Review: One Last Ride In The Chevrolet Malibu

By Gary Gastelu |

Dec 12, 2024

Forget Chevy’s pickup trucks, the Chevrolet Malibu may be the hardest-working vehicle the brand sells. You’ll find them at rental car counters across the country these days, often filling the “standard” slot on the menu.

I’ve had several in the years since the current generation was launched in 2016, including one that I took on a 3,000-mile loop from New York City to Nashville and back. I probably have put more miles on Malibus than anything else over the past decade or so. When I picked up another a few weeks ago for a relatively short round trip from NYC to DC, it dawned on me that it might be the last.

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The Malibu is going out of production by the end of this year, ending a nonconsecutive run for the name that dates back to 1964, but a Chevy spokeswoman confirmed to me this week that things haven’t wrapped up just yet. It has effectively been replaced in Chevy’s lineup by the Trax and Equinox tag team that straddle its size and price, but in SUV form. When the Malibu is gone, the Corvette will be the last “car” with a bowtie badge.

The midsize sedan hasn’t been redesigned since it was new, but it still looks sharp and its powertrain has been updated a few times over the years. Today, it is only available with front-wheel drive, a 163 hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and a CVT automatic transmission. Rental spec, to be sure.

At a starting retail price of $26,995 ($1,100 less for the stripped fleet model) it is the lowest-priced car built in the U.S. by an American brand. Its replacement at the Fairfax, Kan., factory that produces it is slated to be the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV.

The Malibu is currently offered in LT, RS and LT1 and LT2 trims. My rental was an appropriately white LT1 with around 50,000 miles on it. The wheels were alloy and the seats were cloth, but only the driver’s had power adjustment. It’s not the biggest midsize, but six-foot-tall passengers can fit at all four corners with comfort simultaneously. The 15-cubic-foot trunk handles luggage for four, just fine, as I discovered on that 3,000-mile journey.

The analog gauges seemed charming today and the monochromatic LED information screen between them ancient, but effective. I actually prefer the small eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system interface to many of today’s megascreens. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration make it just as useful as any of them, anyway.

As far as electronic driver aids go, it had automatic emergency braking, a forward collision alert and a lane departure prevention system, but adaptive cruise control is an option reserved for the LT2, which also has leather seats and snazzy faux wood trim.

It was in surprisingly good shape given the amount of uncaring miles on it. I’ll give it a pass for the road or tire noise that I hadn’t experienced in previous Malibus, since I can’t vouch for its maintenance, but it didn’t affect the ride quality, which is perfectly adequate for a long haul trip.

That’s also true for the power, which is good for an eight-second 0-60 mph time and only feels laking in the most dire of highway merges. The CVT is a bit ropey, however, and there is no Sport mode to tighten it up. Nothing to complain about with the 32 mpg it delivered over the course of the weekend, which beat the EPA combined rating of 31 mpg.

Given the choice, the Malibu would never be my first pick, but it’s never disappointed me when I’ve been assigned one. Quite the opposite. I doubt anyone will miss it when it’s gone, but they should remember it. I know I will. We’ve been through a lot together.