2009 Chevrolet Malibu MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims
Fuel grade varies by trim — see the breakdown below.
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu good on gas?
At up to 26 MPG combined, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu is better than average for a Midsize Cars — that class averages about 23.0 MPG across 5,710 EPA-tested versions, so it's a good pick on fuel for its size.
Real-world MPG vs the EPA number
The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.
At today's AAA national average price — $3.80/gal for regular gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $2,192/year (roughly $183/month, about $14.62 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 577 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →
2009 Chevrolet Malibu trims & fuel economy
| Trim (engine / transmission) | Fuel | MPG | Fuel/yr (today's price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl, S6 automatic, FWD | REGULAR | 26 | $2,192 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, FWD | REGULAR | 25 | $2,280 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, FWD | REGULAR | 22 | $2,591 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl, S6 automatic, FWD | REGULAR | 20 | $2,850 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, FWD | FLEX-FUEL | 23 | $2,700 |
2009 Chevrolet Malibu specs
What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.
| Engine options | 2.4L 4-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl · 3.6L 6-cyl |
| Transmission | S6 automatic · Automatic 4-spd |
| Drive type | FWD |
| EPA body class | Midsize Cars |
| Fuel | Varies by trim |
Other years of the Chevrolet Malibu
Similar cars (Midsize Cars)
Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides
5 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-08-01 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.