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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  Rental Update - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Larry Gorman - August 11 - 9:33 am

  Some things my original review omitted - yes, it is a rental, but it had 26 miles on it when I got it. BRAND SPANKING NEW. So my observations are not of a beaten up high mileage rental car. Added remarks - and these are personal observations and may not bother other people - the high back end and no back up camera make parking unnecessarily difficult - parallel or backing into a space. Shockingly, I discovered this weekend that a bag of golf clubs will not fit in the trunk sideways - only diagonally! Even my Honda S 2000 could hold a couple of bags of golf clubs sideways in the trunk. Having to put them in diagonally causes problems packing other items in the trunk. WHERE IS THE INTERIOR TRUNK RELEASE????!!!!!! I have looked everywhere - and the remote on the key fob will NOT work when the car is running. Why do manufacturers put the gas filler cap on the Passenger side??? And then it is not intuitive - nothing to grab onto , no release in the car - you have to press it to get it to open. All in all, the car is replete with annoyances - not surprising to somrone who has owned nothing but the best ergonomically designed cars in the world - Hondas and Acuras.

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  Really Love This Car - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Randy Risner - August 10 - 6:16 pm

  I have owned many cars including Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Cadillac Buick and other premium brands. This car impresses me for its value. It is solidly built with quality materials. It rides well, it handles well, it accelerates well, it is comfortable on long drives and it gets incredible fuel economy for its size and weight. The only complaints I have are the limited room in the rear passenger area and the blind spots in the rear. I recently drove the car from California to Alabama. My average speed was 80 mph. My average fuel economy was better than 36 mpg. Maintenance costs are fantastic. Regular maintenance on this car is about $40 per visit compared to over $400 per visit for my wifes Mercedes C Class. I wont even go into the maintenance costs I experienced as a Jaguar owner. Overall, this car compares quite favorably to similar offerings by Japan or Europe. I drive this car a lot having put over 40,000 miles on it in one year. All of that mileage and no significant problems at all. This is not a sports car and it wasnt designed as one. So, everyone complaining about handling and acceleration are comparing apples to oranges. It drives quite well and is very much like any other similar car like the Honda Accord or Nissan Altima. In my opinion, the car is a bit overpriced. However, I made up for that with GMs military discount which brought the price into reasonable territory. Further, I doubt that the car will hold its resale value the way Honda or Nissan does simply because it is a domestic offering. All in all, this car does what GM says it can do. It is a great value and a great car.

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  Almost an excellent vehicle - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Chris S - August 9 - 2:10 pm

  I bought my 2011 Malibu LT2 back at the beginning of 2015 and have been using it for nearly 8 months. I opted for a V6 because it was such an excellent price that I figured "why not?". That engine has some pull to it (roughly 250hp) and sounds pretty smooth. The only problem is the advertised fuel efficiency numbers arent quite right. In the city of Seattle, I get around 15-17mpg and on the freeway, if I am on cruise control between 60-65, I get sneak up to 29-31mpg (with a level road surface). Any incline will drop the hwy mileage to around 24-25mpg. Stop and starts with the V6 are what really murder your fuel efficiency here. The seats are almost fine, but my back will hurt after long drives because the seats force your shoulders in a bit and my upper back is forced back - almost like a mild squeeze. Smaller bodies probably wont notice this as much (Im 62 and have a wider build that the average person), but its an annoyance. The quality of the Malibu LT2 is inconsistent. I have some kind of leather/suede-fabric hybrid that makes cleaning a bit tougher than it should be. The dashboard and door panels are composed of a cheap plastic material that scratches easily. The instrumentation and radio/temp controls are fine. Nothing fancy but nothing to complain about. The 6-speaker system is adequate for most people. You can get reasonable volumes without distortion in the audio but the system is built to cap everything off in that department before you hit those higher volumes that would degrade your listening experience. Ive heard a 2013 Malibus 2LT/LTZ stereo which uses a Bose system (I think) and its a step up (though still doesnt quite compete with some higher-grade car stereos out there). As for reliability: Ive had my car in a couple times this year - once for a piston replacement (fortunately under warranty, but just barely) and the other for simple coil and spark plug replacements, which are actually easy to replace, I just hadnt learned how to do it yet (a YouTube video can literally save you $500 in parts and labor for replacing one or multiple coils that sit atop your engine). All in all the Malibu for this year is decent. It has a solid look to it and offers decent options, depending on what trim you end up with. The LT2 or LTZ vehicles are the best available so if you do buy one, try and look for those trims. But from what Ive been hearing about the newer Malibus - youre better off buying used 2014 and beyond because the 4cyl is closer to the Nissan Altima fuel efficiency ratings and the quality of the cabin materials has drastically improved. The 2016 Malibu is the first really desirable Chevy sedan Ive laid eyes on and makes me think the company could give Ford a run for their money in the next few years.

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  KING OF THE HILL - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By BOB ALLENBY - August 8 - 6:17 pm

  YOU ARE GETTING THE BEST FOR THE PRICE ON THE MARKET

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  2003 GM fuel pumps defective. - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Eric Puckett - August 6 - 12:45 pm

  My 2003 Chevy Malibu fuel pump went out. While looking for a new one I found some interesting facts. 1 website had over 90 complaints on that part for that model and year of GM cars. Normally parts for cars interchange every 5 years. The 2003 GM models fuel pump was only put on cars that year. That makes me believe that GM knew the pump was defective. Wy else would GM only install that pump for 1 year when they always use parts for 5 years. Something to think about.

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  General Motors has done a great job!I l - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By miaclockman - August 5 - 1:36 pm

  I must say that for the past 20+ years, I had gone sour on American-Made cars after terrible experiences. So, for over 20 years, we leased Nissan automobiles with few problems and very satisfied. However, it came time for us to get a new vehicle and I thoroughly researched the top mid-sized sedans for 2015. The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ2 caught my eye after reading outstanding ratings by J.D. Power & Associates as well as top-notch crash ratings in all categories. Safety and reliability are on the very top of our list of what we are looking for in a vehicle. When we arrived at the dealership and saw the LTZ2 on the lot we had chosen online, first impression was that it was small for a mid-sized car. However, upon opening the doors and sitting in the vehicle, we found ample room in all seats. The first thing that impressed me was how absolutely quiet the interior of this car was! I didnt even know that the engine was running. Outside noises were barely noticeable and there is little to no road noise while driving the car. For once, I sat in an American-Made vehicle that didnt skimp on the quality of the interior. The dash was padded and every attention to detail was given. I especially liked the ambient lighting that wraps the entire instrument panel and dash with a gentle blue light. The ride was comfortable, and the car has an amazing tight turning radius. Acceleration, even without engaging the turbo, was more than enough power. When I "punched it", I was blown away at the power that I had to pass, enter a freeway, or do whatever I needed. It was hard to believe that it was a 4-cylinder engine. Braking was smooth, handling was responsive, and visibility from all angles was excellent. As for the "bells and whistles" - yes, this is the top of the line Malibu with everything included. We opted for the leather interior (although the majority available have black leather which is horrendously hot in South Florida), safety features abound with enough air bags (in my humble opinion) to keep me safe in the worst of crashes. The "heat factor", however, is easily overridden by the fact that the car can be started remotely. Simply press the lock button twice on the remote key, and then press the start key for 3 seconds. The car will start, the A/C or heat will bring the cabin to a comfortable temperature - all while you are walking t the car! And fear not - it cant be stolen when this is happening because the doors remain locked and all drivable features such as taking the transmission out of park, or steering are disabled until the key is physically put in the ignition). I appreciate having the rear-facing camera with guides to assist with parking and backing up, I appreciate the sensors that warn of front, rear, and side collisions, as well as a "lane drift" warning system that alerts me if I drift from my lane. "On Star" was the best thing that GM could have included in its vehicles. It consists of a host of sensors all over the car that can do remarkable things. For example, if I am driving along and feel or hear something amiss, I can call On Star and have a remote full diagnostic of my car done via satellite while I am driving. If it is something serious, I can get directions to the nearest dealership. If, God forbid, I am in an accident and unconscious, the On Star staff will attempt to contact me - if there is no response, an ambulance and police are immediately dispatched to my location. If my car is stolen, I can report it via phone or my mobile phone On Star app. Police will be notified and the car will be tracked by satellite. Once a police car is in sight of the vehicle, a remote signal is sent to slow the engine to a stop, lock the doors, and the thief is basically stuck in the car. I do agree with Edmunds.coms complaint that the My Link system (which is the brains of the car on a touch screen) has a steep learning curve. I think that GM tried to put as many features as possible into the system that it made it difficult to be more intuitive. However, everything is explained in detail in the owners manual, so I cant take away points on my review for this simple thing. For the basics, such as controlling the radio, adding favorite stations, pairing a Bluetooth phone, etc., are fairly straightforward and easily done without reading an instruction manual. Any of the "OK or N/A" ratings that I gave in this review are because I have only had the car for one week, so I cant speak yet for my experience of mechanical reliability or resale value. Otherwise, I feel that we made an excellent choice and I believe that GM has taken a long-hard look at what the consumer expects out of a vehicle and has equaled, if not surpassed, its foreign competitors in size and price class. I would highly recommend taking a look at the 2015 (and soon to be 2016) Malibu LTZ2. If you can afford this model that includes many of the features described above, it is well worth the extra $$$.

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  What a LEMON! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Suggabuzz - August 3 - 12:45 pm

  This car has so many problems that I couldnt list them all if I tried. The dash is lit up like a Christmas tree! There are problems with the traction control/ ABS and Power steering. The headlights, trunk pop button, and gas gauge all do not work. Things just fall off and brake constantly. It leaks coolant, as well as transmission fluid. I bought this car with no problems about 4 years ago, and it has been a constant battle to keep it out of the shop. There are so many re-calls i think even Chevy wants me to throw it off a cliff.

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  Rental Car while Acura RL having bodywork done - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Larry Gorman - August 3 - 11:01 am

  Reviewing this from the perspective of an Acura RL owner may be a bit unfair, but... the dash vents are barely adjustable, there are no visible rear vents, the engine (like just about any other American 4 cylinder I have ever driven) sounds like a lawn mower on acceleration though it IS economical - 32 MPG on highway at 75-80 - it rides like a truck - it is firm but you feel every bump - very poor insulation from road surfaces and imperfections - the "switch blade" key fob is annoying - if you dont keep folding it up it puts holes in pants pockets, and the access to the vehicle information system is accomplished through three switches on the left stalk on the steering column - requires too much concentration and much better placed on the dash somewhere - huge screen on the dash does nothing without navigation other than give you radio information. Very disappointing car after all the rave reviews I had read about the "new" Malibu - cannot even hold a candle to our previous 2008 Honda Accord, let lone the 2015 model.

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  I love driving now! - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Amber - July 24 - 2:22 pm

  This car was a huge upgrade from my 99 Pontiac. I love how quiet it is and it handles really well. The technology is great and I havent had any problems with connecting to local radio stations or XM stations. The car can only connect via bluetooth to one phone at a time, which can be inconvenient. The back up camera is nice because its kind of hard to look out the back window. The seats are really nice - the drivers seat has lumbar support so long trips dont make my lower back sore. My favorite part about the car is the auto stop/start engine - its fun to come up to a red light and see if the car will auto stop!

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  Vroom Vroom!!!! - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Macy - July 14 - 12:38 pm

  Its a real awesome car , people talk bad about it for some reason , they say go with toyota or honda when they dont realize every car will give you problems , it is how you take care of your car. This LT model is amazing and drives smooth , interior beats any car i have driven and has a sexy look to it . the 2014 model is also a nice aggressive looking model i love them all!!!!!!