
Against some very stiff competition, the Chevrolet Malibu almost rises to the level of the top family sedans -- but not quite. Experts say the Chevy Malibu offers class-leading fuel economy, a rich-looking interior and a comfortable ride at an affordable price. However, reviews point to other family sedans that deliver all that plus better safety and/or reliability, sometimes for thousands less than the Malibu.
The Chevrolet Malibu gets mostly good crash-test scores, except it does only a "marginal" job protecting passengers in rear-end collisions, according to the nonprofit IIHS. Very few family sedans get perfect safety scores, but several -- including the less expensive 2009 Ford Fusion (*est. $19,270 to $27,675) -- do better than the Malibu.
The Chevy Malibu's once-questionable reliability has improved this year to "average," according to owner surveys, but the model reflected in the latest J.D. Power dependability study is not the current-generation Malibu, which didn't bow until the 2008 model year. Even if you were to assume that the "average" rating would carry through to the current Chevy Malibu, that's not nearly as good as the very reliable Honda Accord (*est. $20,905 to $28,955) or Hyundai Sonata (*est. $18,700 to $26,550), both of which are just as fuel efficient, comfortable and nicely appointed as the Malibu, reviews say. The Chevrolet Malibu's three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty is average, but its five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty beats most cars' five-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage.
According to its spec sheet measurements, the Chevy Malibu's passenger quarters are tighter than those in the Accord, Sonata and other leading midsize sedans. However, testers don't complain about feeling crowded in the Malibu. "My whole family was comfortable in the Malibu," reports Sara Lacey, who tests the Malibu for MotherProof.com. "Nobody was squished or crammed when all four of us were in attendance--that's a pretty amazing feat, people."
Also of interest to families, the Chevrolet Malibu is supremely car-seat friendly, Lacey says. Booster seats for her four and six year olds lay properly flat against sedan's 60/40 split folding backseat. And unlike many family sedans, the Malibu includes a third set of LATCH anchors in the middle of its back seat -- the safest location for babies. "Yes folks, you can put that child-safety seat in the Malibu's middle seat," Lacey writes. "Can I get a 'hallelujah?'"
Some reviews -- especially the ones that don't consider safety or long-term reliability -- say the Malibu is the best family sedan, period. "More enjoyable to drive than the Toyota Camry [*est. $19,395 to $29,045], better looking than the Honda Accord," declares Automobile Magazine, which names the Malibu to its 2009 Automobile All-Stars list. Some critics find the Malibu just as bland-looking as most other family sedans, but "classic" and "classy" are the most common descriptions. Motor Trend editors say the Malibu looks "sexy," but they say that can't make up for its underpowered four-cylinder base engine.
Several testers say an optional six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles -- available on the Chevy Malibu LT (*est. $22,505) and standard on the Chevy Malibu LTZ (*est. $26,880) -- ekes sufficient power out of the Malibu's fuel-efficient four-cylinder, but Motor Trend tests the six speed, and says the Malibu still feels too heavy for its 169-horsepower, 2.4-liter base engine. Reviews say most families will want the sedan's base engine for its superior fuel economy: 26 mpg in mixed driving with the six-speed automatic (22 city/33 highway) or 25 mpg mixed with the four-speed (22 city/30 highway), the latter of which is the only transmission available on the base Malibu LS (*est. $21,605). The Chevy Malibu lives up to these Environmental Protection Agency estimates in real-world tests. "On a trip that was fairly split between highway driving and Ann Arbor football traffic, I averaged close to 27-28 mpg. Not bad," writes Evan McCausland at Automobile Magazine.
Fuel economy suffers dramatically with the optional 252-horsepower, 3.6-liter
V-6 engine. The EPA estimates that this engine will deliver just 20 mpg in
mixed driving (17 city/26 highway) with the six-speed automatic transmission.
A hybrid Malibu (*est $25,555), which uses an electric motor to assist with
acceleration (it can't propel the car on its own), is also available. It
is covered separately in our report on
It pays to read a wide variety of reviews on the Chevy Malibu, because most provide only part of the picture. Motor Trend and TheTruthAboutCars.com both include the Malibu in thorough head-to-head tests, but neither source concentrates on safety or long-term dependability. We found safety data at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Consumer Reports is the best overall source for family-sedan ratings, as it takes all of these factors into account. Other reliable sources post helpful single-car reviews for the Malibu, including Edmunds.com, ConsumerGuide.com, Automobile Magazine and MotherProof.com.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Consumer Reports thoroughly tests the Chevy Malibu and rates it alongside almost every other family sedan on the market. Consumer Reports also conducts surveys to rate each car's reliability and owner satisfaction.
Review: Chevrolet Malibu, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. Motor TrendDetails/Subscribe
The Chevy Malibu takes eighth place in this head-to-head test of 10 family sedans. Editors say the underpowered four-cylinder engine can't handle such a heavy car.
Review: The Familial and Frugal: Four-Cylinder Midsize Sedan Comparison Test, Editors of Motor Trend, June 2008
TheTruthAboutCars.com's William C. Montgomery tests three American family sedans -- the Chrysler Sebring, Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu -- and awards first place to the Malibu. He also compares the Malibu favorably with leading Japanese sedans.
Review: Yankee Econo-Car Comparo: 1st Place 2009, William C. Montgomery, Mar. 6, 2009
4. Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com editors like the Chevy Malibu, although it doesn't make their top recommended list -- mostly because the competition is so stiff, they say. Unlike some other reviewers, they find the fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine provides enough power.
Review: 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Review, Editors of Edmunds.com
The Chevy Malibu is a ConsumerGuide.com Best Buy. Editors appreciate its fuel economy and comfortable back seat, and they give it especially high marks for value.
Review: 2009 Chevrolet Malibu: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
6. Automobile MagazineDetails/Subscribe
This short article explains why the Chevy Malibu is a 2009 Automobile All-Star, comparing it briefly to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. For more details, you can click through to a full review of the Malibu.
Review: 2009 Automobile All-Stars, Joe DeMatio, Dec. 2008
MotherProof.com's Sara Lacey finds the Chevy Malibu very comfortable for her family, including her four- and six-year-old children. The backseat is roomy enough, car seats fit easily and properly, and Lacey finds the interior design pretty and practical. This review covers the 2008 model, which is little changed for 2009.
Review: There's a Lot to Like About the '08 Malibu, Sara Lacey, Sept. 2008
8. SaferCar.gov
The Chevy Malibu earns perfect scores in front and side government crash tests, and a score of four out of five for rollover potential. Safety scores for most cars on the market are posted at this NHTSA-operated website.
Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, Editors of SaferCar.gov
9. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Chevy Malibu is not among the safest family sedans, according to crash tests at IIHS. Although it performs well in front and side crashes, its rear crash protection is "marginal."
Review: Midsize Moderately Priced Cars, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
10. FuelEconomy.gov
This chart shows how each version of the Chevy Malibu compares with dozens of other midsize cars in terms of fuel economy. The Malibu's fuel economy places it among the best gasoline-powered family sedans.
Review: 2009 Midsize Cars, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov
The Chevy Malibu improves its reliability in this most recent J.D. Power and Associates survey. The Malibu ranked below average in the 2008 owner survey, but now owners rate it "about average." Scores are based on 2009 surveys of owners who bought their cars in 2006. Note that cars bought during that timeframe are the previous-generation Chevy Malibu, and not the model currently available at dealers.
Review: 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study -- Midsize Car, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates
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