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This Is The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet has pulled the wraps off of one of the most important products for the bowtie brand’s lineup. Enter the all-new 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. With the new mid-size sedan, Chevy rights every wrong it had committed in the previous generation of the car.

Most importantly, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu arrives minus the 2.5-liter four-cylinder LKW. Instead, the new base engine for the Malibu is the new 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with standard start/stop technology while making 160 horses and 184 pound-feet of torque.

We already don’t miss the 2.5-liter four-banger, because not only does the new 1.5T make just as much torque, but it returns 27 mpg during city driving, and an impressive 37 mpg on the highway. The car also features active grille shutters to reduce aerodynamic drag and therefore boosting efficiency during highway driving.

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu also arrives with a higher-output variant of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder LTG engine. The motor makes  an estimated 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. With greater power comes lesser fuel economy, with the engine returning 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.

Rounding out the new powertrain goodies is the application of the General Motors’ first eight-speed automatic transmission mated to a front-wheel drive vehicle. The eight-speed arrives exclusively with the 2.0-liter, while the 1.5-liter will be mated to a six-speed automatic.

From a design perspective, the 2016 Malibu shows face in a longer, and leaner guise. Thanks to the new E2XX platform new Malibu is also nearly 300 pounds lighter than the outgoing car, and is stretched four inches to offer superb interior space, an area in which the current-gen Malibu needed to improve upon.

As always, styling remains subjective, but we think the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu wears its new styling very well, with possibly being akin to a Mazda 6 in side-profile. The new sleek take on the Chevrolet front fascia is eye pleasing, while the rear drops the “Camaro inspired” taillamps for ones which seemed to be stripped from an Impala. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the Impala is quite the looker in its own right.

Inside, things are spruced up accordingly, too. The Chevrolet MyLink seven-inch display is standard on LS, LT and Hybrid models, while an eight-inch variant of the system is optional and standard on the car’s new Premier trim. Chevrolet prides itself on the redesigned center stack having a distinct delineation between infotainment and climate controls, especially for quick-glance operation. Additional interior features include satin chrome accents, wireless phone charging and ventilated seats, which happen to be a first for the Malibu.

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu does not slack on safety equipment either. As well as the Malibu’s new Teen Driver System, available safety features include:

  • Front Pedestrian Alert that uses a forward-looking camera to help avoid or reduce the harm caused by crashes with pedestrians ahead of the vehicle
  • New Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert
  • New Forward Collision Alert with Following Distance Indicator
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Front and Rear Park Assist
  • Intellibeam, which automatically switches the headlamps to high beam for better road illumination and improved visibility
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Automatic Braking
  • Automatic Parking Assist

Upon our first look, all we can do is simply give a nod of approval to Chevrolet. The Bowtie knows that it need this Malibu to be a winner, and we’re pretty sure it contends with the consistent podium finishers.

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Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. Wow, didn’t expect this one tonight. I think the grill is too much and that the LEDs look gross, but it looks as good as anything in its segment otherwise, at least judging from this pic. Heck, the grill doesn’t look that bad., it’s just… those LEDs.

    It’s the best looking Malibu I’ve seen since most of you were born, really. Hope we see a V6 and a real hybrid.

    Reply
  2. Beautiful. Very good execution. Can’t wait to drive one.

    Reply
  3. This is the biggest disappointment for me this year. I was hoping for something classy and modern similar to the way the impala was when it first came out, instead, I see the result of a Chrysler 200, Toyota Avalon, and a teeny tiny bit of Impala all fused together to make this unattractive obomination. GM is probably gonna sell a lot of these simply because Americans don’t care about styling more than they care about fuel economy. But it’s sad to see GM cutting corners and half assing things like these again. From the in your face looks of the camaro, to the sleekness of the CTS, to the passion of the corvette design team, GM creates this obomination. Good lord, I hope it’s an April fools joke, but obviously it’s not.

    Reply
    1. Work at Toyota or Honda? Perhaps Ford?

      I smell competitor inside her… it happens.

      Reply
    2. I think you are missing the point completely. I believe GM is trying to place something different in the mid-size category. The Accord, Altima, and Camry are bland as can be. The only sporty, aggressive car in the class is the Fusion (sorry, Kia, you don’t count). This Malibu adds a sporty, modern look that the class is lacking.

      I also fail to see how they “half assed” this one. The current Malibu is #1 in initial quality in the class and this one looks to be no different. Also, the new Malibu has more safety and technology features than any other mid-sized non-luxury car.

      GM is making incredible cars right now. Go drive a 2015 Malibu LTZ and then go drive a 2015 Camry and tell me which one you like more. Trust me, it’s not even close, and this 2016 Malibu appears to be taking it a step further.

      Reply
      1. They might have knocked everything out of the ball park, but design? No way. The most competitors might look bland, but at least their design is coherent and work well from multiple angles unlike the Malibu which looks like a bunch of different prices put together into one car as this giant blob. Sporty? I’m sorry sir, but sporty is not something I’d use to describe this car which isn’t bland at all, it’s simply unfinished. This car will sell very well, I know it, and everything else is excellent, but if I was a young adult with a family, the styling would make me ashamed to say that I drive a Chevy Malibu. At least the last one had a good looking face, now GM just got rid of that.

        Reply
    3. hafeez_h, I think your the April fools joke.

      Reply
    4. I really dislike this new malibu. Being the owner of a 2012 malibu, I still think the last 2 body styles haven’t topped that one. This to me looks like some sort of Honda, I guess I set my expectations too high.

      Reply
  4. I get that it’s larger – a much needed back seat improvement. But OH – EM – GEE, that grille and entire
    front end is butt-ugly as I’ve seen! The side details are horrid also. I’m sorry, I know you are a bunch
    of GM fans – I was hoping for the best, but this looks like another disaster that’s going to need a
    mid-cycle or earlier refresh. I don’t think the public is going to receive this well. When the new
    Camry face appeared, and it’s giant maw of black grillwork sank in – I thought Toyota had really ‘
    blew it. Yet it seems sales are strong because of the Camry franchise. People just hear “Camry” and
    they can make it look like a sea bass and customers still believe in the institution. Malibu doesn’t
    have that luxury. This car needed to hit it out of the park, but just the front end and sides alone
    show us it’s a total disaster waiting to happen.

    Reply
  5. Chevy: We took Ford’s new grille and stuck it below the Camaro grille. Now everyone will like us!

    Reply
    1. There is a problem with the grill. It’s like they’ve fused Impala and Camry front facada.
      I wish Chevrolet would use Camaro front facada on all models or a modified form like on Impala.
      Another issue is Malibu vs Impala’s size. There are nearly the same length which will put a damper on Impala sales.
      Also, it.is long past time to retire the Malibu name plate. It represents FAILURE. Cutless would fit well into the current Chevy naming sceme and be a cool reference to GM history.

      Reply
  6. This Malibu will sell a ton with its premium looks and technology.

    The rest in its class now look dated and some are much more overpriced for the same equipment or less.

    Great car!

    Reply
  7. Uhm guys, I hope you know that this is A HYBRID??? If we can rewind ourselves to see how butt ugly the Sonata Hybrid is then it’s gonna translate to other midsize Hybrids okay??

    Reply
    1. Uhm, the camry hybrid isn’t as but ugly. Bland? Yes. But ugly? No

      Reply
      1. Camry hybrid is ugly

        Reply
      2. This car is beautiful. It takes design top honors right next to Mazda 6 and Kia Optima.
        Chevrolet Heartbeat design isn’t overly thick and gaudy like Ford Kinetic. Obviously all design is influenced and inspired by other automakers. In this case, I see a lot of Benz as well as the sporting proportions of the old GM H body cars like Bonneville and 88.

        Reply
  8. looks pretty decent in these pictures. A good step forward. gm keep it up. Two things that the eye is first. black plastic interior door handles and knobs on the center console and in the sockets. However, in general, quite like it at first sight. looking forward to more realistic images.
    it can still be sure to subscribe to any future sportier package. I like it and it seems now one of the most pleasant at all, even globally. But surely you must continue to work and can not stay asleep, and still getting better. However, this is a decent work for

    Reply
  9. It would have been so easy to run the side window line straight back from the front corner running parallel to the side crease that is just above the rear door handle . This would have opened up the interior and rear passengers could actually see something . This fashion fad nonsense is sad , really ! Also , a small performance V6 is a must . The Camry has one and if you don’t meet your top competition in its home court , the most popular sedan in North America , then why bother , at all ?? Why only make the top engine/ drivetrain available on the premium model ? Again , half a job by the Malibu ! Will it attract more sales , yes , but it leaves , again , so much on the table for the other competitors ….GM is so generous !

    Reply
  10. Surely not immediately come out of the whole selection. Certainly the new opportunities over time. I’m pretty sure they also pointed out that the later version of the kind of sport.

    Reply
  11. It looks pretty good to me! It should look better in the flesh?

    Reply
    1. You meant “in the metal”.

      Reply
  12. Perfect, it really does look like a “Little Impala”, inside and out.

    Well done!
    Finally a legit Hybrid as well.

    Reply
  13. Styling wise this vehicle has a LARGE presence to it yet has lightness. Will have to see it live but the front end makes it look like a well appointed uplevel vehicle.

    If this is priced competitively it will sell very well. Issue today is all the “expected” content (safety goodads, infotainment) puts the price higher than they certainly used to be. Most of it is optional but when a buyer checks all the boxes the price is higher than expected. A $40k malibu is unexpected. Let’s hope it is not that high.

    Reply
  14. They did well here. Once we get a few people to get over their preconceived idea and see this in person they will grow to appreciate this car.

    People wanted a little Impala and that is what they are getting with more advancements, more size, more style and less weight.

    This car is the complete package.

    the color here hurts this car more than anything. A red or darker color would show this car much better. White always has a sense of gas company or government looking cars. A richer color will set the appropriate tone for this car like a Dark Metallic Blue.

    Reply
  15. So much for awd… smh

    Reply
    1. The primary key here is MPG and decent power If they had added AWD it would have added much more weight in all models and less MPG in the other cars you sell.

      At best they would sell 10%-12% AWD vs. 88% FWD that the owners wanted better MPG. They made the right choice. Also I am not sure how it would have hampered their Hybrid system that will be even more important moving into the future.

      Reply
      1. Nonsense. Tell that to Ford. Tell it to Kia. Tell it to Toyota, Subaru, Buick and all else. Chevrolet is not Allowed to have AWD period end of story. All to protect Buick. It’s the worst artificial glass ceiling handicap GM forces upon them. It does nothing to protect Buick. If people want Buick’s they’ll buy Buick’s. What it Does do is hinder and continue to damage Chevrolet. It’s worse than the artificial glass ceiling GM forces upon Chevrolet in the interior department. And that’s been pretty bad for quite some time.

        Reply
  16. Great job GM!
    It’s very beautiful!!

    Reply
  17. Two things that consumers notice and care about: The interior, especially the infotainment system, looks solid compared to competitors. That along with the fact that the base power train has near top segment MPG numbers will help it sell with more retail units.

    I wonder if this is the ticket to gain more share on the coasts akin to the Fusion. If it doesn’t, one has to think it’s due to brand or less aggressive styling because the hybrid and interior boxes are certainly checked.

    Reply
  18. Well done. The exterior sorta has an Impala cross Fusion thing going on, but the design is tasteful and striking. The interior is leaps and bounds beyond the current model! Quality looks to be on with the competition. But what’s most impressive is the 300lb weight reduction off the current model! Hopefully that and the new 2.0L turbo four with the 8-speed auto combination will translate into a great driving car.

    This new Malibu looks and sounds to be a formidable player in the segment, but until it’s driven, we’ll just have to speculate.

    Reply
  19. The front end is so ugly. Hate the bow tie on the horizontal strip of grill.

    Reply
  20. Great looking car! Speaking as the owner of a 2014 Impala, I can say it DOES look like a mini-Impala. I’m sure GM will sell a ton of them.

    However, it does need a V6 option, at least at the top end. No, that would probably not be a high-volume option, but it would make the car an option to a segment of the population that would not otherwise consider it.

    Reply
    1. I would take a V6 over the small over stressed turbo motor.

      Any place in Canada I have lived, the Malibu does not sell well, priced to close to the Impala, once buyers find out how little more it is for an Impala, they forget all about the Malibu, this from talking to the sales people.

      Reply
  21. It’s a nice-looking vehicle, but I think it looks too much like an Impala. But maybe GM’s logic was that some people may like the Impala but not its bigger size; it’s not wrong for GM to think this way. I personally wish the design deviated more from the Impala and I also wish a naturally-aspirated V6 was an engine option.

    Reply
  22. Why the decrease in power in the 2.0L turbo? The previous generation had 259hp and 295 lbft of torque. Thats a significant decline in torque. I hope this car can keep the previous 2.0’s 0-60 time of 6 seconds.

    Reply
  23. This is AMAZING!!!!!! The poor Impala is gonna have a run for its money now…

    Reply
  24. This car has kick every other car in the mid-size segments ass on looks alone. My only hick up, is the base engine. GM should have either used that previously updated 2.5, with the 8-speed and stop start feature, or the 1.6 SIDI turbo found in the European Opel. Hence, base output could have been and easy 195 bhp and 200 foot-pound of torque

    Those figures I mention would have resulted in better acceleration for around similar EPA ratings. Additionally, lets not forget that the previous 2.5 is rated at 25mpg city and 37 mpg highway, which validates my point. otherwise, I love this car.

    Reply
  25. That thing looks nice. A lot of you guys are trippin, HARD. Can’t say you like the Imapla, but dont like this. I do agree on the AWD thing. Malibu or Impala should definitely have AWD

    Reply
  26. impala 2014 . i dont know.However, the Malibu is still quite interesting indeed. Definitely will be even better. But good work.
    Gm must have high goals and role models.

    Reply
  27. This car makes me think of what’s Kia optima again?

    Reply
  28. This has to be an April Fools joke. The front end looks like someone took a Silverado and ran it over with a steamroller.

    Reply
  29. I’m not a fan of the front end but the profile is stunning. The rear is also a huge improvement. A little disappointed about the highway fuel economy. The current car gets 36 on the highway and they dropped 300 pounds and changed to a small displacement turbo engine and only gained 1 mpg. Of course, these are just estimates. Hopefully the official numbers are higher. The hybrid has great fuel economy though.

    Reply
  30. I think this is the best looking mid size we’ve seen in a long time. Its aggressive and beautiful at the same time. Based on looks its miles better than the fusion, the Camry has a mouth to swallow 30 big macs, the accord and the 200 are just boring, Hyundai Sonata is ****(I drove one and wanted to shoot it), and the Mazda 6 is actually pretty nice. I’m just saying all this based on looks.

    Reply
  31. I love the way it looks, but the engine options are a HUGE disappointment. As someone that was already unhappy with the engine choices in the 2015 model, these are worse. 160 horsepower on the base engine? Less horsepower and less torque on the Turbo 2.0? They need the 3.6 as the top engine in this car.

    Reply
  32. impala. i dont know . looks different for me

    Reply
  33. I really like it. Except from the split grille, the car is Benz CLA beautiful.
    I’m a huge Mazda, Buick, Kia mid sized design fan, and see Malibu as a worthy competitor.
    My only issue is that Malibu and Impala are the same size

    Reply
    1. Yep. Big fan of Kia, Buick (post bk) and Ford styling myself. Why Chevrolet can’t seem to get their front end designs together like Buick, Ford etc.. is baffling. Chevrolet used to have the best front ends and frankly profile designs in the business. It may have been a long time ago but it did happen. The only current front end contenders to classic Chevrolet design would be the Impala & Corvette. They screwed up the new Tahoe with the headlamps.

      Reply
  34. It looks like a baby Impala. Very nicely done.

    Reply
  35. What happend to the 9 speed auto?

    Reply
  36. If marketed and priced right this car will move to the top of the segment in 2 years.

    Reply
  37. love the exterior… interior looks too much like the impala

    Reply
  38. Wow this is the most beautiful Malibu the design the front grill about time they removed the old ugly front light this a big 10 for Chevy,,

    Reply
  39. Love the back, love the side profile even more though the door stamping’s are a bit busy, hate the front end. That split bar is awful. Why not just use a clean and sleek Impala like grille?? The interior is Much improved but still looks a bit cheap. I hate the melted center stack that droops off the center of the dash. At least it’s a somewhat cohesive design unlike the current interior. Still, no AWD. You can’t even Pay for it if you wanted to give Chevrolet (oops, GM) some extra money. I guess they don’t want the extra money from those in northern climates who are willing to pay. Ford has AWD, KIA has AWD for heaven’s sake. This is getting ridiculous.

    Reply
  40. Very nice! I have Cruze Diesel and wondered if that diesel engine (or a variant of it) might find a place in the Malibu lineup. Not this year, it seems; but that probably will not have much effect on sales of the new ’Bu.

    Reply
  41. The car looks great. His image is fresher as the Impala.
    Someone can give information about the color options and prices? That engine 1.5 Turbo looks very good for the great fuel economy.

    Reply
  42. It almost looks like a Buick.
    Chevy and Opel designs are over lapping.

    Reply
  43. Bravo! Great job of redesigning the exterior, interior, and the powertrain! My parents had a Malibu back in the 70s and it was sharp. If the Malibu looks this good, I can only imagine how good the 2016 Buick Lacrosse will look.

    Reply
  44. This is a beautiful car inside and out. My only beefs are the shape and angle of the fog lamp housings and the crease on the side that starts below the side mirror and drops down. These things could have been better but everything else is awesome and stunning IMO both in and out. Considering the engine I’m hoping for better than GM projected fuel economy. 🙂

    Reply
  45. Improved looks, more rear seat room, good weight loss, apparently a better interior. This all bodes well for this car’s chances of gaining market share.
    To nitpick, I’m a bit disappointed in the 1.5T instead of the 1.6T. Better fuel economy and in a lighter car, I know. But it still seems a bit weak. I’m sure competitors are offering notably more and that may hurt this car. And, this was the engine that I’ve been hoping will replace the 1.4T in the next Cruze, so now that seems less likely. We’ll see.

    Reply
  46. I look forward to renting one.

    Reply
  47. It’s undeniable that they took care of at least most of what they needed to, namely more interior space, less weight and an upgraded interior. The subjective part is the design. I think it looks really good, with some flair but not overdone like some people feel about the Hyundai design theme. I think more people will like it than dislike it and it will sell better. How much so remains to be seen.

    Reply
  48. The 2016 Volt looks very very similar to the new Malibu and I guess the Cruze too. I think the Malibu will be offered as a plugin hybrid version, similar to the Volt. The styling is very similar. Similar dashboard too. A lot like the latest generation Fusions in the front.

    Reply
  49. Home run for Chevy………………….Buying one in December…………….First Chevy I will ever own……………Owned a lot of GM cars (especially Olds) but never a Chevy until now…………………………..

    Reply

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