Model Years

2016 Chevrolet Malibu MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu gets up to 30 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 46 mpg as a hybrid, across 4 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Chevrolet Malibu · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

30MPG combined

27 city 36 highway

$2,150 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

1.5L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic

Best hybrid version

46MPG combined

47 city 46 highway

$1,400 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score10/10

1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT

Best version saves $4,500 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,400 to $2,500 a year.

Every 2016 Malibu version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

VersionCombinedCity / HwyFuel / year
Hybrid
1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT Best
EPA listing: Malibu Hybrid
46 mpg 47 / 46 $1,400
Gas
1.5L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic
EPA listing: Malibu
30 mpg 27 / 36 $2,150
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic
EPA listing: Malibu Limited
27 mpg 23 / 33 $2,400
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic
EPA listing: Malibu
26 mpg 22 / 32 $2,500

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

VersionPer yearPer month5 years
1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT
$1,409$117$7,043
1.5L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic
$2,160$180$10,800
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic
$2,400$200$12,000
2.0L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 8-speed automatic
$2,492$208$12,462

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Chevrolet Malibu MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 30 to 32 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2025); highest in 2019. Hybrid: 46 mpg (2016 to 2019).

  • Best gas version
  • Best hybrid version

2016: gas 30 mpg · hybrid 46 mpg

Show as a table
Chevrolet Malibu best combined mpg by model year
Model yearBest gas versionBest hybrid version
20163046
20173046
20183046
20193246
202032–
202132–
202232–
202330–
202431–
202531–

How the 2016 Malibu compares

2016 midsize sedans covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 modelBest combinedBest gasFuel / year
Chevrolet Malibu This page
Best: hybrid
46 mpg30 mpg$1,400
Best: hybrid
41 mpg31 mpg$1,600
Best: hybrid
40 mpg28 mpg$1,600
Best: hybrid
37 mpg31 mpg$1,750
Best: gas
31 mpg31 mpg$2,100
Best: gas
30 mpg30 mpg$2,150

2016 Malibu recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 861 owner complaints for the 2016 Malibu.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

How much fuel does the 2016 Malibu hybrid save?

Comparing two-wheel-drive versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.32 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,400 a year to fuel against $2,150 for the gas model: $750 a year, or $3,750 over five years.

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Chevrolet Malibu version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

  • US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
  • EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
  • Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.