so let's take a look at two sporty sedans that have both made names for themselves in the market, the 2022 Chevy Malibu vs 2022 Subaru Legacy, to see how they approach such integration. These are both excellent models from leading brands, so it’s not a question of right or wrong but a question of the most effective approach. Let’s take a deeper look at each vehicle and how they compare to one another.
Performance specs are usually touted for big trucks and compact sports performance vehicles. Neither the 2022 Chevy Malibu nor the 2022 Subaru Legacy falls into either one of those categories, but that doesn't mean that performance is not important. You may not be directly concerned with having the most horsepower (though that does make a difference), but you’ll certainly want to make sure that your car performs efficiently, especially since you’ll be using it consistently for your commute. There’s no point in buying a car you have to replace just two years later. When it comes to a great vehicle that is perfect for daily traveling, performance is crucial.
In that regard, you’ll be pleased to know that both vehicles we are comparing are renowned for their remarkable efficiency. The 2022 Chevy Malibu offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 36 MPG on the highway and 29 MPG in the city. That is remarkably high for a sedan, and great efficiency means fewer stops at the gas pump and more money in your wallet. A big temptation is to look only at a vehicle’s price tag. That's fair enough; you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg when you don’t have to. But sometimes, a heftier down payment leads to more savings over time if you are investing in exceptional fuel-efficiency.
Now, Subaru is known for its efficiency, and the Legacy doesn’t back down from this claim to fame. However, the Legacy doesn’t quite reach the level of the Malibu, offering an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 35 MPG on the highway and 27 MPG in the city. Is it generous? Undoubtedly. But it’s not quite as much as the Malibu. You may retort that the difference is only negligible, which is true, but a negligible difference on paper can translate into a big difference in practice.
Think about the difference of two MPG in the city. Two miles might seem like a minuscule difference, but after driving 100 miles, that’s 20 MPG. After 200 miles, that’s 40 MPG. After 1,000 miles, that’s 200 MPG. The difference adds up. Would you rather save or spend? Both the 2022 Malibu and the 2022 Legacy are incredibly efficient, but there is no point in spending money that you don’t have to. If you’re looking for the rawest efficiency, then the fully-equipped Malibu is the best way to go.
Vehicle design is a tricky thing to assess because everyone has different tastes. It’s not like assessing fuel efficiency, where you can point to a specific number and calculate how much you would save, especially since everybody likes saving. But, different designs appeal to different people. That’s why it is often the most flexible component of the driving experience. Sometimes you’ll find more than one engine option, but often not; you’ll often find flexibility in technology features, but nothing too drastic. Design, however, always offers at least a few different looks, color schemes, and materials because different people desire different looks. Both the 2022 Chevy Malibu and the 2022 Subaru Legacy offer a variety of looks, color schemes, and designs to appeal to all kinds of tastes.
The 2022 Legacy offers a number of different looks across its six trims (Base, Premium, Sport, Limited, Limited XT, and Touring XT). The Touring XT trim is the premier luxury trim with Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery, heated rear seat backs (yes, rear seat backs!), and a host of great technology features. Of course, different trims come with different color scheme options, all of which focus on darker, sportier colors like Crimson Red Pearl and Magnetite Gray Metallic. There’s no denying that the Legacy is a well-designed vehicle with sporty features. One might even say that it is comparable to the Malibu until you find out that the 2022 Malibu has a trick up its sleeve.
While the Malibu’s regular trims are along the same lines as the Legacy in terms of materials and colors, there are three very special editions (separate from the available trims) that take the Malibu to a whole different level. The three options are the Midnight Edition, Sport Edition, and Redline Edition. Midnight, as the name suggests, focuses on cultivating dark, sleek features through refined black materials. We’re talking 19-inch black-painted aluminum wheels, a black bowtie emblem on both ends, a completely blacked-out grille, and a black nameplate. If nighttime vibes are your thing, then the Malibu Midnight Edition was made for you.
Now, the catch is that everything just mentioned applies to the Sport Edition. The difference is that the Midnight Edition keeps the black scheme throughout the vehicle’s exterior and interior while the Sport Edition compliments the black with white on the exterior and some other sporty colors on the inside. The Redline edition offers a similar blackened design, paired with red accents on the wheels, nameplate badge, and outside mirrors.
These special editions essentially take the Malibu from a “sporty sedan” to a much more sports car-looking design. If the luxury design features are high on your priority list, then one of the 2022 Malibu’s three special editions may be just what you're looking for. In terms of design options, the Chevy Malibu takes this customization a few steps ahead of the Legacy, offering drivers a broader range of styles that fit their unique personalities.
In-vehicle technology is how and where the idea of integration really makes it or breaks it. If the technology is well-designed, it brings everything together seamlessly, but if it’s not, it can lead to a frustrating and ineffective driving experience. Both Chevy and Subaru are advanced in this category, but Chevy is admittedly a leader in innovative tech. As such, the 2022 Malibu has a leg up over the 2022 Legacy when it comes to technology.
There are two components to technology: connectivity and safety. Both are important, though safety is objectively more crucial. That said, connectivity technology plays into safety by helping you avoid the temptation to look anywhere other than the road ahead. At its best, the bird’s eye view of the Legacy’s technology includes the available STARLINK 11.6-inch multimedia navigation system, a Harman Kardon premium audio system, and DriverFocus safety technology. Now, the big selling point is that the 2022 Legacy standardizes Subaru’s award-winning EyeSight driver assist technology, which includes advanced adaptive cruise control with lane centering and pre-collision braking in certain situations.
The 2022 Malibu, of course, offers an advanced infotainment screen with favorite connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also features Chevy’s premier safety features, including several automatic braking features and extra-handy tools like the available automatic parking assist and rear cross traffic alert. Most notably among the vehicle’s safety features is Chevy’s award-winning Teen Driver technology. If you have kids who will be learning to drive in your Malibu, this technology is indispensable. By way of a specially-programmed key, you can set speed, acceleration, and audio volume restrictions for your teen, ensuring that they learn good driving habits and stay safe.
We can only scratch the surface about Teen Driver here, but it is a fantastic way for teens to grow in independence while parents have a say in how that independence is cultivated. Teen Driver provides a driving report card so that parents can monitor the teen’s driving habits and help them identify how they can improve. This advanced technology allows parents to have more peace of mind and teens to have more freedom in a safe and controlled environment. Chevy has been a leader in the technology sector for years, and Teen Driver is one of many reasons why the Malibu has an edge over the Legacy in terms of innovation.
Our mission here at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford is to make car shopping stress-free for you. That’s a big mission, but we won’t back down. We want to provide you with the best customer service so that you can focus on the exciting parts of buying a vehicle. It doesn’t have to be a hassle! You may know the exact vehicle you want but have some financial obstacles in the way; that’s where our financing department comes in. If you think you’re ready for a 2022 Malibu Midnight Edition, our finance department can help you find a way to make that happen and develop a payment plan that fits within your budget.
If you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, our sales team can help you discover the best in stock for new Chevys, like the Malibu, and pre-owned vehicles from other leading brands. Our service department is always open to you to ensure that your new vehicle runs perfectly for many years to come. We work for you, so let us know what you need, and we’ll take care of it. We welcome you to come in today, and let us show you everything Chevy has to offer, including the amazing Malibu.
[a] MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.
*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.