Which would you pick from new Elantra SE, Jetta SE, or Malibu LS

[alarmguy]

The Kia/Hyundai have their own unique issues with engines and such - but are nice cars none the less.

Agree, I’m not sure why this company gets a free ride. To my surprise, even you!

Nice car??????
I can’t remember the last time in my five decades of driving I heard of a late model car engine blowing. More so from a well cared for car driven by an old man.

A family member older than me who takes care of his car like getting it washed every day of the week, oil changes exactly on time had a Kia Sorrento 2019. Give or take one year.
He was driving home from Florida and the engine blew! It was a common issue on those engines, just happen to be near the exit ramp of a car dealership, and it was a Kia! The car went into limp mode and he limped his way to the car dealership, which was closed on a Sunday and the following day was told that whatever the issue was with that engine that’s common knowledge happened to him.

Much to my surprise as he wanted to get home, he traded it and bought a new one. Go figure.
God forbid if it was a general motors product with those years of engine failures that were taking place on Kia’s
I suspect people wouldn’t be calling them “nice cars”

Just having fun here, but this is all true

 

[GMBoy]

Agree, I’m not sure why this company gets a free ride. To my surprise, even you!

Nice car??????
I can’t remember the last time in my five decades of driving I heard of a late model car engine blowing. More so from a well cared for car driven by an old man.

A family member older than me who takes care of his car like getting it washed every day of the week, oil changes exactly on time had a Kia Sorrento 2019. Give or take one year.
He was driving home from Florida and the engine blew! It was a common issue on those engines, just happen to be near the exit ramp of a car dealership, and it was a Kia! The car went into limp mode and he limped his way to the car dealership, which was closed on a Sunday and the following day was told that whatever the issue was with that engine that’s common knowledge happened to him.

Much to my surprise as he wanted to get home, he traded it and bought a new one. Go figure.
God forbid if it was a general motors product with those years of engine failures that were taking place on Kia’s
I suspect people wouldn’t be calling them “nice cars”

Just having fun here, but this is all true

LOL!!!

Well when I said "nice cars" - I was referring to the overall looks and features and such included in these cars that are normally in higher priced cars. I mean you get a lot for your money but of course none of that is worth it if the car is unreliable.

 

[GSCJR]

Elantra

 

[burbguy82]

Of the 3, Jetta.

other than than, a Land Cruiser

 

[TomYoung]

I'd have to imagine you could get the Elantra SEL for the price of a Malibu or Jetta. Easy choice for me. The Elantra SEL is well equipped and has no turbo.

This shows how you can be totally wrong for all the right reasons.

 

[Brett776]

I think the Elantra looks the best but I’d go Jetta.

 

[2019CRVlx]

The roads in New Orleans are among the worst I’ve driven on so consider that as well.

Agreed, but I live in the burbs ... not so bad. Any of the choices would be sufficient for my daily errands.

 

[2019CRVlx]

On a side note, the new K4 is supposed to be considerably more upscale than the outgoing Forte with only a moderate price increase.

We shall see.

 

[macarose]

I have a popular car buying service on Facebook and I also co-developed the Long-Term Quality Index.

My advice is...

Jetta : It looks, feels and drives just as nicely as a last-gen Audi A4. But I would skip the 1.5 Liter and opt for the 1.4L instead. That engine is absolutely fantastic. Superb torque. 40+ mpg fuel economy, and a tolerance for hard driving if that's what you want.

I would look at getting a 2019 - 2021 model with as low miles as you can find. The 19's are most common in the used car market and many of them will have a CPO warranty in effect.

Elantra : I don't recommend them. They may actually be the best one of the three but I usually wait a good while to make sure the powertrain is going to be reliable if the prior generations had issues. The prior gen Hyundai was actually quite good but there have been so many engine issues with Kia/Hyundai, and such long waits for repairs, that I'm just not a fan.

Malibu : If you're doing a ton of driving and don't want to have a German feel for the road... maybe. The Malibu has been the blue plate special of cars for forever and a day. It's a 'like' car, but if you need distance from yourself and the scenery, and you're a traditional American car buyer, you'll be happy with it.

Anything better? Oh yes! The Ford Fusion Energi Platinum I drove earlier today is an absolute tour de force. So long as you change the transmission fluid you more or less have the ultimate daily driver for the bigger Americana scenery. And their prices are ridiculously cheap with a $4,000 tax credit for a lot of folks.

I would take the last of those those over the first of any of these. Even the hybrid model would be worlds better in Titanium trim than any of the ones already mentioned.

As a dealer everything I buy is food on the table. But if I had remained an auto auctioneer and needed a 30,000 mile a year car, the Titanium trim Fusion I bought this Monday would be my daily driving companion.

 

[JoelB]

This shows how you can be totally wrong for all the right reasons.

Elaborate?

 

[ls1mike]

I'll be honest I have had plenty of VW rentals and owned a Jetta, I never really felt any of them drove better than my Grand Prixs. Not to say it is bad just it drives like a typical sedan to me.

 

[I<3oil]

I'd probably do Jetta, Malibu, Elantra in that order.

This

 

[TomYoung]

Elaborate?

It might seem that the Hyundai lets you avoid gdi and turbocharging, which would lead you to believe you are getting a more reliable car. That’s the “right reasons” part. What is “wrong” is that these Hyundais are prone to sludge and to blowing up, regardless of gdi and turbocharging. They are trash, and therefore the wrong choice.

 

[DannyM]

On a side note, the new K4 is supposed to be considerably more upscale than the outgoing Forte with only a moderate price increase.

We shall see.

that K4 looks hideous to me but..

.
Elantra, Civic, Corolla are good cars but for me at least I also have to gauge if I would be embarrassed to drive up to a party or pick up a date in one of these teenager vehicles LOL

The Jetta and Malibu are both good with the Jetta being slightly better IMO and both of them are decent vehicles to pull up to a party or pick up a date compared to the other teenager vehicles. They look acceptable next to more expensive cars IMO and more like adult vehicles.

Also...like you mentioned you have to factor in cost and who can compete with this below for a brand new vehicle ? https://www.bomninchevrolet.com/Veh...t=salePrice|asc&elementName=sortby&search=new

 

[andrew_j]

Rented all 3 listed and by far the best was Malibu. Consider them all short term cars (under 125k-150k)

If you want longer term car peek at Honda and Toyota.

 

[ls1mike]

Rented all 3 listed and by far the best was Malibu. Consider them all short term cars (under 125k-150k)

If you want longer term car peek at Honda and Toyota.

I mean how long are you looking to go vs initial purchase price? My Malibu, while not the same it is a 2.0 turbo just hit 128,000. I see no reason it won't go to 200,000 with proper care. I have owned it since 2015.

 

[earthbound]

Jetta....other two are disqualified..

 

[goGLIgo]

^^^ In that case, I'd suggest the GLI or at least a "R line" version of the Jetta.

VW has a winning formula and the driving dynamics especially at speed (for long commutes) are heads and shoulders above GM or H/K, at least IMO.

There is no R Line anymore. Out of those 3, the Jetta all day.

 

[2019CRVlx]

that K4 looks hideous to me but..

.
Elantra, Civic, Corolla are good cars but for me at least I also have to gauge if I would be embarrassed to drive up to a party or pick up a date in one of these teenager vehicles LOL

The Jetta and Malibu are both good with the Jetta being slightly better IMO and both of them are decent vehicles to pull up to a party or pick up a date compared to the other teenager vehicles. They look acceptable next to more expensive cars IMO and more like adult vehicles.

Also...like you mentioned you have to factor in cost and who can compete with this below for a brand new vehicle ? https://www.bomninchevrolet.com/Veh...t=salePrice|asc&elementName=sortby&search=new

View attachment 237081

I've seen the 2024's @ approx $22k since the 2025's have been introduced. I wonder if the "Bomnin Price" has additional charges to follow.

$17k for a new mid-size car is crazy.

 

[Silverado12]

Malibu all day any day. Keep in mind the CVT transmission needs a drain and fill every 30k miles to make it last a long time, but people on the car groups like the car with very few problems. I believe it's also a bigger car and GM dealers will deal. It's made in the USA if that matters.