For reasons that have to do with omission, the 2. Chevy Malibu also doesnt quite measure up to its great looking image, since a navigation system isnt on the options list, leaving you with On. Star and a glovebox of maps as your only recourse. And while the Malibus trunk has a decent size, its utility is compromised by its narrow opening. Shoppers in this segment will want to test drive the stellar Ford Fusion relative to the Malibu, it offers a wider range of features and goes down the road with a more visceral personality. The much lauded Hyundai Sonata is also worth a look, on the strength of its pleasant driving dynamics and superior fuel economy. Still, the Malibus impressive sales figures are testimony to the fact that this car definitely has an audience likely those who appreciate quality fronted by a handsome face. Performance. Our 2. Chevrolet Malibu test car is motivated by a 2. V6 is also available with more expensive trims. The Ecotec engine is one of the least powerful four bangers in the segment youll get more juice from rivals like the Sonata 1. Accord 1. 77 hp and the Fusion 1. Still, youre not likely to feel short changed behind the wheel, since this sedan offers ample power for urban maneuvers, effortlessly weaving through traffic on city streets and easily getting up to speed on the freeway. Track testing yields a 9. Honda Accord but places it behind the Hyundai Sonata 7. In brake testing, a stop from 6. Sonata 1. 31 feet but fractionally ahead of the Accord 1. The cars brake pedal felt a bit soft, but the brakes delivered consistent performance. Slalom cones were navigated at a speed of 6. As such, the Bu was quicker around the cones than the Sonata 6. Accord 6. 2. 1. Still, its overall performance in this area is tarnished somewhat by its lifeless steering, a trait that did little to inspire confidence in the driver as the cars limits were approached. With an EPA rating of 2. Chevrolet Malibu is one of the more fuel efficient choices in its segment of sedans. Its more frugal than the Accord 2. Fusion 2. 2 city2. Hyundai Sonata 2. Comfort. For the most part, jolts and bumps are kept at arms length by the Malibus forgiving suspension. The front seats are comfortable and pleasantly supportive, though wider passengers may find the seat bolsters somewhat intrusive. The seats offer a multitude of adjustments, making it easy to optimize the seating position. Its backseat is one of the Malibus primary weaknesses. Its one of the narrowest in the segment unlike the Accord, for example, it doesnt fit three passengers comfortably in back. This Chevy also comes up short on rear headroom relative to the competition. Those seeking a family sedan with a truly quiet cabin will want to check out the 2. Chevrolet Malibu. The double paned glass of the windows helps banish road and wind noise. With the doors shut and the windows rolled up, the cars interior is as still and peaceful as it gets in this segment, and this holds true both on highways and on surface streets. If youve ever struggled to have a conversation above wind and road noise in much noisier sedans like the Accord, youll appreciate the Malibu. Function. Most people will have no problem deciphering the Malibus controls. Climate controls are governed by two knobs managing fan intensity and mode, and buttons that allow you to adjust temperature. Unfortunately, dual zone climate control isnt available. The layout of the audio controls is similarly familiar. Large knobs allow you to manage volume and tuning, while large, flat buttons allow you to toggle between presets and bands. Overall, the cars controls are a lot less confusing than those seen in rivals like the Accord. What you wont find are controls for the navigation system. An in dash navigation system isnt available, though the 2. Chevrolet Malibu offers On. Stars Turn by Turn navigation. Turn by Turn is actually more user friendly than wed imagined. To get directions, you simply press a button that allows you to contact an On. Star representative. The rep then provides you with automated voice guided directions street names and upcoming turns are also downloaded to your radio or Driver Information Center. Still, Turn by Turn comes with a few drawbacks that you wont find in most in dash nav systems. First of all, its a bit of a bother to call a live representative every time you need directions, especially if you have to repeat the call later in the trip. This happened to us when we pulled over for a break. Once we killed the ignition, On. Star logged the trip as being completed, which necessitated another call to the rep once we were ready to continue the journey. Finally, though Turn by Turn offers a display that guides you from one landmark street to the next, it doesnt offer a map display. Having access to a map showing your highlighted route makes the navigation process a lot easier without it, the journey can be pretty confusing. For all these reasons, we think that Turn by Turn is a step down from an in dash nav system. A rear facing child seat is easily accommodated in the rear seat. Whats more, the Malibu has no fewer than three pairs of LATCH anchors most family sedans offer only two pairs on the outer seats, and this means that you can use LATCH to place a child safety seat in the middle seat a location deemed by experts to be the safest place to position a child. With 1. 5. 1 cubic feet of room, the Malibus trunk is larger than that of an Accord 1. Sonata 1. 6. 4 cubic feet and a Fusion 1. The Chevys trunk accommodated a golf bag and a standard suitcase, but its narrow opening made it challenging to load larger items. DesignFit and Finish. From its graceful nose to its crisply angled back end, the Malibu is one of the more attractive members of the family sedan tribe. Its sheet metal manages to look distinctive without being showy. We were especially fond of its stylish, bifurcated honeycomb grille. Fit and finish within the cabin was a mixed bag. It was mostly decent, but we noticed some exposed seams in the area above the dash. Who should consider this vehicle. The 2. 01. 0 Chevrolet Malibu is a good choice for those seeking a stylish, comfortable family sedan that comfortably seats up to four passengers. Its a family sedan with more style than you usually expect from this market segment. But those seeking more passenger capacity and a wider range of technology features will want to investigate rivals such as the Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata. Others To Consider. Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima. Chevrolet Silverado Reviews and Rating. Paint, Two Tone ZY2. REQUIRES LS Decor. REQUIRES 4. 7U1. L Forest GreenMedium Charcoal Gray, Two Tone OR 7. U1. 1L Victory RedLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 5. U1. 4L Summit WhiteMedium Charcoal Gray, Two Tone OR 5. U1. 1L Summit WhiteLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 1. U1. 1L Medium Charcoal GrayLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 7. U1. 1L Sunset OrangeLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 4. U1. 1L Onyx BlackLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 4. U1. 1L Forest GreenLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 5. U1. 1L Dark Carmine RedLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 7. U1. 4L Sunset OrangeMedium Charcoal Gray, Two Tone OR 6. U1. 1L Sunset GoldLight Pewter, Two Tone OR 3. U1. 1L Indigo BlueLight Pewter, Two Tone. NOT AVAILABLE WITH E6. Truck Bed, 6. 5 Foot Sportside.