It was close but no cigar for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu at the 2016 North American International Auto Show.
The 2016 Malibu was in the running for the 2016 North American Car Of The Year but, alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The 2016 Malibu was beat out by the all-new, tenth generation Honda Civic.
Although the 2016 Malibu missed out on NACOTY, it has garnered plenty of positive press. That includes The Detroit Free Press naming it its car of the year.
Even us here at GM Authority found much to love with the 2016 Malibu. It’s spacious, overly refined and we even think it’s a looker, too.
But, the Civic is also one hell of a vehicle compared to its ninth generation. The award still went to a very deserving winner.
As the Cleveland Browns fans love to say: there’s always next year.
Comments
I watched two YouTubes of the 2016 Civic. Caught up on some sleep.
Lol
Man, this was the award I wanted to see GM take.
ppl fall in line for this stuff and I’d love to see the Malibu take the throne in the mid size car segment.
Car of the year honors is not the be all and end all when it come to car sales.
Since 2000, GM has won the North American Car of the Year (NACOTY) 4 times (2008 Malibu, 2011 Volt, 2013 ATS, 2014 Stingray) and none of those vehicles (except maybe the Malibu) have been a runaway sales success.
I think car awards are more for car enthusiasts more so than the casual buyer.
You forgot the Saturn Aura
You are right. But my point is still valid.
Thank you, vic1212…You beat me to it.
No need to pile on.
Well it would have been nice but they are at least in the conversation now. Before they were not even considered.
For GM to dominate here it will take a few years of solid product and continued improvement. The will get their but even Honda and Toyota took years to grab the class lead.
Agreed. This gen. Malibu will regain the respect and be in the consideration that was not there with the last gen. Chevrolet then needs to follow this up with another class leading effort the next time around and not take a backwards step like the last gen. Malibu.
Are you kidding me? The 2016 Honda Civic is nothing less than a shortened Honda Crossturd. Never the less, it’s a great vehicle, and America loves the Civic. Luckily, here in Mexico, we love GM more than Toyota and Honda
“But, the Civic is also one hell of a vehicle compared to its ninth generation. The award still went to a very deserving winner.”
What an embarrasing statement! No Japanese import should win a “North American” Award. Japan never gives awards to any North Americcan vehicle! And don’t say that the award was deserving since the Civic is assembled in the U.S., because it is still a Japanese vehicle by its brand. That award was stolen!
I am tired of all these criticisms of the Malibu. They redesign the car for 2016 and it’s still not good enough for some reviewers. The civic must have deserved it but the Malibu is a home run. Tech, less weight and a beautiful body style. The fusion is nice but the Malibu is to me better. The rest Japanese et. al. Are appliances.
Reputations are like boxing titles. Hard to earn but easy to maintain unless you get knocked out.
The fact is the Honda is not a bad car [Not that I would ever buy one] and many like it. So it would take a knock out or sustains yearly improvement and investment to move the Bu to the next level. That is how Honda did it over the years and I suspect Chevy will do the same now they can afford to.
I feel if we can see the Bu get into the top 3-4 with this years model that is a win and a good foundation to build off of to compete for the top spot. Once you are out of the top 4 it is hard to get noticed but in you become a viable consideration and over time you gain traction with continued improvements.
Honda and Toyota did not become 1-2 over night. They also had an advantage that many of the other makes were all failing on their own. Today it is a real battle to gain ground as most cars in the market are good and the top cars have to be even better.
If GM had a car of this quality back in the 70’s- 80’s Honda and Toyota would not have the ground they have now.
But for me, THERE WON’T BE A NEXT YEAR!
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!