2018 Chevrolet Malibu MPG and Fuel Economy

On this page, you will find a complete guide to the miles per gallon and fuel efficiency data for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 2 model options: Automatic 6-spd 4-cyl, 1.5 L and Automatic 9-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L.

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Automatic 6-spd 4-cyl, 1.5 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Midsize Cars car class.

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Automatic 9-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L runs on premium gasoline and is in the Midsize Cars car class.

🛣 How Many Miles per Gallon (MPG) Does a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Get?

Across all models, the combined average MPG for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is 28 miles per gallon.

The table below breaks down the MPG for each model option:

Model OptionCombined MPGCity MPGHighway MPG
Automatic 6-spd 4-cyl, 1.5 L302736
Automatic 9-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L262232

💵 What is the Average Yearly Fuel Cost for a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

The average fuel costs for all models of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is $2,475.

The average fuel costs have been estimated by government regulators based on 15,000 miles driven per year, using regular gasoline, and a split of 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.

Comparing a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu to an average vehicle over 5 years, you will spend $875 more on fuel.

The table below shows the fuel costs and 5-year save/spend for each model option:

Model OptionFuel Cost5-Year Save/Spend
Automatic 6-spd 4-cyl, 1.5 L$2,100save $1,000
Automatic 9-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L$2,850spend $2,750 more

🛢 How Many Barrels of Petroleum Does a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Consume?

Across all models, the average number barrels of petroleum that the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu will consume in one year is 11 barrels.

The majority of the world's petroleum is sourced from countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the United States.

Model OptionBarrels
Automatic 6-spd 4-cyl, 1.5 L10
Automatic 9-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L11

💨 How Many Grams of CO2 Does a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Emit?

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu will emit an average of about 4,770,000 grams of CO2 per year.

🌳 To help you understand the impact of this, a normal tree will absorb around 21,000 grams of CO2 per year. This means that roughly 163 trees would be needed to offset emissions from the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.

Overview

The tables below cover all of the miles per gallon, engine specifications, and emission details we have for the 2 2018 Chevrolet Malibu model options.

Automatic 6-spd 4-cyl, 1.5 L

The table below contains all of the details we have for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Automatic 6-spd 4-cyl, 1.5 L:

City MPG27
Highway MPG36
Combined MPG30
Save/Spend vs Average CarSave $1,000
Fuel Cost$2,100
Fuel Type 1Regular
Barrels of Petroleum10
Grams of CO24,380,000
Trees Needed to Offset209
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Cylinders4
Displacement1.5
TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd
Vehicle ClassMidsize Cars
Start/Stop?Yes
Supercharged?No
Turbocharged?Yes

Automatic 9-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L

The table below contains all of the details we have for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Automatic 9-spd 4-cyl, 2.0 L:

City MPG22
Highway MPG32
Combined MPG26
Save/Spend vs Average CarSpend $2,750
Fuel Cost$2,850
Fuel Type 1Premium
Barrels of Petroleum11
Grams of CO25,160,000
Trees Needed to Offset246
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Cylinders4
Displacement2
TransmissionAutomatic 9-spd
Vehicle ClassMidsize Cars
Start/Stop?Yes
Supercharged?No
Turbocharged?Yes

Link To or Reference This Page

If you use this page in your research, please reference MPG Buddy as the source.

  • "2018 Chevrolet Malibu MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/chevrolet/malibu/2018.

  • "2018 Chevrolet Malibu MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/chevrolet/malibu/2018. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • 2018 Chevrolet Malibu MPG and Fuel Economy. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/chevrolet/malibu/2018.