Overview & Reviews

Since its debut back when the Beatles were singing about holding hands, the Chevrolet Malibu has gone through several iterations. The initial lineup consisted of rear-drive midsizers that included coupes, sedans, wagons and the legendary, high-horsepower SS-badged muscle car. After a downsizing in the late 1970s and a quiet death in the early '80s, the Malibu was reincarnated as a smaller, anonymous, front-wheel-drive favorite of rental fleets.

The two newest generations of the Malibu have been much improved, however, and are more deserving of some "Love Me Do." Though it generally falls a little short of class-leading status, a new or late-model used Malibu is still a solid choice for a midsize family sedan thanks to its strong performance, composed and quiet ride, handsome styling and advanced electronics features.

Current Chevrolet Malibu
The current Chevrolet Malibu comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 196 horsepower. From there, shoppers can go either the performance or fuel economy route. The former is satisfied by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 259 hp. The Malibu Eco, on the other hand, features a 2.4-liter four-cylinder (182 hp) connected to a mild hybrid system that helps return nearly 30 mpg combined. The base engine achieves the same fuel economy, however, so we see no reason to select the Eco for this model year. All Malibus come standard with front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission.

Four Malibu trim levels are offered: LS, LT, LTZ and Eco. The base LS is nicely equipped with alloy wheels, cruise control, air-conditioning and a power driver-seat height adjuster. The LT has three sublevels (1LT, 2LT and 3LT) that add perks like dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver seat, a 7-inch touchscreen, the MyLink interface with smartphone integration and upgraded audio with iPod/USB connectivity. The LTZ boasts leather upholstery and heated front seats. Aside from its hybrid hardware, the Eco is equipped much like a 1LT. Options, depending on trim, include xenon headlights, a navigation system, Pioneer audio and safety features such as lane-departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert.

In reviews of the latest Chevrolet Malibu, we've identified its ride quality and refinement as particularly strong points. Impacts rarely filter into the cabin, which remains whisper-quiet at highway speeds. Moreover, all Malibus enjoy an abundance of soft-touch materials, decent-quality switchgear and an attractive dashboard. The main downside is a relative lack of rear-seat legroom. Overall, the Malibu doesn't fully stand out from the talented crowd in this segment, but it's still a solid choice for family sedan shoppers.

Used Chevrolet Malibu Models
The current-generation Malibu was introduced for 2013. It brings welcome improvements in refinement, feature content and efficiency relative to its predecessor, though shortcomings like limited backseat room persist. For 2014, this Malibu received numerous revisions aimed at quelling early criticism, including a fuel-economy bump for the base four-cylinder, more torque for the turbocharged engine, revised suspension tuning and some new interior features. These changes didn't make a big difference in terms of the car's place in the family-sedan pecking order, but they do render the 2013 model marginally less appealing as a used option.

The previous-generation Malibu was produced from 2008 through 2012. With its crisp, tailored lines, this Malibu looked more like a luxury sedan than its forgettable predecessor. Its cabin was similarly handsome, with a stylish design and two-tone color schemes that stood out from the crowd (while disguising less-than-ideal materials).

Throughout its life, this Malibu was available in four trims (LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ) and with a choice of two engines. A 169-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder was initially standard on all but the LTZ, but for '09 it became available for every Malibu. That year also saw a six-speed automatic transmission replace the original four-speed unit on all but the LS and 1LT trims, though every Malibu got it a year later.

A 3.6-liter 252-hp V6 served as the optional engine upgrade (though it was initially standard on the LTZ). This always had a six-speed automatic, as well as a different steering system than the four-cylinder. Its hydraulic steering (versus electric) offered more weighting and a bit more road feel, but neither system was really a standout in the class. Similarly, this Malibu's handling in general was responsive enough, but few would deem it sporty.

Our staff was impressed by many aspects of this Chevrolet Malibu. Its combination of handsome looks, a spacious and attractive cabin, competent performance and a quiet ride gave Chevy a serious player in this tough segment. Subpar rear seat space and hit-or-miss interior construction were notable drawbacks, along with a few missing features like a navigation system. Besides its transmission, changes were restricted to features availability, with items like Bluetooth and an iPod interface eventually added.

The previous Chevy Malibu was offered from 2004-'08. As there was that one-year overlap, Chevrolet distinguished the two different Malibus by calling the retiring version the "Malibu Classic." In addition to a sedan body style, the outgoing Malibu was also offered in a longer-wheelbase hatchback version called the Malibu Maxx. Compared to earlier Malibus, this one came with more powerful engine choices, a roomier layout and safety features like available side curtain airbags and adjustable pedals.

Base LS and midlevel LT models made up the bulk of the Malibu's production. The lack of style and performance was addressed in 2006 when the lineup was beefed up with the leather-trimmed LTZ and high-performance SS. For power, this generation offered a 2.2-liter four-cylinder rated at 144 hp (LS and LT models), a 217-hp 3.5-liter V6 (standard on the LTZ and optional on LT) and a top-dog 3.9-liter V6 with 240 ponies for the SS. All were hooked up to a four-speed automatic transmission, and the SS featured a manual-shift mode.

In reviews, we commented favorably about the car's smooth ride quality and roomy interior. Noted downsides included a lackluster cabin and subpar braking and handling. We'd suggest choosing one of the V6 engines, which provide an agreeable combination of performance and fuel economy.

The preceding Chevrolet Malibu generation was sold during the 1997-2003 model years. In 2000, the front styling was modified to be more Impala-like and the 3.1-liter V6 was improved with more power. Minor detail changes like exterior/interior trim revisions, automatic headlamp control, new audio systems with a CD player and new colors carried the Malibu through its next few years. We were fans of this Malibu at the time, viewing it as something of an overlooked gem in GM's lineup, but its advancing age and spotty consumer reviews make it a tricky used-car selection.

User Reviews:

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  Da-Da-Daymm - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Take_me_away - January 25 - 2:00 am

  I love my moms mali..we just got it a week ago and since she has her Corolla i get to drive her car to school. Take the Back twisty road and find the longest possible way to get to school. C mon chevy..tell the truth..i know its not 200 hp..cuz it feels like more..Its especailly great to cruz at night and follow your friends around with their cars..the thumb shifter is soo cool..my cousin even asked my mom to take it to the military ball to impress her friends. Now I Need a defender against people wanting a ride because they see alot of room in the back...she thinks its crip (Nice,Cool)..2 thumbs and 2 toes up for chevy..

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sgtpara - January 25 - 2:00 am

  I did a lot or researching on line and to get everything I wanted in a car it would have costs 30K or more. The Malibu save me 10K plus it has all the great safety features, good ride etc. My only concern will be the reliability. However, my other two cars have been GM vehicles and I have not had a problem with either one. If you are on the fence. Go for it.

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  Im surprised is not a Camry! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jjstokes - January 24 - 1:46 pm

  This vehicle is a great purchase. I use to only drive Toyota or Honda. Know that I am driving a Malibu, I am pretty impressed. The only but I would say about this vehicle is that I should of have gotten a large engine.

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  Great gas mileage - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kshont - January 23 - 2:44 pm

  I sold my 2004 Malibu and got a 2003 one becasue the other one had too many problems. I dont know what people are talking about with gas mileage but when I drove to Florida, I got 32 m.p.g. at 85-90 mph with 4 people and trunk full of stuff. Try using fuel injector cleaner a few times, itll help. Mixed driving I, usually get 25 mpg. Drove 30,000 miles in 8 months and the only problem was the horn went bad. Turned out I needed a new fuse but it still doesnt sound the same. Gets the job done though. Cant complain paid $7200 with 38000 miles when it was still less than 2 years old.

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  Malibu Delivers on Fuel Economy - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ed - January 22 - 11:55 pm

  Weve had our Malibu for two months now and were very pleased with the fuel economy. We looked at hybrids but decided that wed rather pay less upfront and get better long term durability (who knows how long a hybrid battery will last). Weve gone on a few long trips too and its very comfy. XM satellite radio was the only thing we didnt want, but were finding that its one of the best options too. This car isnt killing our pocket book and were very pleased with its performance. The V6 is much peppier than the V6 Honda we got rid of.

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  I love my car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sweater32 - January 16 - 7:21 pm

  The LTZ Malibu is a dream come true car for the price. I love the way it handles going slow and fast. It can turn on a dime. I love the data that you can see readily: mph, how many miles you have left on your tank of gas, when oil should be change, The average mph you are traveling, two trip mileage. The direction you are traveling on the mirror (NSEW) Onstar for free for one year. Heated seats, leather seats and steeriing wheel. The radio can be accessed on the steering wheel including mute.

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  Best gas mileage in V6, has high torque - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By steineri - January 14 - 9:51 pm

  Great acceleration and gas mileage. Perhaps most importantly nowadays, it gets MUCH better gas mileage than its competitors. The horsepower looks slightly lower than some other V-6 cars in its class but most other cars list their hp at really high rpms (i.e. 6000+). The Malibus 3.5 liter v-6 has a LOT more torque (which is what matters) than the engines of its competitors. I literally get 38mpg on interstate trips with mostly flat driving when I drive conservatively.

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  So far, So good. - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By RJ - January 14 - 8:40 am

  I did a lot of homework and drove a lot of cars before purchasing my Malibu. I am very pleased so far with most everything. It doesnt ride or acclerate like my Caddy, but it is fun to drive, and I can afford to drive over the mountain without taking out a loan for fuel. I dont know what to expect over the long haul with the 6 speed, it does a lot of shifting, but I have 100 K to decide if I want to keep it. I spent more on it than I intended, but I couldnt find some features that I wanted on the LS. Overall, a nice American product.

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  Great value car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By GlennS - January 13 - 11:33 pm

  I have a long commute to work so I wanted something economical, safe, comfortable, quiet and with some spunk. I also wanted something with enough space to offer some versatility for longer road trips and for hauling people and things around. This car has all this and for thousands less than a comparably equipped Accord, Camry or Maxima. The only thing that Chev should really try to improve is the front suspension. Its not bad but it does not feel as solid as with many of the competitive models. Overall, a great value for a mid-sized car.

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  My Malibu - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Heather - January 13 - 8:29 pm

  Great Car!! The best car that I have owned. V6 is peppy and also gets good gas mileage. It is very comfortable.