The engine under the hood is the heart of your sedan. It pumps an endless supply of unbridled power through your sedan, allowing you to surge ahead with impressive force. In terms of horsepower, the Malibu and the Corolla deliver similar outputs, but that doesn’t mean these models deliver neck-and-neck performance specs.

The Toyota Corolla generates 151 lb-ft of torque. The Chevy Malibu, on the other hand, churns out 184 lb-ft of torque. With its higher output, Malibu drivers will experience a more responsive start time and, as a result, put distance between you and Corolla drivers quickly.

Driving the Chevy Malibu comes with the advantage of letting others know your potential. This sedan comes in three different styles that are inspired by the racetrack:

• Midnight Edition - Includes 19-inch Black wheels, a Black grille, and several Black exterior accents for a stealthy appearance.
• Sport Edition - Includes 19-inch wheels, LED taillights, and Black exterior accents for a sleek appearance.
• Redline Edition - Includes 19-inch Black wheels with Red accents, Black side mirrors with Red decals, and a Black grille for a sport-tuned appearance.

The Toyota Corolla offers no performance-inspired packages and maxes out at only 18-inch wheels.

It doesn’t matter if you’re making a late-night run to your favorite fast-food restaurant or you’re heading out on a road trip, you’ll need enough room for all your friends. The Chevy Malibu knows that wiggle room shouldn’t be a luxury, which is why it comes with 102.9 cubic feet of passenger space.

As a result, first and second-row passengers will relish spacious dimensions, such as 39.1 inches of front headroom and 38.1 inches of rear legroom.

The Corolla falls short, offering only 88.6 cubic feet of passenger space. This means passengers may feel cramped, especially in the back seat, which tops off at just 34.8 inches of legroom.

Passenger space is only one-half of the interior measurements you should study. You’ll also want to make sure there’s ample cargo space so there’s enough room for your hockey equipment or groceries for the week.

The Toyota Corolla, once again, falls short in terms of its dimensions, offering a maximum cargo capacity of 13.1 cubic feet. With the Chevy Malibu, you can enjoy more space with its maximum cargo capacity of 15.7 cubic feet.

While two extra cubic feet may not sound like a lot, consider this: You could add 15 gallons of water, seven basketballs, or even 50 standard bricks.

When comparing the infotainment systems of the Malibu vs. Corolla, you’ll notice many similarities, including:

• 8-inch touchscreen displays
• Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• Available 9-speaker premium audio system
• Built-in Wi-Fi® hotspot

Where these sedans differ is that the Malibu can be equipped with an available Navigation system. That way, you can always get from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. You’ll find a similar feature with the Corolla; however, it’s only offered with a subscription service.

The Malibu and the Corolla come standard with a slew of safety features. Using cameras and sensors, a range is constantly monitored around your vehicle. That way, you can receive an audible and/or visual alert if you’ve missed a potential hazard.

You’ll find many similar safety features in these sedans, including:

• Forward Collision Alert
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• Following Distance Indicator

While there are many similarities, only with the Malibu will you gain available access to automated parking assist. This feature can help steer your vehicle into parallel and perpendicular parking spots, making you the parking MVP of your friend group.