Overview: Five-passenger, mid-size, front-wheel-drive sedan
Pros: Excellent front seats, new grille treatment adds some needed style
Cons: Limited legroom in rear seating area; odd dash trim panel will be a dirt and grime magnet; manual shift mechanism is poorly designed.
Value for money: Fair
What would I change?: Make steering-wheel paddles available, find more rear legroom, Instrument cluster, dash trim panel,
The Chevrolet Malibu has been revised for 2015 in an effort to bring its styling more in line with that of its siblings, the Impala and the ever-popular Cruze.
The resulting styling tweaks are an improvement, especially up front where the car gets a more aggressive grille design and enlarged headlights.
The design of the passenger cabin is simple and uncluttered, as the designers at General Motors have made big strides to improve the look and functionality of the dashboards in their latest offerings.
The Malibus front seats offer plenty of legroom and proved both comfortable and supportive.
Russell Purcell/PNG Merlin archive, Driving.ca
The quality of the fit and finish is on par with that offered by the Malibu’s many competitors, as most of the surface materials and trim pieces are pleasing to both the touch and eye. However, a rather odd looking slatted band of trim is used to integrate the design of the dash with the two front door panels. I suspect this will be prone to collect dust, hair, and other debris, and could be a real chore to keep clean.
The instrument cluster is dominated by a pair of square gauge housings separated by a LCD driver information screen. In theory the Malibu’s hooded gauge cluster should be easy to read, as white markings on black faces have been used for generations, but the angle of the protective lenses seems prone to catch reflections that can hinder visibility.
A thick-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel feels great in the hands, and all controls and instrumentation are within easy reach of the driver. The Malibu’s centre stack features a large, touch screen, LCD display as well as over-sized, soft-touch button controls and rotary dials to control the HVAC and audio system. The centre console now features a longer armrest, twin cup holders, and convenient storage for cell phones.
The eight-way power adjustable front seats feature active headrests and offer sufficient room and support for all but the tallest folks. A tilt and telescoping steering column is standard, permitting the driver to find the optimal seating position.
The cockpit of the 2015 Malibu places all controls and instrumentation within easy reach of the driver.
Russell Purcell/PNG Merlin archive, Driving.ca
Visibility from the driver’s seat is good, as the car has tall windows and the hood falls away quite readily, but I did find the car’s side-view mirrors to be unusually small. Luckily the LTZ model benefits from a rear view camera as well as a Side Blind Zone alert system.
The rear passenger compartment will accommodate three adults in a pinch, but is best reserved for adolescents and children due to the sloping roofline and limited space for legs and feet. When the front seats are set at the rearmost position of their seat rails, there is very little room for adult sized legs and feet in the rear seating positions.
On the technology side the Malibu LTZ Package comes equipped with Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment suite, and the OnStar system now features 4G LTE connectivity which allows the ability to create an in-car WiFi network.
There are four models of Malibu and all come standard with a 2.5-litre inline Ecotec four-cylinder engine that produces 196 horsepower and 191 foot-pounds of torque, while the LTZ model we evaluated featured the optional turbocharged 2.0-litre Ecotec four-cylinder under the hood which offers a substantial boost in power (259-hp, 295 lb.-ft.). One downside of selecting the engine upgrade is the fact that the turbocharged engine requires the use of premium fuel. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The turbocharged engine spools up quickly and pulls quite hard, so acceleration is relatively brisk. With a little practice, acceleration times to freeway speeds will take about 6.5 seconds. I found it to be a little noisy at highway speeds, but I never found the car to be short on power.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 259 hp and 295 lb.-ft of torque.
Russell Purcell/PNG Merlin archive, Driving.ca
The transmission executed gear changes with precision and the transitions were smooth enough to go unnoticed by the other occupants in the car. The shift lever is located on the centre console, and the driver can elect to make manual gear changes using a button lever on the top of the shifter. It is too bad that Chevrolet decided not to equip the car with steering-wheel paddles, as they would be help give the car a sportier disposition.
The Malibu’s steering feel is quite vague when compared to rivals like the Mazda6 and Honda Accord, as the electric assist masks the ability to give the driver much feedback through the steering-wheel. This is too bad, as the suspension seemed compliant and the car delivers relatively neutral handling characteristics.
The car feels well balanced when executing turns, and the suspension did an excellent job of dampening out the various bumps and hiccups encountered along the road surface. -it’s quiet enough in highway cruising, and the automatic’s geared to accommodate some sporty driving. The turbo also lacks paddles, a maddening choice for a sedan presuming to be sporty.
On the safety side, every Malibu comes equipped with 10 airbags, including knee airbags and rear-seat side airbags. GM’s excellent StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control are also standard, as are active headrests and anti-lock brakes with tire-pressure monitors.
Is the Chevrolet Malibu going to be able to reclaim sales for General Motors from the likes of Ford, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Mazda? It will be difficult, as the most of the cars offered in this category have been designed to deliver the perfect mix of performance, comfort, and styling, and in all three categories the Malibu seems to fall just a little short of the mark.
In theory the Malibus hooded gauge cluster should be easy to read, but the angle of the protective lenses seems prone to reflections that can hinder visibility.
Russell Purcell/PNG Merlin archive, Driving.ca
Type of vehicle: Front-wheel-drive, front-engine, mid-size sedan
Engine: 2.0-litre, DOHC, turbo-charged, inline 4-cylinder
Power: 259 hp @ 5,300 rpm; 295 lb.-ft. @ 3,000-4,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires (Front/rear): P245/40R19
Price: base / as tested: $34,815 / $37,520
Destination charge: $1,650
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy L / 100 km City: 11.4L (25 mpg); Hwy: 7.9 (36 mpg)
Standard features: Front bucket seats with 8-way power adjustment, audio system with AM/FM/CD and MP3 capabilities, 7-inch colour touch screen display, SiriusXM, Pioneer premium 9-sepaker system, Bluetooth streaming audio, Chevrolet MyLink, 19-inch aluminum wheels, power sunroof, halogen HID headlamps, fog lamps, power heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, start/stop, solar absorbing glass, tilt and telescopic steering column, leather-wrapped steering wheel with auxiliary controls, remote vehicle start, Driver Information Centre, express down power windows, remote keyless entry, keyless start, universal home remote, cruise control, compass, alarm, dual-zone climate control, 2 auxiliary 12-volt outlets, StabilliTrak stability control, ten airbags, rear vision camera, tire pressure monitoring system, OnStar with 4G LTE, advanced safety – Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Side Blind Zone/Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Options: Audio system with navigation, colour touch AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 capability ($795); Black leather appointed seat trim (N/C); All-weather floor mats ($160).
