2022 Chevrolet Malibu
You might be surprised to see this. After all, Chevrolet has cancelled all of their sedans and hatchbacks – except for the Malibu.
Sure, Chevrolet still builds the Camaro and Corvette. However, finding out that the Malibu will continue for at least another year made us wonder if it still has everything a consumer might want in a mid-size family sedan.
While it was introduced in 2015, the design remains contemporary. It has a low silhouette, a wider front end leading to a more tapered rear. The large lower grille greets you, framed by a sleek upper grille and headlamp units. The low lines rise gradually to envelop an equally sleeker fastback-like roof. A three-glass side greenhouse fits perfectly for the new image Chevrolet wanted for the Malibu. This leads to a sculpted rear end.
Our LT tester came with optional 18-inch wheels that are very sporty. They actually make the Malibu stand out a bit more than usual.
The Malibu’s cabin offers a low cowl with an informative setup within the instrument binnacle. Two large dials give way to a customizable central TFT screen where every bit of data can be gleaned in a clean format. The steering wheel offers a set of switches that control the center screen, cruise control, and add two sets of audio controls on the back of the spokes. Other switches are made cleaner to operate on the stalks, as well as other controls below the instrument panel’s beltline.
The center stack is crowned with an eight-inch touchscreen, powering everything from smartphone integration to OnStar’s 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity.
Our LT tester had cloth seating that offers decent comfort and bolstering for its front occupants. Front space is quite good while seating offers some bolstering and support to all kinds of drivers. Rear seat comfort is also quite decent with improved leg room from the last generation. Headroom may be challenged due to the slope of the roofline. Trunk room is very spacious: 15.8 cubic feet that does a good job in taking on an extended weekend full of luggage for all five passengers.
Our tester is powered by a 160-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A continuously variable transmission channels power to the front wheels. It certainly did feel like a 160-horsepower engine running through a CVT. It does well around town and out on the highway. It is also quite efficient, turning in a fuel economy average of 31.2 MPG.
Ride quality was nice. The Malibu was quite smooth and offered no drama whatsoever. Handling is on the soft side, but the Malibu remained controlled through the corners.
Steering was also fine, trending toward the numb side for true road feel; yet, it did exhibit a good turning radius to get out of tight situations. Braking was very good, showing great pedal feel and solid stops in normal and panic situations.
The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu lineup starts at $23,400 for an LS sedan. Our LT tester came with a sticker price of $27,995. There is a choice of four different Malibu models.
With Chevrolet keeping the Malibu available to customers, it still has plenty of competition. Rivals to the Malibu include the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, Kia K5, and the Volkswagen Passat.
There is one thing to note about the 2022 Malibu: Orders have ceased earlier this year for them. There is no word when the 2023 models can be ordered. You might get lucky and catch one among the Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.
No matter how you get one, you will find that the Chevrolet Malibu is a pleasant sedan. It offers all of the good qualities you expect in a Chevrolet in a package that is easy on the budget. Just be patient – one will find you soon enough.
Story Credits: CarSoup Editors
