WASHINGTON — The mid-size sedan seems to have baffled GM for years with the previous Malibu from Chevrolet too small compared to the giants in the class from Toyota and Honda.
The last Malibu, released a few years ago, was almost immediately refreshed to try and make it more competitive, as it lacked leg room for rear seat riders. Fast forward less than three years and GM has a new Malibu, and this time there is a serious hybrid along with the normal sedans.
There seems to be a car or two every year that really make huge strides from the previous model and the Malibu is one of those for 2016. The styling is very sleek compared to the old Malibu and it looks very good and more upscale. The front end has some Impala sedan look to it but there are more curves and rounded edges that add appeal to a class of cars not known for high style. Looking from the side it almost has a hatchback effect, with a sloped rear end and a trunk lid that also angles down toward the tail lights. This Malibu looks bigger than before, and it has the presence that Chevrolet mid-size sedans really need.
Inside, the extra length pays off and it’s finally competitive with other mid-size sedans in the class with good room in the rear seats. The $32,625 Hybrid I drove would be close to the 1 LT gas model so it’s about the middle of the trim levels. The seats are comfortable but the materials aren’t class leading. There is a decent amount of hard plastics but they are better looking than before. Perhaps higher trim levels have nicer materials. Trunk space does suffer in the hybrid version but it’s still useable. Large items might have to ride in the back seat.
My tester was helped with the $2,140 leather package that added heated leather seats and power adjustments for the passenger. Other options include the Driver Confidence package with park assist, following distance indicator, forward collision alerts plus lane keep assist and automatic braking – a worthwhile $1,195 spend. The graphics and colors on the large 8-inch screen and NAV system look much better than many GM products and the touch features work better also.
While no rocket ship, the Malibu hybrid feels pretty quick for this class with good power from the electric motor and engine when both are working. The new Malibu is more fun to drive then I thought it would be. It takes turns well and is very quiet on the highway and it will run electric for short periods about a mile or two if you go light on the gas pedal.
This has a lot of tech from the Volt so it works well and it’s not disruptive when going back and forth between electric and gas. I managed 44.2 mpg in 286 miles, a bit under the 46 mpg the sticker says and it probably can be done.
One neat item is Teen Driver which is activated by the MyLink screen and allows parents to control items like not being able to turn off the safety features. There is also speed warning if the set speed is crossed and the radio and paired devices are muted until the driver and front seat passenger are belted in. A report card for the teen driver is sent to parents allowing them to see what’s going on after a drive.
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid was a surprise for me with a better all around mid-size sedan. Going from outclassed to very competitive in a year is an impressive feat. With increased space and some style outside and now with a real hybrid model, this new Chevrolet might bring back some buyers that haven’t thought of GM in years.
Editor’s Note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
