Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 Chevrolet Malibu VS 2017 Ford Fusion Near Scottsdale, AZ

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the frontal crash prevention system optional in the Malibu as “Superior.” The Fusion scores only 1 point and is rated only “Basic.”

Both the Malibu and the Fusion have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Ford Fusion:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Fusion:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Malibu is safer than the Ford Fusion:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Malibu its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 77 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Fusion is not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2016.

The Malibu’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Fusion’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Chevrolet pays for scheduled maintenance on the Malibu for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Chevrolet will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Fusion.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 7th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 9th in reliability, above the industry average. With 65 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 24th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Malibu 2.0 Turbo is faster than the Ford Fusion 2.0 EcoBoost:

On the EPA test cycle the Malibu gets better fuel mileage than the Fusion:

The Malibu stops shorter than the Fusion:

For better traction, the Malibu’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Fusion (245/45R18 vs. 235/50R17).

The Malibu Premier handles at .88 G’s, while the Fusion SE pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Malibu Premier executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Fusion SE (26.4 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The Chevrolet Malibu may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 450 pounds less than the Ford Fusion.

The Malibu has .7 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Fusion.

With its sedan body style and locking rear seatbacks, the Malibu offers cargo security. The Fusion’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The Malibu’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge – which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Fusion does not have an oil pressure gauge.

When the Malibu Premier is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Fusion’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.