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2023 Chevrolet Malibu

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CarsDirect Target Price
$26,095
Expert Rating
2.4

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2023 LS w/1LS 4dr Sedan
most popular
Price:   -  From $26,095
2023 RS 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $27,095
2023 1LT 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $29,195
2023 2LT 4dr Sedan Price:   -  From $32,595

Overview

What's New

Instead of adding features or making updates, Chevrolet is taking away the Malibu’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for 2023. The change leaves the turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine as the sole powertrain option in the Malibu lineup. Additionally, Chey has discontinued the range-topping Premier trim and replaced it with the 2LT.

Choosing Your Chevrolet Malibu

The midsize Malibu is available in four trims: LS, RS, LT, and 2LT. Prices range from $26,095 (with destination) to $32,595. Prices are slightly higher than last year.

Engine Choices

Chevrolet offers the Malibu with a single engine for 2023. The lineup now comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission and routes power to the front wheels. Fuel economy is rated at up to 29 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined.

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

The midsize Malibu offers seating for up to five and 15.7 cubic feet of cargo space in its trunk. Rear passengers get 38.1 inches of rear legroom, which is below segment leaders like the Honda Accord.

Chevrolet Malibu

Safety Features

Every Malibu comes with a lengthy list of standard features that include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam assist, and Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system.

The LS is available with the $545 Driver Confidence Package that brings rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and lane change alert. Adaptive cruise control is only available on the 2LT trim through the available Driver Confidence and Cruise Package which costs $1,000.

Connectivity

Chevrolet offers the Malibu with a standard eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, six audio speakers, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, navigation, and a satellite radio. The 2LT trim is the only one in the lineup to come with an eight-inch digital instrument cluster, a nine-speaker Bose audio system, navigation, and a wireless charging pad.

Chevrolet Malibu

2023 Chevrolet Malibu LS – MSRP From $26,095

The base LS trim doesn’t come with many standard features. The model has 16-inch wheels, automatic headlights, a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, air conditioning, keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, power windows, and cloth upholstery.

2023 Chevrolet Malibu RS – MSRP From $27,095

With 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, black badges, dual-exhaust outlets, and body-colored exterior mirrors, the RS trim brings a sportier design. It also comes with power-adjustable front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

2023 Chevrolet Malibu LT – MSRP From $29,195

While the LT represents a large jump over the RS trim, it’s where the Malibu starts to feel competitive against other midsize sedans. It comes with 17-inch wheels, LED exterior lighting, heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and illuminated vanity mirrors.

The Midnight Edition and Sport Edition cost $895 and bring black elements to the Malibu. The Redline Edition gives the Malibu a sportier design with black badges, black mirrors, a black grille, 19-inch black wheels, and red elements. The package costs $1,195.

2023 Chevrolet Malibu 2LT – MSRP From $32,595

The new for 2023 2LT trim is the most upscale one in the lineup. It comes with 19-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, memory settings for the driver, a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-wrapped shift knob, interior ambient lighting, leather upholstery, and ventilated front seats.

Compare Malibu Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

Against newer, more high-tech, and more upscale midsize sedans, the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu fails to be a competitive option. That’s truer than ever with the discontinuation of the available 2.0-liter engine. We don’t recommend the Malibu, but if you’re heart’s set on Chevy’s midsize sedan, the LT is where the Malibu feels remotely competitive to others in the class. The Driver Confidence Package is a must-have, while the other packages are mostly appearance ones that aren’t worth the cost.

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Automotive Editor
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Prices & Deals

Expert Review

Pros
  • Inoffensive styling, inside and out
  • Rides well, even on bigger wheels
  • Large cabin and trunk
  • Simple, practical dashboard
Cons
  • Underpowered and uninspiring to drive
  • Specifications are mean on lower trims
  • Safety is a major concern
  • Rivals do it all so much better
Expert Rating
2.4

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

The end of an era. The decline of sedans and liftbacks has been evident for decades, as buyers switch to SUVs. Chevrolet’s Malibu will be the last of its breed, and it’s hard to escape the sense that it’s going out with a whimper. This isn’t an especially good car – the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata knock spots off it in terms of style, safety, and specifications. It’s certainly not memorable to look at, though this might appeal to drivers who are keen to maintain a low profile.

So what have we got? A three-box Kansas-built sedan with a single engine and transmission configuration, four trims – and nothing to set it apart from a horde of foreign competitors. In many respects, those competitors show how far behind the times the Malibu has fallen…

Alarming safety, absent specifications. It’s alarming when the IIHS awards a new car a ‘Moderate’ rating, and doubly so when the NHTSA feels a model range is only a four-star offering. It’s disappointing to see adaptive cruise control missing, though it’s an optional extra on 2LT models. At least automatic emergency braking debuts across the 2023 model year, while the cabin contains ten airbags.

The lack of headline safety tech is emblematic of equipment levels more generally. The base LS comes with an eight-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring and keyless entry, but the mid-range RS offers little extra besides larger wheels and a rear spoiler. You’ll need to spend $27,500 on LT to enjoy heated front seats or dual-zone climate, while range-topping 2LT (replacing last year’s Premier) brings a Bose audio system and leather seats which are --ventilated up front. It’ll cost you just over $30,000, whereas a cheaper Kia K5 EX offers all this plus adaptive cruise and many other standard creature comforts.

Chevrolet Malibu

The little engine that could do with more power. Having dropped all its other powerplants this year, the Malibu wades into battle with damp powder courtesy of a 160 hp 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. It doesn’t pull strongly, but it’s smooth enough, and an excellent CVT transmission remains unobtrusive at all times. The ride deserves praise, especially on smaller wheels. The Malibu sits nicely on the highway without wandering or suffering from crosswinds, and electric power steering provides decent feedback along the way.

One advantage of a sedan over an SUV is fuel economy, with the Malibu’s Coke-bottle shape contributing to 32 mpg combined. The absence of hybrid power is disappointing, especially since Toyota and Honda both offer it, and there’s no AWD even as an option.

Good interior space. Despite the coupe-like roof slope, the Malibu’s well-proportioned cabin can accommodate four adults in relative comfort. Those in the back enjoy 38 inches of legroom, while behind them, a 15.7 cu ft trunk beats many sedan competitors for load space. The front seats are comfortable on long drives, but it’s disappointing (that word again) that only LT and 2LT have power adjustment for the driver’s seat. Somehow, moving seats back and forth manually feels like a relic of a bygone age.

Final thoughts. We finished the last paragraph with the phrase “relic of a bygone age,” which rather sums up Chevy’s sedan swansong. There’s nothing in the Malibu to make you lament the passing of the three-box sedan, especially in a reduced range that offers little choice beyond modest trim improvements. Where’s the big-engine performance version, the fuel-efficient hybrid or the chrome-and-quilting luxury model? Even the available options packs are dreary.

The Malibu offers generous interior space, a refined driving experience (with particularly good ride quality), a painless ownership proposition and decent fuel economy. Unfortunately, its rivals offer all this as well, while bringing many additional attributes to the table. We simply can’t recommend the Malibu over the swathes of Japanese and Korean sedans fighting over this dwindling market.

Check 2023 Chevrolet Malibu Prices Near You

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Available
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
1.5L I-4 / 160 HP / 184 ft.lbs.
Transmission
2-spd CVT w/OD
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
27 / 35 / 31 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
1.5L I-4 / 160 HP / 184 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
27 / 35 / 31 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
15.8 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$60
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
15.7 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
103 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
194.2 "
Exterior Width
73.0 "
Exterior Height
57.3 "
Front Headroom
39.1 "
Rear Headroom
37.5 "
Front Legroom
41.5 "
Rear Legroom
38.1 "
Front Shoulder Room
58.5 "
Rear Shoulder Room
57.1 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
3,135 Lbs.
Wheel Base
111 "
Turning Radius
18.5 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
16.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote
Bumpers
Front Body-colored With Chrome Insert
Grille Moldings
Black W/chrome Accents
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Premium Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus Am/fm Stereo, Clock, Seek-scan
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Front And Rear
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
1
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver And Passenger
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Rear Side-impact Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Change Alert With Side Blind Zone Alert Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keep Assist With Lane Departure Warning Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Front Pedestrian Braking Front Pedestrian Detection Prevention
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Intellibeam Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Rear Park Assist Rear
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
12 Months / 12,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
72 Months / 100,000 Miles
Accessories Months