Are Chevy Malibus Good Cars?

in Reliability
Dark blue Chevy Malibu

Chevy Malibu by Kevauto - CC-BY-SA-4.0

In a market increasingly dominated by crossovers and SUVs, the relevance of midsize sedans is waning. Car manufacturers are heavily focusing on producing and marketing larger vehicles, responding to a growing demand for more space, off-road capabilities, and a higher driving position. However, despite this shift in consumer preference, midsize sedans like the Chevrolet Malibu remain significant in the automotive landscape.

There’s no shortage of options for midsize sedans, with models like the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Honda Accord. While its rivals certainly get more attention, the Chevy Malibu remains a solid option for car shoppers – thanks to its attractive styling, comfortable ride quality, and competitive pricing.

If you’re looking to buy this model, you’re probably asking: are Chevy Malibus good cars?

While the Chevrolet Malibu may not be the superstar in its class, it offers a balanced combination of design, comfort, affordability, and efficiency. Today, we answer this question by highlighting several vital qualities of the Chevy Malibu, such as its engine, performance, interior features, safety, reliability, and more.

Engine, Performance, and Fuel Economy

Unfortunately, engine performance isn’t the best quality of the Malibu. While many manufacturers provide several vehicle engine options, Chevy insists on outfitting the Malibu with only one engine and transmission pairing. For instance, the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu has a single powertrain option: a 160 horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

While this configuration is adequate for daily commutes, it lacks many of its competitors’ spirited performances. According to Car and Driver’s test of a 2019 Malibu, the midsize sedan recorded an average 7.8-second run to 60 mph, which is slower than similar rivals.

For driving performance, a common feedback is that the Malibu’s drivability is about as vanilla as it gets. Funny enough, you can find many reviews of the Malibu, like this Reddit post where one user said, “Sounds like it’s a car,” which paints a picture of the Malibu as a competent but unexciting vehicle. It raises the question of whether Malibu’s lack of excitement is a reflection of its target audience or a missed opportunity to stand out in a crowded market.

Regarding fuel economy, the Malibu also falls slightly behind its popular rivals. To give you a good picture of this sedan’s fuel efficiency, below is a breakdown of the 2023 Malibu’s mpg ratings from EPA.gov:

Engine and Transmission

  • Engine: 1.5 L, 4-cylinder
  • Transmission: Automatic with variable gear ratios, Turbocharged

Fuel Economy Ratings

  • Combined MPG: 30 miles per gallon (MPG)
  • City MPG: 27 MPG
  • Highway MPG: 35 MPG
  • Fuel Consumption: 3.3 gallons per 100 miles
  • Total Range: 474 miles on a full tank

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Interior and Tech Features

The Chevy Malibu is not a luxury model, so its interior can be rather spartan. However, the cabin layout is intuitive and comfortable, which are always great qualities for a daily driver. While the Malibu’s interior relies on some low-grade plastics, it also features quality materials in critical touchpoints. The overall feel is pleasant, though not necessarily luxurious.

The Malibu’s front seats are typically wide and supportive, while the rear seats provide reasonable space, although legroom might be slightly less compared to some competitors. However, the Malibu’s outward visibility is lacking compared to its competitors. In terms of storage, the 2023 Malibu offers 15.7 cubic feet of space, which is quite average for a midsize sedan.

Chevy fits every Malibu with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system as the central hub for entertainment and connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard, allowing seamless smartphone integration for access to apps, navigation, music, and more. Newer models also have a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot to ensure you stay connected while on the go.

Safety Features and Ratings

Safety-wise, the Malibu boasts many standard and available technology to help you and your passengers safe, including:

  • Automated Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection: This system can detect potential collisions with vehicles or pedestrians and apply the brakes automatically if necessary.
  • Lane-Departure Warning with Lane-Keeping Assist: This feature monitors the vehicle’s position within its lane and warns if it detects unintentional drifting. The lane-keeping assist can even make gentle steering corrections to keep the car centered.
  • Adaptive Cruise Control: By adjusting the vehicle’s speed to maintain a safe distance from the car ahead, adaptive cruise control enhances comfort and safety.
  • Blindspot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: These systems provide alerts if a vehicle is detected in the blindspot or approaching from the side while reversing, aiding in safer lane changes and backing up.
  • Forward Collision Warning: This feature provides visual and audible alerts if a potential collision with a vehicle or object in front is detected, allowing the driver to take corrective action.

The Malibu sedan has also received excellent safety scores from reputable organizations like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For example, the 2023 Malibu was rated by the NHTSA an impressive 5-star rating out of five and scored highly by the IIHS.

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Long-Term Reliability and Best/Worst Years

RepairPal says the Chevy Malibu is the 9th most reliable midsize car out of 24 brands. Several owners mentioned owning a Malibu for many years, with one even having a 2001 model with 140k miles that still drives well. Multiple people shared positive family experiences with the Malibu, highlighting its good gas mileage and easy driving.

For the worst Malibu years to avoid, we recommend skipping the 1999-2011, 2013, and 2016 model years due to the high number of consumer complaints and significant reliability problems. We highly recommend reading our previous write-up on this subject to learn more.

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Final Verdict: Are Chevy Malibus Good Cars?

Are Chevy Malibus good cars? It depends on what you want from a midsize sedan. In general, the Malibu doesn’t excel in anything. It’s not a bad midsize sedan by any means, but it’s not attempting anything special. Unless you can get one with a fantastic deal, its competitors like the Accord, Camry, and Sonata will offer better value for your money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How reliable is the Chevy Malibu?

A: Many reputable websites like GM Authority and RepairPal recognize the Chevy Malibu as a reliable and well-engineered midsize sedan. Over the years, it has been praised for its performance, comfort, and design by various automotive experts under the GM umbrella.

Q: What does the 2LT trim offer for the Chevy Malibu?

A: The 2LT trim for the Chevy Malibu is one of the higher-level trims, offering a combination of luxury and performance features. It often comes with refined interior amenities, advanced safety features, and sometimes a more powerful engine option.

Q: How does the Chevy Malibu fare in terms of safety?

A: The Chevy Malibu is equipped with a range of safety features, including advanced driver assistance systems such as automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane departure warning. It has received positive ratings in safety tests, making it a secure choice for families and individual drivers alike.

A: These terms refer to the engine options available for the Chevy Malibu. The 0L and 5L indicate the engine’s displacement, while LFV is a specific engine code used by GM to denote a particular type of turbocharged engine.

Q: How does the LTG engine differ from other engines in the Malibu lineup?

A: The LTG is a turbocharged engine developed by GM, known for its efficiency, robustness and performance. It is also said to reduce overall engine friction.

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