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2014 Chevrolet Malibu: Driven

In its defense, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu wasn’t a terrible car. It was the quietest car in its class, and came with a suite of technologies that were standard.  The issue was that the sedans that were rolling out from other camps were such improvements over their predecessors, that they left the marginal improvements (and in the case of rear legroom, a regression) of the new Malibu in the dust on paper, and the biggest loser in many high-profile comparison tests. And thus, sales tumbled.

This pressure sent General Motors hustling to alleviate the problem, and their solution is the restyled, recalibrated  and otherwise refreshed 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. But was the pressure enough to make a diamond? I drove it this week to find out.

Approaching the front of the 2014 Malibu will show the changes instantly. The entire fascia, save for the lights, were revised from the rather unmotivated mug to a more eye-catching clip, and is most welcome. Now, Chevrolet will insist that it borrows styling cues from the 2014 Impala, a vehicle that’s received rave reviews (and ironically shares the same architecture as the Malibu), but I just don’t see it as much as they assert it. Regardless, it’s still easy to tell that the 2014 Malibu is a Chevy from the outside.

Inside is a revised center console, with two “mine and yours” cupholders and cell phone holders. There’s also a more cost-effective manual hand brake, opposed to the outgoing models electronic switch. There’s also more room in the rear seat for knees, but that doesn’t exactly spell more room for feet. That said, taller occupants will find more comfort in the back than before.

2014 Chevrolet Malibu Interior Three Quarter

Importantly, the base 2014 Malibu with its revised 2.5L Ecotec engine equipped with start/stop technology comes in with a very sufficient 196 horsepower and adequate 186 lb-ft of torque, which returns 36 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg city, an improvement of 2 mpg on the highway and 3 mpg in the city from the outgoing model. How do those numbers stack in terms of base powertrains compared to rival midsizers? Frankly, it manages the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and only slightly behind the Honda Accord in city mileage. Yet new entrants such as the Nissan Altima, and the amazing Mazda 6 remain ahead of the 2014 Malibu. That said, the Malibu’s start/stop system is the first to be offered standard in the segment, and its ratings were good enough for GM to discontinue the poor-selling eAssist model entirely. After my time with the 2014 Malibu, it was this base powertrain that I found most memorable, as engineers did a great job in re-tuning the driving experience.

The electronic steering system in the 2.5L Malibu was tuned to require more engaging effort in its movement than before, and the six-speed automatic transmission shifts quicker and smarter than before. But what I liked the most was the pedal feel. Throttle delay makes an entire car feel sluggish and detached, and is a symptom that the 2014 Malibu is wonderfully absent from, though engineers took heed on making sure the pedal wasn’t overly sensitive. The revised throttle response borders on sports-car-like, but I’ll stop short of saying it’s some sort of sport sedan. It’s still very much a practical midsize sedan, just sharper, even around winding roads. Yes, engineers re-tuned the suspension system, as well, borrowing what was learned in the 2014 Impala to deliver a more refined damper calibration.

Meanwhile, the 2014 Malibu Turbo is graced with GM’s new LTG 2.0L turbocharged four-pot, and gives the sedan a very stout 295 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 comes in at 5.9 seconds — quick for the segment — while returning 30 mpg highway as a trade-off for the power upgrade. The recalibration was otherwise not as drastic as what we found in the base model, but for those who want a Chevy sedan to scoot around in from traffic light to traffic light, this would be the one. But Chevrolet is expecting 85-90 percent of sales to account for the 2.5L model.

The 2014 Chevrolet Malibu also introduces Siri integration and hands-free texting to the midsize sedan segment. Those with current Android phones may find the process a tad less tedious than those with Apple products, but that’s what Siri integration is for. Simply pair the phone in just a few seconds, and a “Messages” icon appears on the Chevy MyLink screen. Every message received that point forward can be read out loud by the car, which will notify you when a message was received. Drivers can reply with pre-programmed messages, or new ones they come up with themselves — all without looking down at their phone to do so. Hopefully nobody is in the car with you when you open up the inevitable lewd message, or you’re in for a seriously awkward drive.

Those who do stick with the base powertrain will find that it starts at $22,140, and another $825 for the destination fee. That’s an increase of less than $150 compared to the 2013 model, yet nearly $1,000 under the underwhelming eAssist model, while returning nearly identical fuel economy figures.

Do, does the 2014 Malibu shine on like a crazy diamond in the mostly colorless midsize segment? It’s definitely brighter than before, and, should you be in the market for a car like this, will more than likely catch your eye.

2014 Chevrolet Malibu Rolling Shot Rear

Former staff.

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Comments

  1. I fear that the ’13 model may have permanently damaged the Malibu brand.

    Reply
  2. This car is embarrassingly bad. Just test drove it. Not even close to a fusion, optima, sonata, Camry, accord, sentra. Not sure who the brain dead people are who would buy this garbage.

    Reply
  3. I’ve seen them on the streets and its a sharp car.

    Very tempting to get the turbo model. It would be fun to surprise the muscle cars.

    Reply
  4. Glad to see GM trying to fix faults in the last model. I would have bought one if I were not buying the volt or interested in the cruze diesel. But I will say the front has a similar resemblence than my first and only FORD, 1985 TBIRD, as my bro reminds me, thunder chicekn with its turbo engine. I like the 2014 malibu.

    Reply
  5. Sentra? Ok bud, thats just funny.

    Reply
  6. +the 2013 console was nice the new 10214 is a disaster
    they made it wider and now your leg from the knee down rubs against the console side
    the hand brake is in the way for the passenger to hit with left arm
    the 2013 electric switch was much nicer
    the switches the 2013 had at the front of the console are gone.
    the new console is a ptece of crap!!
    because of it , i went and got a 2014 buick regal

    Reply
  7. As the owner of a ’10 Malibu, and now a ’13 Malibu, I still maintain that the ’13 is a better driver than the ’10. Since I don’t normally have back seat passengers, the rear legroom issue, although very obvious, is not something that matters to me. Since it is a lease – I’m not worried about resale. Yes, the rear legroom was a bonehead move on Chevy’s part – but the ’13 is still a very capable car with great gas mileage!

    Reply
  8. Yeah right, like you have driven all of the other cars that you mentioned. Give us a break.

    Reply
  9. Like documented before this is a new car but a old design. It was pretty much hammered out when it was shown to the press in 2008 and was a leading car design for the next few years. It was intended to be out at or just after 2011 but this was delayed do to the Chapter .

    GM did do a rush to move it up again to beat the Fusion but they did it by not as much as they would have liked.

    The Fixes GM had I believe were already in place and not due to sales as GM knew it needed fixed before they even released it but could not wait the extra year for the updates. The reality is to do the changes they did normally take more than 10 months to pull off.

    The car is not a bad car in a boring segment. It is a car that is behind some newer models that have recently come out and that is not lost on GM. This car and platform are up fore replacement soon so as long as they can buy time with a decent car they will recover. This may never be a segment leading car as it is but it will make money and at least hold a share of the segment till GM gets in place what they want and need here.

    Keep in mind this is a pre Chapter 11 car and not a post Chapter 11 like the CTS and ATS.

    GM knows what is going on and are not sitting idle. We should see some movement to replace this car before long.

    This car is not a bad car but just a victim of being between the old GM and new GM.

    Reply
    1. I don’t think GM is going to get rid of the Epsilon ll Platform anytime soon, they have 5 cars on it right now. . . .

      Reply
  10. i have a 2013 malibu i wanted to get my wife a2014 and get her out of her 2010 impala
    with that new console , and the hand break sitting up and the loss of those switches on

    and the wider console less hip room now
    and the right leg from the knee down rubs on the side of the console when on the gas .
    and yes, i have driven the regal much quieter ride not as good MPG as the chevy 2.5
    I have no problem with my 2013 and it may well be my last car, i am 82 now

    Reply
  11. As much as they have improved this over last year it is still not enough to get me out of my 2011 ‘bu . In this “boring” segment style and substance get you out of the doldrums so to speak and to me even with the new nose it’s not quite there yet. The next gen. can’t get here soon enough.

    Reply
  12. For those who think this car is boring now you know why we also have a Buick Regal.

    The vast part of the market wants boring. Not sure why or the appeal but they buy in to it.

    On the other hand those of us with the sporting need have a car to turn to in the same class. Either way GM is not duplicating classes or types of vehicles like they used to.

    Reply
  13. Wow a Turbo 4 that goes as fast as a Camry V6? That’s impressive!

    Reply
  14. When does Chevy update the cheap, plastic, gold bowtie?

    It is so ugly. I see countless people black out the gold.

    Reply
  15. Dan, the last time I checked, the Ford blue oval was both plastic and bright blue, Land Rover’s is plastic and bright green, Subaru’s is blue, Kia is dark Red, Mitsubishi is bright red, Honda’s H is plastic chrome, as is Hyundai’s, Toyota’s, Nissan’s, Mazda’s, etc, etc. They are all plastic. If you don’t like the gold, change it. There are aftermarket bowties available.

    The gold bowtie is Chevy’s signature and isn’t going away. I am proud to have it on the front of my Silverado.

    Reply
  16. The mere fact there are after market bow ties, and is countless bow ties with gold painted black proves my point. While the others may be plastic, the don’t look so cheap. The current bow tie looks awful.

    Reply
  17. That there are so many after market bow ties and every day I see cars and trucks with the gold painted black proves my point. It’s horrible. Wake up GM.

    Reply
  18. Dan, give it up man. There are tons of aftermarket Ford, Ram, and even Honda and other import emblems. Have you ever checked out a GrandWest and other aftermarket companies’ catalogs?

    Chevrolet is one of the best selling brands around the world, so it is quite apparent the gold bowtie isn’t the issue you are making it to be. Personalizing a vehicle is a personal choice and taste.

    As for the bowtie looking cheap, all emblems look cheap because they are all made of plastic and either covered in cheap plastic chrome or paint. If the biggest complaint you have is the color/look of the bowtie, you have bigger problems my friend.

    Reply
  19. The improvements on the 2014 Malibu are good. The front end, engines, and interior upgrades are spot on. If the C pillar and taillights were updated to resemble the SS sedan, the design will be more fluid and attractive.

    Reply
  20. Sorry Dan, but I like my Shiny, Classy, Yellow and Chrome bowties on my ’11 ‘bu. I think they look sharp. Besides they’ve been around like forever man, it’s heritage.

    Reply
  21. I like the 2014 Malibu, but unfortunately, I can’t afford to bring one to Barbados. The reason is that one of these cars would cause about $1,80 000. 00 Bds. The second reason is because this 2014 Malibu is not available in right – drive.

    Reply
  22. I THINK THE GOLD LOOKS GOOD. JUST WISHED THE QUALITY WAS A LITTLE BETTER….JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE ONE ON MY FRONT FACIA……THE GOLD WAS DETERIORATING (THEY LOOK GREAT WHEN THEY ARE NEW)….THE ONE ON THE DECK LID IS NOT FAR BEHIND. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE WASHER NOZZLES TO THE TUNE OF 26.00 EACH…PLASTIC WAS BRITTLE AND BROKE EASILY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE. CHEVY HAS REALLY BEEN TURNING OUT SOME REALLY GOOD LOOKING IMPROVED VEHICLES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS….BUT THEY NEED TO HOLD THEIR VENDERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SHORTLIVED TRIM PIECES THAT CHEAPEN A VEHICLES LOOKS IN A YEAR OR TWO

    Reply
  23. Dan has a point on the bowties, I work for a GM store and they are constantly being replaced because they are faulty. As far as the Malibu goes it actually drives extremely well, very quiet, great on handling as well. I personally would of redesigned the rear end of the car instead of the front end, I think it’s plain ugly in the back end but overall the car drives great and the turbo model has all kinds of gitty up.

    Reply
  24. Idiot? I don’t go a day without seeing a car it truck with a modified bow tie or a broken one. They look awful and they are freaking huge. They completely ruin the silverado. Gold and chrome looks like a 1990s bathroom faucet.

    At least they have the good sense not to plaster them on the corvette.

    Reply
  25. Google “ugly chevy bow tie” and see all the hit you get.

    This was the funniest I saw:

    “Make the ‘bowtie’ big enough to function as the front license plate mount also. Then at least the 2-plate states can cover it up.”

    Reply
  26. you should have left the console the same as the 2013
    people now, just don’t want the hand break in the console
    and leaving out the storage in the sides is a mistake also
    correct that for 2015

    Reply
  27. I just did it(the ugly bowtie thing) interesting anyway. Although I don’t have a problem with the emblem as it is.

    Reply
  28. Just picked up my 2014 Malibu Saturday and it now has 210 miles. Check engine light is already on!!
    Anyone hear of this being widely reported?

    Reply
    1. I have heard of these new Ecotec’s knocking due to a bad batch of o-rings or something. There was a post about this awhile back on GMA. Do you have the 2.5L or 2.0t? My 2.0t has 12K miles and runs like a charm! Go bring it to your local dealer and they can read a code to find out what it is or put a bottle of Risllone Engine or Fuel Treatment in it and hope for the best! Odds are it is just a faulty sensor..

      Reply
      1. Thanks so much! Gas cap issue. All resolved! Very happy with my new Malibu. I had a Maxx a few years back and was very pleased with it.

        Reply

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