Redesigned for the third time in eight model-years, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu adds 3.6 inches to the wheelbase and has an engine lineup including two turbocharged four-bangers and a hybrid option.
The Chevrolet Malibu has been redesigned for the third time in eight model-years. The 2016 sheds 300 pounds, adds 3.6 inches to the wheelbase and boasts an engine lineup that includes two turbocharged four-bangers and a hybrid option.
Three years ago, the eighth-generation Malibu gained enough size and power to compete with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and a host of others, including the newly redesigned Kia Optima in the midsize sedan category. The new car brings added rear legroom and styling borrowed from the larger Impala.
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Specs for 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
The 2016 also includes “Teen Driver,” a built-in telematics system designed to allow parents (and fleet owners) to set alarms off above a certain speed, limit stereo volume and track speed and miles driven, among other features.
The base L, LS and 1LT get a 1.5-liter turbo that delivers 160 horsepower (hp) and 184 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque. The 2LT and Premier (née LTZ) get a 2.0-liter turbo that carries over with some refinements, upping the ante to 250 hp and 258 lb.-ft. EPA testing was not complete at press time, but General Motors projects 27 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway for the 1.5-liter and 32 mpg for the 2.0-liter.
The Malibu Hybrid features a 1.8-liter inline four paired with an electric drive unit with two electric motors to deliver 182 hp and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. GM estimates 48 mpg in city driving and 45 on the highway.
The L comes with push-button start, A/C, cruise control, a six-speaker stereo and (gasp) no USB ports. The LS adds a 7-inch touchscreen, a stereo with USB inputs and a rearview camera. The LT and Premier editions bring bigger touchscreens, eight- and nine-speaker audio, dual-zone climate control, driver memory and more. Teen Driver is optional on LT and standard on Premier.
The exterior styling is a step up from the 2015’s comparatively cartoonish mug. The Impala’s visage and sheet metal fit the smaller car well, and the Malibu adds wave-like sculpting to the side panels. The bubbly interior doesn’t quite match the more refined exterior, but it does away with the prior-generation’s cumbersome, flight deck-inspired center console.
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The gas-powered 2016 Malibu will be available by year’s end. Prices will start at $22,500 for the base L and top out somewhere north of $33,000 for a Premier. Pricing is not yet available for the Hybrid, which goes into production in the spring.
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