2010 Nissan Altima vs 2010 Chevrolet Malibu December 1, 2009 AUTORIVALS.NET
Share Share/Bookmark DiggThis submit to reddit
2010 Nissan Altima vs 2010 Chevrolet Malibu

The Nissan Altima was recently refreshed and looks better than before. The most notable changes are to the front fascia which has a revised grille, bumper, hood, and headlights.

The Chevrolet Malibu was introduced back in 2008 and is aging fast. It was the first to wear the new face of Chevy with a dual-port grille and large bar across the middle.
Both front designs are handsome without any sense of ostentatiousness. The Malibu has a more rigid design that's a tad more aggressive than the Altima due to the oversized grille.
Both profile's look good while following each car's design directions. The Altima's smoother look continues to the C-pillar and fenders while the Malibu has a sharp C-pillar and trunk.
The Malibu's rear is way too flat and looks relatively plain. The trunk lid doesn't flow into the bumpers like most modern cars these days. The Altima has a smoother rear but the tail lights are oversized and go deep into the fenders.
The Altima's tail lights are better integrated into the design than the Malibu. The Chevy's tail lights look off for some reason, perhaps due to the circular shapes inside and the overall odd shape. The trunk also looks plain compared to the Altima which places a chrome bar and license plate in the center instead of on the bumper.
Chevy wins hands down for interior design. The cabin looks crisp, modern, and upscale compared to the dark and drab interior of the Altima. The layout is nicer in the Malibu with a center stack that flows nicely into the dashboard. The Altima's interior is still functional with buttons placed high within the driver's reach.
SPECIFICATIONS
PRICE: $19,900 - $29,380
ENGINE: 2.5L I4 - 3.5L V6
HORSEPOWER: 170 - 270 hp
TORQUE: 180 - 258 lb-ft
SIZE (L x W x H): 182.5 x 70.7 x 55.3 in.
WEIGHT: 3076 - 3308 lbs
0-60 MPH: 7.6 sec (I4)
1/4 MILE: 16.0 sec @ 89 mph (I4)
TOP SPEED: 112 mph
FUEL (CITY/HWY): 18-23/26-32 mpg
Share/Bookmark
Share
SPECIFICATIONS
PRICE: $21,825 - $26,605
ENGINE: 2.4L I4 - 3.6L V6
HORSEPOWER: 169 - 252 hp
TORQUE: 160 - 251 lb-ft
SIZE (L x W x H): 191.8 x 70.3 x 57.1 in.
WEIGHT: 3415 - 3649 lbs
0-60 MPH: 8.8 sec (I4)
1/4 MILE: 16.8 sec @ 85 mph
TOP SPEED: 112 mph
FUEL (CITY/HWY): 17-22/26-33 mpg
RECAP RECAP

PROS
+Smoother rear
+Unique tail light design

CONS
-Drab interior

PROS
+New grille looks better than before
+Upscale interior

CONS
-Flat rear
-Odd tail lights
Video Source: YouTube via Kelley Blue Book
Auto Rivals Your Ad Here