2020 Chevrolet Malibu Review: Middle Of The Road

The Chevy Malibu aims to deliver a fine balance of performance and ride quality, with contemporary creature comforts set in a spacious cabin. With a relatively fuel-efficient 1.5-liter turbo-four engine with outputs of 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, the Malibu directs outputs to a front-wheel drivetrain via a CVT automatic. The top-of-the-line Premier trim offers its own appeal, coming equipped with a zestier 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with outputs of 250 hp and 260 lb-ft via a nine-speed automatic gearbox. While the Malibu seems to be a brilliant package, its performance is, in the grand scheme of things, middling at best, its cabin is dated, and its safety measures are far behind what's expected. With the Mazda 6, Honda Accord, and the Ford Fusion in the class, a handsome aesthetic and fuel-efficient powertrain may just not be enough for the Malibu to cut it as a top contender in the USA.

What's the Price of the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?

Competitive pricing is a Chevrolet specialty and one that comes through well for the Malibu. With an MSRP of $22,095 for the L, the Malibu's base price is around $1,000 cheaper than the cheapest Ford Fusion. The LS is presented with more of an entry-typical price at $23,220, followed by the RS with its price of $24,220, and then the LT with its price of $26,620. The top-of-the-line Premier, with its 2.0-liter turbo-four setup and comprehensive consignment of features, carries a sticker price of $33,320. All prices are excluding the Chevrolet Malibu's cost of $875 for destination and freight as well as any tax, registration, or licensing fees.

2020 Malibu Exterior

Dimensions

2020 Malibu Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Vehicles in the midsize sedan class are predominantly aimed at delivering a pliable driving experience with more of a focus on comfort over long distances than on straight-line performance. Even so, manufacturers do still try to appeal to those who do care for driving pleasure, with many of these sedans coming with at least a moderate level of capability presented through their handling. The Malibu is one of these sedans, with its fun-to-drive characteristics evident in its precise handling responses, and its ride quality uncompromised by it.

It's by no means sporty but remains compliant and composed even when flung around a corner at speed and feels confidently planted to the tarmac throughout. There could be more feedback from the steering, though its light effort does make the sedan easy to place, even at speed, and, for more spirited drivers, perhaps even a little fun. Its braking performance is exceptional too; the brake pedal itself is firm and the braking responses confidence-inspiring. The Malibu even beats its rivals with an emergency braking distance of 113-feet from 60 mph. Chevrolet really did a great job in refining the Malibu's performance dynamics with its ride quality, those looking for comfort won't be disappointed in the Malibu, it remains poised and stable over most typical road undulations and imperfections, and delivers a sophisticated quality overall, but isn't as sporty as a Mazda 6 nor as refined as a Honda Accord.

2020 Malibu Interior

2020 Malibu Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the new Chevrolet Malibu A Good car?

There are so many options within the midsize sedan class in the US and although the Malibu may be one of the more aesthetically pleasing options, it certainly isn't one of the best in terms of overall value. There are a few highlights, however; while its 1.5-liter turbo-four and CVT auto offer great fuel economy, the 2.0-liter turbo-four and nine-speed auto offer great performance, both are accompanied by decent handling and ride quality. Chevrolet's Infotainment 3 system is also a key quality of any Chevy vehicle, offering a user-friendly interface, crisp images, and comprehensive functionality even at the base level. The Malibu's safety ratings are rather average though, while many competitors come standard-fit with comprehensive selections of active driver-aids and safety specs, the Malibu range has to option on many of these features at additional costs, with availability limited to higher-tier trims. Its cabin feels somewhat cheap too, at least in comparison to the competition, with many low-grade and hard touch materials used almost exclusively. It's a middle of the road alternative to the class-leaders, and while you might never regret buying a Malibu, you'll always know you could've done better.

What 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Model Should I Buy?

It depends on how much you want to spend, but the Malibu RS is a great configuration, coming standard with a sportier exterior, and on the inside, with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The LT trim, which follows the RS, loses the leather-wrapped constituents but gets heated front seats and dual-zone climate control; while those are nice, we feel the $2,400 upshot in price isn't worth the switch up. Unfortunately, the meaningful optional packages are only available for the LT and Premier, including the Driver Confidence packages. So, if safety is your main concern then the LT is the one to go for, you'll just have to option in the Driver Confidence I & II Package.

2020 Chevrolet Malibu Comparisons

2020 Chevrolet Malibu vs Chevrolet Impala

If you're looking for more cabin and cargo room than what's offered in the Malibu, then the Malibu's bigger brother, the Impala, is certainly the sedan you'll want. It costs just under $10,000 more than the Malibu, but comes equipped with a far more impressive base engine: a 3.6-liter V6 with outputs rated at 305 hp and 264 lb-ft. Still, the Impala isn't much faster than the 2.0-liter-equipped Malibu though, with a 0-60 mph sprint time of 6.5 seconds, and neither is it more fuel-efficient, with gas mileage estimates of 19/28/22 mpg. Its heft and size make it less nimble than the Malibu as well, and it certainly won't handle a corner as well as the smaller brother does. Apart from its heftier price tag, bulkier size, and less economical engine, the Impala is also up for discontinuation, with all that in mind, it would probably be best to stick to the Malibu if your sights are set on the Chevy name.

2020 Chevrolet Malibu vs Ford Fusion

At only $1,000 more than the Chevrolet Malibu, the Ford Fusion ranks with around the same specification levels and value within the class. There are three engine options within the Fusion lineup, none are as fuel-efficient as either of the Malibu's but do provide robust acceleration and complement the Fusion's slightly better handling prowess when driving enthusiastically. In other words, the Fusion is the more enjoyable driver's car, not that it's especially fun in general though. Moving to the inside sees the Fusion boast a slightly more modern impression, though also mostly comprised of low-grade materials. The Malibu takes the cake for the better infotainment system, where the base Fusion is fitted with only a last-century 4.2-inch LCD display. The Fusion's standard Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assists otherwise makes the Malibu's restricted selection of safety features just seem foolish. The Fusion is definitely the safer family hauler. Overall, the Fusion tops the Malibu in all but infotainment, making it the better family sedan and better value for money proposition as well.