The culling of midsize family sedans continues in 2020 with major players such as the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Impala facing the ax and now the Chevrolet Malibu, which has been around for nearly half a century, is facing the end of its life in 2023. In a last-ditch effort, Chevrolet is trying to boost sales in foreign markets by offering the Malibu with a different look and some interesting features. The Korean market is getting blessed with a fresh 2021 Malibu that looks better than the car sold in North America and features a new trim level, new paint options, and more user-friendly connectivity.

Chevrolet will be enticing possible customers with a new Redline Edition which takes top spot in the Malibu lineup. The new trim shares a lot of similarities with the Sport Edition recently introduced in the US, and has proven to be a hit in Chinese markets. "Chevrolet's iconic Malibu nameplate has been upgraded with more sophisticated style and convenience," said Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Service at GM Korea, Cesar Toledo. "The New 2021 Malibu will provide a different and convenient experience, thanks to the addition of the Redline Edition, a new exclusive color and our latest multimedia system with enhanced connectivity."

With the introduction of the Redline Edition, the Malibu will now be available in four trims in the Korean market. Chevrolet Korea has also introduced a new exterior paint color named Midnight Blue, and the latest iteration of Chevrolet's infotainment system now supports industry standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Under the hood, the Korean Malibu remains unchanged, and new owners can choose between a 1.3-liter turbo engine producing 154 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, or a potent 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot kicking out 250 hp and 260 lb-ft. These new additions might be too little too late for the doomed Malibu.