2019 Chevrolet Malibu Changes, Updates, New Features

The 2019 Chevy Malibu receives a mid-cycle refresh for the 2019 model year consisting of updates to exterior, interior, technology and powertrain.

The update comes three years after the launch of the ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu for the 2016 model year. To note, a mid-cycle refresh can also be referred to as a facelift or a mid-cycle enhancement (MCE) in GM parlance.

Following are the changes, updates and new features for the 2019 Malibu:

Exterior Changes

• Exterior colors:
  • Deletion of four exterior colors:
    • Blue Velvet Metallic
    • Nightfall Gray Metallic
    • Arctic Blue Metallic
    • Pepperdust Metallic
  • Addition of three new exterior colors:
    • Pacific Blue Metallic
    • Northsky Blue Metallic
    • Shadow Gray Metallic
• Restyled exterior features, including:
  • New front fascia, headlamps, and grilles
  • New LED headlamps standard only on Premier trim, and not available on any other trim
    New rear fascia
  • Dual-element taillamps
  • New LED taillights standard on LT and Premier trims, available on Hybrid trim
• Wheels:
  • Deletion of three wheel choices:
    • (RS1) 16″ (40.6 cm) aluminum wheels
    • (RSC) 17″ (43.2 cm) aluminum wheels
    • (SKY) 18″ (45.7 cm) aluminum wheels, LPO
  • Addition of new wheel designs:
    • (QC7) 16″ (40.6 cm) aluminum wheels
    • (RSE) 17″ (43.2 cm) aluminum wheels
    • (Q82) 19″ (48.3 cm) aluminum wheels
• Deletion of Keyless Open on all 4 doors
  • Addition of Keyless Open on front doors
    • This change means that the buttons on the two rear passenger doors are moved, but the passive entry system can still be programmed to unlock all doors at once with one press or with two presses of the front door buttons

Interior Changes

• Interior color combination changes:
  • Deletion of Dark Atmosphere/ Loft Brown interior color combination
  • Addition of Dark Atmosphere/ Light Wheat interior color combination
• Addition of heated rear outboard seats on Malibu Premier trim level (equipment group)
• Addition of rear-vision camera on Malibu L trim
• Addition of HD Rear Vision Camera on Hybrid and Premier trims
• Deletion of Chevrolet MyLink radios
  • Addition of Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system with new, standard 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen radio on all models/trims, which includes AM/FM stereo, Bluetooth audio streaming for 2 active devices, voice command pass-through to phone, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability
    • Malibu Hybrid trim gets Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system, which includes all aforementioned features and adds voice recognition, in-vehicle apps, cloud connected personalization for select infotainment and vehicle settings
    • Malibu Premier trim gets Chevrolet Infotainment 3 with embedded navigation, which contains all features of Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus system and adds navigation
• Deletion of Enhanced Driver Information Center on Premier trim
  • Addition of new 8-inch reconfigurable color driver information center on Premier trim
• Deletion of ambient lighting from LT and Hybrid models, including:
  • Instrument panel light pipe
  • Front doors pad and map pocket light pipe
  • Door handle release release light on all doors
• Deletion of integrated turn signal indicator on outside heated power-adjustable, body-color mirrors on LT models
  • This leaves the Malibu Premier as the only 2019 Malibu model with integrated turn signals in the side mirrors
• Deletion of Front and Rear Park Assist across all models and packages where it was previously available
  • Addition of Rear Park Assist
• Deletion of Universal Home Remote across all models/trims

Powertrain Changes

• Deletion of 6-speed automatic transmission with 3.23 final drive axle ratio on L, LS and LT equipment groups (all models equipped with 1.5L turbo engine)
  • Addition of CVT transmission with 5.10 final drive axle ratio on those models, as well as the new Malibu RS model

Package-Level Changes

• Introduction of new Malibu RS equipment group (1SP) that offers a sporty, personalized appearance starting at around $25,000, with the following features:
  • Exterior:
    • 18-inch machined wheels
    • Black sport grille
    • Black bowtie emblems
    • Rear spoiler
    • Dual-outlet exhaust
  • Interior:
    • Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
    • Black cloth seats
    • Standard 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system
• Deletion of Malibu Redline Edition, which for the 2018 model year included:
  • Nameplate badge in Black with Red outline
  • Black front and rear bowties
  • 19″ Black-painted aluminum wheels with Red hash marks
  • 245/40R19 all-season blackwall tires
  • Blacked-out grille
  • Black outside mirror patch
• Deletion of Sport Package, which for the 2018 model year included:
  • Rear spoiler, LPO
  • 18″ aluminum wheels
  • 245/45R18 all-season blackwall tires
  • Leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel
  • Leather-wrapped shift knob
• Deletion of Sun and Wheels Package, which for the 2018 model year included:
  • Power sunroof
  • Universal Home Remote
  • 18″ aluminum wheels
  • 245/45R18 blackwall all-season tires
  • Leather package
• Deletion of Premier Sun and Wheels Package, which for the 2018 model year included:
  • Power sunroof
  • Universal Home Remote
  • Premium front and rear floor mats
  • 19″ aluminum wheels
  • 245/40R19 all-season blackwall tires
• Deletion of LPO-level Highway Safety Kit
• Deletion of LPO-level Crystal Claret Red horizontal leading edge grille
• Deletion of LPO-level Ground Effects Package
• Deletion of LPO-level Sport Handling Package, which for the 2018 model year included:
  • Sport lowering suspension kit, LPO
  • Ground Effects Package, LPO
• Convenience and Technology Package content changes:
  • 2019 Malibu package content (now available only Hybrid):
    • Remote vehicle starter system
    • Heated driver and front passenger seats
    • LED tail lamps
  • 2018 Malibu package content (available on LT and Hybrid):
    • Inside rearview auto-dimming mirror
    • 120-volt power outlet
    • Color Driver information Center
    • Chevrolet MyLink Radio
    • Wireless Charging
    • Dual USB charging-only ports in rear of center console
    • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
    • Leather-wrapped shift knob
• Leather Package content changes:
  • 2019 Malibu package content (available on LT and Hybrid):
    • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
    • Heated steering wheel
    • Leather-wrapped shift knob
    • Inside rearview auto-dimming mirror
  • 2018 Malibu package content (available on LT and Hybrid):
    • Heated driver and front passenger seats
    • 6-way power front passenger seat adjuster
    • Front passenger power lumbar seat adjuster
    • Bose premium 9-speaker system
• Driver Confidence Package content changes:
  • 2019 Malibu package content (available on LS for fleets trim termed 1FL, LT, Hybrid and Premier):
    • Rear Park Assist
    • Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
    • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • 2018 Malibu package content (available on LT, Hybrid and Premier)
    • Low-speed forward automatic braking
    • Front pedestrian braking
    • IntelliBeam, automatic high-beam headlamps
    • Front and Rear Park Assist
    • Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert
    • Lane Keep Assist
    • Following Distance Indicator
    • Forward Collision Alert
    • Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Driver Confidence II Package content changes:
  • 2019 Malibu package content (available on LS for fleets trim termed 1FL, LT, Hybrid and Premier):
    • IntelliBeam
    • Lane Keep Assist
    • Following Distance Indicator
    • Forward Collision Alert
    • Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking
    • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • 2018 Malibu package content (available on Premier):
    • Adaptive cruise control
    • Front automatic braking
    • Automatic Parking Assist
    • Electronic parking brake
• Confidence III Package replaces 2018 Malibu’s Driver Confidence Package II:
  • Available only on Premier and includes:
    • Adaptive Cruise Control – Advanced
    • Forward Automatic Braking
    • Automatic Parking Assist
    • Electronic parking brake
• (YP5) Sun and Wheel Package replaces 2018 Malibus’ Premier Sun and Wheel Package:
  • Available only on 2019 Malibu Premier model and includes:
    • Power sunroof
    • 19″ (48.3 cm) aluminum wheels
    • 245/40R19 all-season blackwall tires
  • 2018 Malibu’s Premier Sun and Wheel Package included:
    • Power sunroof
    • Universal Home Remote
    • Premium front and rear floor mats
    • 19″ aluminum wheels
    • 245/40R19 all-season blackwall tires

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