Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Altima: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (July 2026), the Chevrolet Malibu typically lists for $19,693 against $20,213 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 $17,999 vs the S at $18,999; 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) ($17,999) faces the Nissan Altima S ($18,999); the most common trims on the market are the LT (1LT) (77.0% of Chevrolet Malibu listings) and the SV (72.0% of Nissan Altima listings); at the top of the market, the PREMIER (2LT) ($21,370) faces the SL ($24,547). 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 | $17,999 | 6.8% | SCheapest | $18,999 | 5.4% |
| LT WITH 1LT | $18,837 | 0.6% | 25 SV | $19,985 | 0.7% |
| LT (1LT)Most popular | $18,990 | 77.0% | SVMost popular | $19,990 | 72.0% |
| LS (1LS) | $18,999 | 4.2% | SR | $22,592 | 17.8% |
| RS (1SP) | $20,998 | 3.7% | SLPriciest | $24,547 | 4.1% |
| PREMIER (2LT)Priciest | $21,370 | 7.3% | — | ||
| PREMIER (2LZ) | $21,988 | 0.4% | — | ||
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 | $21,284 | $20,213 | Chevrolet Malibu +$1,071 | 31 MPG | 28–31 MPG |
| 2024 | $19,693 | $20,212 | Nissan Altima +$519 | 31 MPG | 29–31 MPG |
| 2023 | $17,489 | $21,500 | Nissan Altima +$4,011 | 30 MPG | 29–31 MPG |
| 2022 | $16,595 | $18,500 | Nissan Altima +$1,905 | 26–32 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2021 | $14,996 | $16,995 | Nissan Altima +$1,999 | 26–32 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2020 | $13,999 | $14,995 | Nissan Altima +$996 | 26–32 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2019 | $13,000 | $14,289 | Nissan Altima +$1,289 | 26–46 MPG | 29–32 MPG |
| 2018 | $11,995 | $10,691 | Chevrolet Malibu +$1,304 | 26–46 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2017 | $11,331 | $9,925 | Chevrolet Malibu +$1,406 | 26–46 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2016 | $10,125 | $9,600 | Chevrolet Malibu +$525 | 26–46 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2015 | $8,682 | $8,370 | Chevrolet Malibu +$312 | 24–29 MPG | 26–31 MPG |
| 2014 | $7,787 | $7,995 | Nissan Altima +$208 | 24–29 MPG | 25–31 MPG |
| 2013 | $6,997 | $6,999 | Nissan Altima +$2 | 24–29 MPG | 25–31 MPG |
| 2012 | $6,595 | $5,999 | Chevrolet Malibu +$596 | 20–26 MPG | 21–26 MPG |
| 2011 | $5,995 | $5,995 | even | 20–26 MPG | 21–33 MPG |
| 2010 | $5,942 | $5,961 | Nissan Altima +$19 | 20–29 MPG | 21–34 MPG |
| 2009 | $5,995 | $5,499 | Chevrolet Malibu +$496 | 20–29 MPG | 21–34 MPG |
| 2008 | $5,948 | $5,495 | Chevrolet Malibu +$453 | 20–27 MPG | 22–34 MPG |
| 2007 | $4,688 | $4,995 | Nissan Altima +$307 | 18–25 MPG | 22–34 MPG |
| 2006 | $4,998 | $4,500 | Chevrolet Malibu +$498 | 19–24 MPG | 21–24 MPG |
| 2005 | $5,495 | $4,995 | Chevrolet Malibu +$500 | 23–25 MPG | 21–24 MPG |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 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 $19,693 versus $20,213 for the Nissan Altima (national medians, July 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 4.2 recalls per model year for the Chevrolet Malibu and 3.7 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 $17,999 vs $18,999 for a Nissan Altima S; the most common trims on the market are the LT (1LT) ($18,990, 77.0% of Chevrolet Malibu listings) and the SV ($19,990, 72.0% of Nissan Altima listings); at the top of the market, the PREMIER (2LT) ($21,370) faces the SL ($24,547). 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.