Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Altima: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (August 2026), the Chevrolet Malibu typically lists for $19,383 against $20,998 for the Nissan Altima (same model years — 2023–2025 — national medians from live listings). the Nissan Altima leads on NCAP safety (4.9★ vs 4.6★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the LS (1FL) at $17,739 vs the S at $18,998; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.
Head to head
Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)
A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Chevrolet Malibu LS (1FL) ($17,739) faces the Nissan Altima S ($18,998); the most common trims on the market are the LT (1LT) (77.2% of Chevrolet Malibu listings) and the SV (68.6% of Nissan Altima listings); at the top of the market, the RS (1SP) ($20,900) faces the SL ($24,602). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.
| Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Altima | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | Typical price | Share | Trim | Typical price | Share |
| LS (1FL)Cheapest | $17,739 | 5.8% | SCheapest | $18,998 | 5.8% |
| LT WITH 1LT | $18,739 | 1.1% | SVMost popular | $20,349 | 68.6% |
| LS (1LS) | $18,877 | 3.3% | 25 SV | $20,986 | 1.5% |
| LT (1LT)Most popular | $18,995 | 77.2% | SR | $21,999 | 19.6% |
| LT | $19,995 | 0.9% | SLPriciest | $24,602 | 4.5% |
| PREMIER (2LT) | $20,749 | 7.3% | — | ||
| RS (1SP)Priciest | $20,900 | 3.6% | — | ||
| PREMIER (2LZ) | $21,838 | 0.5% | — | ||
Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Chevrolet Malibu prices · Nissan Altima prices.
Used price by model year
| Year | Chevrolet Malibu typical | Nissan Altima typical | Difference | Chevrolet Malibu MPG | Nissan Altima MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,790 | $20,998 | Nissan Altima +$208 | 31 MPG | 28–31 MPG |
| 2024 | $19,383 | $19,980 | Nissan Altima +$597 | 31 MPG | 29–31 MPG |
| 2023 | $17,395 | $20,998 | Nissan Altima +$3,603 | 30 MPG | 29–31 MPG |
| 2022 | $16,500 | $17,998 | Nissan Altima +$1,498 | 26–32 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2021 | $14,995 | $16,470 | Nissan Altima +$1,475 | 26–32 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2020 | $13,995 | $14,795 | Nissan Altima +$800 | 26–32 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2019 | $12,995 | $13,995 | Nissan Altima +$1,000 | 26–46 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2018 | $12,110 | $10,586 | Chevrolet Malibu +$1,524 | 26–46 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2017 | $11,185 | $9,956 | Chevrolet Malibu +$1,229 | 26–46 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2016 | $9,995 | $9,298 | Chevrolet Malibu +$697 | 26–46 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2015 | $8,795 | $7,999 | Chevrolet Malibu +$796 | 24–29 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2014 | $7,719 | $7,499 | Chevrolet Malibu +$220 | 24–29 MPG | 25–31 MPG |
| 2013 | $6,995 | $6,995 | even | 24–29 MPG | 25–31 MPG |
| 2012 | $5,995 | $5,900 | Chevrolet Malibu +$95 | 20–26 MPG | 21–26 MPG |
| 2011 | $5,995 | $5,493 | Chevrolet Malibu +$502 | 20–26 MPG | 21–33 MPG |
| 2010 | $5,850 | $5,500 | Chevrolet Malibu +$350 | 20–29 MPG | 21–34 MPG |
| 2009 | $5,291 | $4,985 | Chevrolet Malibu +$306 | 20–29 MPG | 21–34 MPG |
| 2008 | $4,999 | $4,997 | Chevrolet Malibu +$2 | 20–27 MPG | 22–34 MPG |
| 2007 | $4,698 | $4,570 | Chevrolet Malibu +$128 | 18–25 MPG | 22–34 MPG |
| 2006 | $4,099 | $4,299 | Nissan Altima +$200 | 19–24 MPG | 21–24 MPG |
| 2005 | $4,372 | $4,297 | Chevrolet Malibu +$75 | 23–25 MPG | 21–24 MPG |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (August 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to buy used — Chevrolet Malibu or Nissan Altima?
Comparing the same model years (2023–2025), the Chevrolet Malibu is cheaper: it typically lists for $19,383 versus $20,998 for the Nissan Altima (national medians, August 2026).
Which is safer — Chevrolet Malibu or Nissan Altima?
By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Nissan Altima averages 4.9 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.6 for the Chevrolet Malibu. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.
Which is more reliable — Chevrolet Malibu or Nissan Altima?
NHTSA lists an average of 4.5 recalls per model year for the Chevrolet Malibu and 4.0 for the Nissan Altima — an edge for the Nissan Altima. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.
Which trims should I actually compare?
Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Chevrolet Malibu LS (1FL) typically lists for $17,739 vs $18,998 for a Nissan Altima S; the most common trims on the market are the LT (1LT) ($18,995, 77.2% of Chevrolet Malibu listings) and the SV ($20,349, 68.6% of Nissan Altima listings); at the top of the market, the RS (1SP) ($20,900) faces the SL ($24,602). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.
https://vehisales.com/research/compare/chevrolet/malibu/vs/nissan/altima.
Dig deeper
Chevrolet Malibu — live listings & specs Nissan Altima — live listings & specs Chevrolet Malibu prices by year Nissan Altima prices by year Chevrolet Malibu MPG by year Nissan Altima MPG by year
See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.