When it comes to powertrain options, the 2023 Subaru Legacy comes standard with a 2.5L BOXER 4-cylinder engine but you can opt to upgrade to a 2.4L turbocharged BOXER 4-cylinder instead. The standard option achieves 182 horsepower alongside 176 pound-feet of torque, while the latter boosts those numbers to 260 and 277 respectively. The Malibu is only available with a 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder that generates 160 hp.

When it comes to space and capacity, both sedans are incredibly comparable to one another. On one hand, the Legacy offers 105.5 cubic feet of space for you and your passengers to stretch out and get comfortable in, as well as a trunk with up to 15.1 cu. ft. to fill with whatever you need to bring along. On the other hand, the Malibu gives up a bit of passenger volume at 102.9 cu. ft. but offers a slightly bigger trunk at 15.7 cu. ft.

When it comes to safety features, especially advanced driver-assistive technology, it's hard to beat any Subaru vehicle thanks to the award-winning EyeSight suite of tech. The package is standard in the 2023 Subaru Legacy, whereas features like FOrward Collision Alert, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control and more are only available in the Chevy Malibu. It does come standard with Teen Driver Technology, though.