Earlier this month, we shared with you the five improvements we would like to see on the all-new 2016 Chevy Malibu. And earlier this week, we learned that Chevy’s new midsize sedan will also introduce various safety technologies for the teen driver. Now that we are a mere ten days away from the unveiling of the 2016 Malibu at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, we wanted to ask what you, dear reader, would like to see from the new bread-and-butter car.
Sound off in the comments and, as always, please keep it civil.
After you’ve shared your opinion, click here for Chevy Malibu news and here for preliminary information.
Comments
A better looking face! This current one is not growing on me…
@ Derek
And while GM would be at it, lets try to differentiate the front end from the SS.
I want this one to be a leader in features. Panoramic sunroof, LED and HIDs, heated rear seats, reconfigurable gauge cluster, and of course all the current active safety features. Kia is killing it with a similar level of options and its time for Chevy to compete.
The pano roof will happen for 2016, as will the HID and LED running lamps on higher models.
It needs to be more competitive and have better value when it comes to pricing and feature content in both standards and options. Gas mileage should increase as well to the point of making the competition play catch up for a change. I hope it is a “looker” as well, sort of like the ’08-’12 kind of was. 🙂
A turbo diesel mid engine convertible wagon with a manual tranny and RWD.
In all seriousness, a Malibu with available AWD would make my day. But to beat the Fusion, Chevy needs to step up the styling. Front grille especially. And stop leaving the exhaust ports off of the rear fascia.
For the inside, just make the MyLink screen bigger, people will love that. And make it a capacitive touch screen like a phone, not a resistive. More soft touch materials (i.e. leatherette) on the inside certainly won’t hurt. And don’t forget the paddle shifters on the turbo model.
Hah! And make sure it also has an option for crank windows.
But really, the current-gen Malibu has exhaust outlets in the rear fascia for the 2.0T model. It also has some very good materials, soft touch and everything, inside.
Class leading interior space, function and ergonomics .
Absolutely better looking front and back.
The new Malibu should not have bland styling.
Powertrain options should be wide ranging including a V6, small displacement 4 cylinder, diesel and an AWD system.
A over the top performance model would also give it an edge over the competition and increase the ATP.
A sport tuned suspension and 300 hp V6.
I don’t know how they could possibly improve on the existing model. It already is the highest ranked midsize sedan in initial quality by JD Power!
Actually, when compared to competitors by legitimate manufacturers, they should improve the interior plastics, rear seat legroom, and, umm…. initial quality.
A better looking rear fascia and aggressive front fascia or inspired from the Impala. Upscale interior, more refined. Sedan, coupe and wagon variants. optional AWD. Engines option should vary beginning with a 2.0 four, 3.6 V6 (it’s sad that the upcoming 3.0 will only be Cadillac) and hope to see a V8 6.2 for an SS variant.
can not wait to see what GM can. automotive world today is still very tough. I would be proud gm. GM to produce high-end products.The level is so high, even low-priced cars driven in the automotive industry. But we’ll see
Two words: performance version.
I will just wait and listen to what GM has to say.
No need to ask for a V6, SS and other things that are not coming or for better styling, better interior, better leg room etc that is coming.
This will be a very strong car in the segment with what it will come with. This one I expect this time will be the home run package as GM got all the things they wanted for the first time post bail out on this car.
It’s gotta have a “WOW” factor in this segment — side profile looks good but I hope the front end styling doesn’t leave people yawning….
I hope that the color palette goes beyond the greys and blacks…..
Wagon, AWD, Manual trans. Any or all of these in any combination.
Simple….just cancel the unveiling , turn it into a CUV to take on the Ford Edge , another year or two can’t hurt current sales any , and you will hopefully have a competitive product in the hot mid-size CUV market segment !! You have the quality 2012 style Impala with it small footprint design , for a Camry fighter….all it needs is a one piece grill , as god intended grills to be , a scallup in the side , new dash , engine and handling package , then you have the new 2014 Impala design for the top end Chevy .
Gotta fix the rear seat room issue, as that seemed to be the most common complaint. They need a variant for each type of customer. They need a fuel sipper variant, a power heavy variant, and a good in between model. In this day of trendiness with everyone buying into the myth of Global Warming I mean Climate Change, it would help if GM for once released a hybrid that could put up numbers similar to that of a competitors hybrid, instead of going half-way with their failed mild systems. Whatever happened to the 2-mode hybrid system that GM developed with Daimler a few years back.
I had no issues with the interior, just update it with the latest and greatest MyLink system, the gen-1 system that is in my Cruze is not coping well with phone software updates, and since GM doesn’t offer free software updates after 36,000 miles… yeah, maybe just fix that part actually, software updates should not cost $300. Last time I checked, the software/OS updates on my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro were all free. All variants cheap and expensive should come with the MyLink system standard, no more lame rental car versions with the 2004-ish era looking radio. This is the future, full-color and touchscreen/command knob should be standard. Or at least give the LS the system out of the Spark and Sonic. Oh and one last thing, cheap plastics be banned.
They have to be very careful with the styling, it has to be bold, but not obnoxious (like a Hyundai). But should be unique enough to last more than 2 years. It needs to be able to turn heads, but shouldn’t be boring after the 3rd head run (like a Hyundai).
Get some decent advertising for once. I don’t know how it is on normal television, but I stream most of my stuff now, I’m so sick and tired of seeing Toyota and Chrysler commercials. And since that’s where viewership seems to be heading in the near future, it would be good for GM to get commercials on the internet.
Finally, let’s get a coupe variant. That goes across the line for Chevrolet. Well, mainly for Malibu and Cruze. I don’t know what the sales numbers are for the import coupes, but Malibu and Cruze are just screaming for coupe model.
The teasers look very promising, hopefully it’s 2008 over again so we can forget the past few years.
An available V6 engine and more aggressive exterior styling. When selling volume vehicles I think manufacturers tend to make cars look bland to appeal to a broader audience. But exterior styling is extremely important to consumers and gas mileage, horse power, and safety are secondary. If you randomly called people’s phones and asked them how much horse power and torque their cars produce, a vast majority of them couldn’t tell you. Distinct exterior styling will separate the new Malibu from competitors.
A nine speed automatic transmission. And silver topaz metallic paint.
This next Malibu will beer only a few inches shorter that Impala, almost the same size, which makes me feel like Malibu isn’t much needed anymore.
Obviously, GM will continue to cover both “segments”, and I can’t help but think Chevy, GM and drivers would be best off with the Opel Insignia–high end design, excellent quality, ideal as an SS model, and Insignia would sell like hotcakes as a Chevy as opposed to a Buick.
Insignia would smash Fusion, as it had in Europe, and overtake Nissan. The next Malibu must have striking design and high end quality because, on the coasts, Chevy is still a semi damaged brand.
I’d like to see awd as an option. And a diesel as one too. Add the 8 speed trans also. More rear head and leg room. Just stop playing catch up with everyone else. I’d like to see higher quality in the interior. They can do better and I think they will. They just need to do it faster.
I would like to be able to specify the engine, transmission and suspension without having to get a bunch of unwanted “luxury” items that do nothing for performance and just add lard to the price.
Exactly! You have to add $1000s of stuff just to get the Turbo or sunroof. Maybe I don’t want leather just to get a sunroof, seriously even if it didn’t cost extra I don’t like leather. The Impala is the same way.. If I want Bose speakers and 19″ wheels, I have to get the advanced safety package that I don’t want.
How about an override for the stop-start engine, and some exciting colors inside and out. An optional V6 wouldn’t hurt either.
All Wheel Drive
How can you compete with Subaru if you don’t have all wheel drive??
I’d like to see increased interior space and a coupe variant. The Accord coupe shouldn’t be allowed to dominate that segment.
I own a 2013 Malibu and I want a 2.5 twin turbo pushing 350 HP a and a 8 speed manumatic with a torque converter.Don’t want a v6 thanks Chevy no go out an do it.
A 2.5tt I4 is highly unnecessary; the reliability would be awful and fuel economy would be sub-par.
Not everyone wants a 4 cylinder, so V6 would be great. GM can do it, the Impala is a beautiful vehicle. Class leaders like Honda and Toyota are doing it, GM can too. I agree with the LED and HID all models or just mid/high models. Styling is very important. I loved the 08-12 malibu…very different. It still looks good. But you look at what’s on the road. The KIA Optima is selling well for a reason.
I have a list of improvements for the 2016:
-Decent looking sets of rims (especially on base models)
-Updated engines with power, responsiveness, and efficiency improvements
-An exterior that puts the Mazda 6 to shame
-An interior that puts the Hyundai Sonata to shame
-Safety Alert Seat, Every airbag imaginable, and Other class-leading safety equipment
-Slap Shifter paired to a 9 Speed Auto
-Standard Stop/Start
-Color palette with fresh, shimmery, and bold new colors (Liquid Black, Cayenne Metallic, Laser Blue, Rainforest Green, Red Hot, Iridescent White, Purple Haze, Dark Cherry, Gray Stone, etc.) – NO MORE TUNGSTEN, SUMMIT WHITE, CHAMPAGNE SILVER, or ATLANTIS BLUE
-Hybrid, Diesel, and Performance variants
Engine lineup should consist of current and new engines:
1.6t eAssist I4 with 220HP and 240LB-FT (48 City and 45 Highway)
2.0tt CDTi I4 with 215HP and 350LB-FT (32 City and 50 Highway)
2.5L I4 with 205HP and 190LB-FT (30 City and 42 Highway)
3.6L V6 with 315HP and 275LB-FT (26 City and 34 Highway)
Personally, I love my 2013. I opted for the 1Lt with the 2.5l engine. For the past two years it has been an awesome car. I also like the refresh of 2014-2015. Now on to my list.
1. RWD/AWD – The cars profile screams for this.
2. Back up camera a standard not an option.
3. Better rear visibility (C pillars are quite thick).
4. Add the 4″ back to the length to appease the ones who claim “unusable back seat” (actually, not an issue for my family of four. 2 Teens & 2 average adults)
5. 2-3″ more ground clearance would make me happier.
6. Make the side view mirror larger and folding. You do it in the Euro and Chinese models.
7. Give Americans the option of manual transmission. At least for the Turbo models.
In all honesty, you could make this car better than anything ever made in the history of the auto world. Still, there would be bashers, complainers, haters and trolls. I for one, love the Malibu line. Because it does look different than other cars and it rides and handles so well. Also, at 16.0 cu. that trunk is huge. Most other modern cars look very similar to one another. Seriously, a Fusion from the rear tail lights can pass for a Huyundai or Kia.
I would like to see a wagon version, with the new length that is coming. It should offer a top version with AWD and the 3.6L TT Cadillac VSport engine, with decent towing capacity. Also a delete option for navigation and most of the electronics that my generation got along without for the past 50 years. Just the modern “good stuff”, like great brakes, suspension, engine options, more colors, inside and out, and a great sound system. Oh yes, knobs with clear markings, not touch screen, and great dash ergonomics. Basically a modern version of the 1964-1972 Malibus we all loved and miss, that were cars, not just transportation.
I have a 2013 LTZ. Love the car except for two things. The car is really horrible in slippery conditions. The car needs a AWD model for the people that live in cold areas. Also my car has the wrong tire wheel combo. The wheels are too wide for the tires. The wheels actually hit a curb when you park before the tire does. Next year I will be replacing this car, but I will be looking for an AWD. ATS is quite expensive for what it is which probably leaves the Fusion in the malibu price range. Charger is also a possibility, it is available in AWD.
My wants are specific to the top end trim. I want to see the same digital gauge system used in the Regal GS and ventilated seats very badly.
Make the Voltec hybrid drive system standard and promote it. Then get ready to build a bunch of ’em.