The Chevrolet Malibu, with its good-looking design, excellent worth and restricted availability, is in a candy spot within the automotive market.
Demand for sedans is low as shoppers gravitate towards SUVs and pickup vans. Automakers keen to maneuver their slower-selling fashions are providing engaging pricing, manufacturing facility incentives, rebates and typically particular financing.
The ninth-generation Malibu was launched in 2016, so we’re nearing the top of its life cycle. 2022 was the final yr of the extra highly effective 2.0L engine, and the upscale “Premier” trim was additionally dropped.
Chevrolet introduced it will cease constructing 2023 fashions as a result of it had sufficient vehicles to fulfill market demand. While General Motors has not but introduced a retirement date, the Malibu will seemingly stop manufacturing quickly.
As GM transitions towards an all-electric future, the Malibu seemingly received’t be instantly changed. That makes this an excellent time for value-conscious patrons to think about shopping for this wonderful sedan.
2023 Chevy Malibu LT Impressions
The Malibu appears to be like dearer than it’s. The design is good-looking, trendy and expressive but it’s sufficiently plain to go incognito. I discovered the Malibu to be an ideal street journey companion. I rented a Malibu 1LT for the drive from Detroit to Chicago. The automobile drove properly, was very snug, visibility was nice, and gasoline economic system was wonderful.
The Malibu has a whisper-quiet cabin. Rental vehicles are typically forgettable, however the Malibu stood out—in a great way. I got here away feeling the Malibu deserved a more in-depth look.
Handsome, Upscale Interior
The Malibu inside is good-looking and appears upscale. It is adorned with engaging finishes and materials all through. The Malibu is a type of vehicles that matches like an previous pair of denims. I by no means needed to search for controls or discover ways to function something. Ergonomics are nice with an intuitive format and the whole lot inside straightforward attain.
My solely disappointment was a cheap-feeling plastic steering wheel and generic upholstery. Reason sufficient to step as much as the 2LT that comes geared up with leather-based and a thick-wrapped steering wheel.
All-day Comfort
The Malibu is a midsized automobile however feels a lot bigger inside. The seats had been all-day snug with ample leg room, shoulder room and headroom. The again seat was equally spacious—it might simply seat three adults. The beneficiant trunk was a lot sufficiently big for all my baggage and digicam gear with room to spare.
Composed, Playful On The Road
The Malibu is a satisfying automobile to drive; it feels stable and well-planted. The automobile maintains its composure even when traversing damaged pavement and pothole-ridden streets. When driving in heavy Chicago site visitors, the engine’s stop-start characteristic was barely perceptible and unusually satisfying.
I had the event to drive on some backroads and located the Malibu is playful. The automobile is gentle on its ft, dealing with is responsive and there’s a predictable quantity of understeer. Malibu at all times felt secure even when pushed aggressively.
Under The Hood
I’d have most well-liked extra energy however the little four-cylinder engine has loads of acceleration and will get wonderful gasoline economic system. The Malibu comes geared up with a 1.5L turbo coupled to a constantly variable transmission (CVT) which makes 160 horsepower and 184 lb ft of torque. While 1.5L of displacement might not sound like a lot, it’s a high-feature energy plant using direct injection, variable valve timing, and a low-inertia turbocharger that provides the Malibu ample energy on the freeway and surprisingly fast acceleration off the road, too.
Satisfying Infotainment System
The audio system sounded actually good and outperformed upscale programs provided by some rival automobile makers. Rental vehicles aren’t precisely an audiophile’s dream so my infotainment expectations had been low. It turned out the Malibu’s manufacturing facility stereo system with 8-inch touchscreen ended up being one of many automobile’s highlights.
Combined with the automobile’s quiet journey, the sound system delivered a satisfying listening expertise. The 1LT system doesn’t supply manufacturing facility navigation, however Apple CarPlay labored flawlessly and allowed me to navigate, stream, and speak on my telephone wirelessly.
Fuel Economy And Pricing
The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu will get an EPA mpg rated 27 metropolis, 35 mpg freeway. I noticed a mean of 31.6 miles per gallon over 480 miles of largely freeway driving. Price as examined $29,195 together with vacation spot.
The Verdict
I ended my journey scratching my head questioning why such an excellent automobile has largely been relegated to rental automobile fleets. It is a purchaser’s marketplace for the Chevy Malibu. Value-conscious new automobile patrons ought to contemplate the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu.
Source: theweeklydriver.com