Overview & Reviews

Like, um, seedless watermelon, the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx was the end result of selective, consumer-friendly design. Seedless watermelon was created because consumers love watermelon but hate spitting out seeds. Launched in model-year 2004, the midsize Malibu Maxx was created because many consumers like the utility of wagons but want the cooler look and style offered by sedans.

Most Recent Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Hoping to avoid any potential stigma, Chevrolet describes the Malibu Maxx as a "five-door extended sedan." Built on a lengthened version of GM's Epsilon platform, the Maxx has a hatch-type rear door and a glass roof over the rear seat. And unlike the sedan that offers both four- and six-cylinder engines, the Maxx comes with V6 power only.

Its hatchback design makes loading the Chevy Malibu Maxx effortless. The rear cargo area has 22.8 cubic feet of space available (about 8 more than the average midsize sedan's trunk) and folding down the rear seats opens up 41 cubic feet. Further versatility is gained by rear seats that slide forward and back -- either side of the 60/40 setup will slide independently with a 7-inch range of adjustment. Other strengths include an agreeable ride and outstanding crash test scores.

All in all, the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx is a great choice if you're seeking utility at an affordable price -- provided you don't take issue with its drab looks and unremarkable handling. Those seeking brisker performance can choose the SS trim (launched in 2006), which comes with a more powerful engine.

Alas, the Malibu Maxx has not been a particularly popular offering for Chevy, and it was announced that the car would be discontinued after the 2007 model year. More information about the Malibu can be found here.

User Reviews:

• 

  TAKE IT TO THE MAXX! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By MAX X WELL - February 11 - 10:00 am

  Liked the concept, wife did not. test drove an Aztek and a Vue, looked @ some others and then to shut me up Wifey test drove the Maxx. Nuff said, two hours later it was in our driveway. We have two small kids, you can not beat the rear seats and remote starts, love getting in the cool car! (wish now we went for the LT)

• 

  Now over 30k, starting to have problems - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Gilanna - February 10 - 7:00 pm

  Purchased it new, was excellent first 30k miles. Now, cruise control wont engage at times. Brakes are now pulsating. The dealer says its normal for 30k miles. Both front directionals stopped working and had to be replaced. At times,the shifter stays locked when you go to shift. By setting the alarm back on then off, I can get it to release. Took it to the dealer, they couldnt figure it out unless it did it while they were working on it, it didnt. I have to wait till it does it more frequently. This car is starting to annoy me. My wife wants her VW Golf back, says she never had any problems until it had 100k miles. I hope these annoyances can be easily fixed cause my warranty expires in 1500 miles.

• 

  Value of the Century - SUV Killer! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By skibumaxx - January 21 - 6:36 am

  It holds a ton of stuff and has amazing room in the back. I love the power, but the in- town mileage is not so hot. Highway mileage is outstanding for its size and capacity. I have tinted windows and they are a must or this car would be an oven in the summer. You can tell that the body is very stiff, by the way you can hear a bump more than you feel it. We looked at small SUVs but this is a far better choice. Im not crazy about the front styling but the side and rear views are unique and attractive. With 2 small kids and a big dog, its just right!

• 

  only 20 miles so far, but... - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By maxx_owner - January 5 - 2:00 am

  No long-term info here. I just bought this car. I had been waiting forever to GM to make a reasonably priced sporty wagon with AWD. Although the MAXX isnt particularly sporty and only has FWD, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had a sports car before, so in comparison the ride and handling are very "cushy," but I am quickly getting used to that! I thought I got a lot of options for the price. The fit and finish are nice and the interior is very roomy. The cars outward appearance makes it a "sleeper.” I think this is a flexible car that has features and utility that would be great for anyone.

• 

  100K and Beyond - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By bobd10 - November 5 - 3:45 am

  I bought my "05 Maxx with 52k on the meter. I now have 105k. Got hit twice, both side swipes at the front end (1 on each side). Hasnt given me any major problems. Just chenged the plugs, was easy. Put in irridiums, seems like it has better response at high speed acceleration now. Only 2 gripes...the front turn signals melting and the CD player not accepting discs on the first try. Otherwise, great car.

• 

  Not Too Bad!? - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By mattchoo - October 7 - 10:00 am

  We have had a couple problems we have had to replace the wiper switch, all the rubber window moldings, and now the temp gauge is stuck on cold and the electric fan runs all the time. We traded in a 2000 volkswagen jetta that was a lemon i hope this is not going to be the same thing.?

• 

  Avalanche to Maxx - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By dennis headrick - June 5 - 12:33 am

  Good handling, good pep, good brakes, very versatile. Good gas mileage. Traded an Avalanche truck for the Maxx. Was tired of 11 mpg in city. If this car is as reliable as my Avalanche truck I will be very satisfied!

• 

  TOO SOON TO TELL - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By NFREITAS - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Safety, style and fuel economy important as I was giving up my Suburban. This car rides smoother than my bosses 70m Mercedes and outside of having a GPS has close to the same anmenities. Took on trip to hills 2nd day, handled with ease, husband rode in the back and watched a DVD and said that he was never more comfortable. I can assure you the warning information works. Power Steering warning came on 2nd day-its in the shop being replaced. Service said they have had a lot of recent 2004 GMCs in for this. Also, CD player got stuck for 2 days-old cds

• 

  2006 Chevy Malibu Maxx SS - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Nate P - May 8 - 12:36 pm

  This is a great vehicle, but has some engineering flaws. You cannot get heated seats in this car at all, even though you can get heated cloth in LT trim, nor an autodimming mirror. Also, due to the fixed rear glass and sunshades, there are some minor rattles. The exterior of this vehicle has sharp lines, and I love the factory remote starter. The wheels are a nice compliment to the car, but should have been offered with a polished or chrome finish. The dual exhaust adds a sporty look AND a nice sound to this car. Mechanically, 240 hp from the 3.9 V6 is sufficient. From time to time, though, I notice some knocking coming from the engine bay. You can only choose from 4 colors.

• 

  Good All Around Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By rajman - April 28 - 12:53 am

  This was the car my wife, not me, wanted. It has turned out to be an excellent car. It got 30 mpg avg on a 700 mile road trip and usually does about 24mpg in town. This is with the V6 engine with plenty of power. It also has lots of interior room whether for storage or passengers. We were thinking about a small SUV for our family and switched to a Maxx because its a much better value than a SUV. The back seat is huge. It is not as quiet as some in its class, but it is hardly loud. Handling is super for a family car, though the electric steering takes some getting used to. Ive found that the electric steering really reduces fatigue on long drives, though.