The Malibu is one of the stalwarts of the Chevrolet lineup, and it was completely new last year.
That’s a big deal because it is a car which is almost the definition of Chevrolet cars. That definition now includes more safety, more space and more style.
Chevrolet is proud of their mid-sized Malibu sedan. They should be. It is attractive, bigger, lighter and safer than any previous version. The wheelbase is 3.6-in. longer on a car that is 2.3-in longer overall, so the wheels have been pushed slightly towards the corners.
It’s the same width as previously, but there is enough growth that when combined with designers and engineers seeking to make best use of the space in the cabin, they have succeeded. In addition, it weighs 300-lb. lighter, a significant reduction that you can feel.
I like the car’s looks a lot. While it is influenced by the 2014 Impala redesign, it is different enough that they don’t look basically the same from 100 feet away. There is little-to-nothing wrong with the Malibu. It is the best looking Malibu since the 1960s. But it is still a car that is mostly steak with little sizzle. Then again, that’s probably just what most mid-sized, mid-priced sedan buyers like about it. They don’t want to stick out. So it wasn’t surprising that my test car was gray-on-gray.
The car I tested was a Malibu LT, with the standard 1.5-liter engine producing 160-hp. and 184 lb.-lb.-ft. of peak torque. This power runs through a six-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels, while Malibu’s other engine options come with an eight-speed transmission. With this base powertrain there is enough power to allow the car to accomplish all of its mid-sized sedan tasks, but it does it with a bookmarmish normality.
But that doesn’t mean it’s old-fashioned. The Malibu offers capabilities as up-to-date as its looks. These include General Motor’s OnStar cellular in-vehicle connectivity and even wireless phone charging. There are plenty of ways to get your infotainment from the radio, web or your device. This is made even more useful thanks to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility
On the safety side of the technological equation the Malibu has 10 standard air bags, and you can opt for features including Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Chevrolet even makes Automatic Parking Assist available. Other technologies include lane-keep assist, with lane departure warning, side blind zone and lane change alert. You can also add adaptive cruise control and Chevrolet’s automatic high beam control called Intellibeam.
Another nice capability for some is the Teen Driver feature, which allows parents to view their kids’ driving statistics, such as maximum speed and warning alerts. It even mutes the audio or any paired device until front-seat passengers and the drive have their seat belts fastened.
The interior is a comfortable space, bigger than previously, with a modern, but not edgy, design. There are plenty of places to put things. Although few Malibu owners rarely stuff five people in the car, it can actually do it reasonably comfortably. All mid-sized sedans are rated as five-passenger, but with most you want to insure that you’re not the fifth passenger forced to sit in the middle of the back seat. While I wouldn’t want to go cross-country sitting there, a trip to the mall or a restaurant isn’t unpleasant.
The car I tested had the base audio system, and the sound was fine. There are options, but this isn’t an area where many mid-sized, mid-priced sedan buyers want to spend extra money. They’d like great sound, but they’ll be satisfied with what they get in this Malibu.
While how well a car of this category handles isn’t a primary concern for most buyers, it is important to know that it handles safely, and will respond as it should while also being comfortable. The suspension, steering and brakes are all better than they need to be, adding an even greater margin of safety during those occasions where the braking and steering must be good.
The new Malibu will be offered in L, LS, LT and Premier trims, as well as the Hybrid model. The Hybrid model will be coming later and its price is not yet set. The 2017 Malibu will use strong hybrid technology which comes from the plug-in Chevrolet Volt. General Motors says the Malibu Hybrid should get 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. One presumes it will be the most expensive model of the Malibu.
But the base Malibu L has a starting MSRP of $$21,680 for the Malibu L model, while the LS model starts at $$23,225. Moving on up, the Malibu LT begins life at $25,125. The Premier starts life at $30,975. Malibu LT and Premier models buyers can choose the new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, which comes with a nine-speed transmission.
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