The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is a far, far better car than the outgoing model. The previous generation Malibu reeked of Old GM and Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It was evident the car was rushed through during tough times at the automaker.
However, with the new Malibu, that has changed. Totally. Chevrolet needed to prove it was able to build a midsize car again, and it has, even recapturing some of the love found two generations ago. The Fast Lane Car decided to pin the latest Malibu against the previous generation to see how far the midsize sedan has come.
And, guess what? It’s better in every place it counts. Styling is subjective, but we’d hands down say the 2016 Malibu is better looking vehicle. With a sleek profile, longer wheelbase and sloping roofline, the old Malibu looks like the prized possession of rental car lots.
The backseat is larger, the powertrain is smoother, faster and gets better fuel economy. What’s not to love?
Chevrolet will sell the outgoing Malibu alongside the new vehicle for a period of time as the Malibu Limited, mostly to rental car lots. But, we’d persuade you to walk past it and climb into an all around better car.
Comments
Yes, it seems that the new 2016 Malibu is the first new mid size car from GM in a number of years that really rocks in its market segment.
Hopefully, new 2017 LaCrosse and 2018 Regal will be overall really good too – in its respective market segment, of course. If so, it will then further help to improve the opinion of what a modern GM sedan is among North American customers.
I liked the previous gen. When the new gen came out I was a bit apprehensive, but it’s grown on me. Now I see that it’s shed its typical FWD family sedan look while still maintaining why it sells so well as a family sedan.
After watching the video (3:33), it’s clear that the old Malibu has hydraulic hood, while the new one – does NOT.
It looks to me as a “step back along the car evolution path”. Minor thing, but still. My 2010 LaCrosse also has hydraulic hood, and it’s generally convenient to have it, IMHO.
Does anybody know, why the new 2016 Malibu doesn’t? Cost and/or weight savings? Or maybe some other reason?
Why would GM get rid of the hydraulic hood? Strange and cheap of them. My 2010 Malibu had it and so does my 2015 Impala. I agree that’s a step backwards.
This is the comparison of base to base models. I imagine it is still there on higher level trims. It must have been deleted for cost and weight; hopefully people don’t have to open the hood too often either!
Seems to be not the case: the Premier with 2.0 Turbo seems to also have just the stick and no hydraulic hood:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/chevrolet-malibu-2016-motor-trend-car-of-the-year-contender/#2016-chevrolet-malibu-20t-premier-engine
See image # 19 there.
So, I guess, things like hydraulic hood are part of the body design itself and thus are the same for all vehicle trims.
The new Malibu is attractive but I still like the Chrysler 200 better. I’m well into the minority here. I don’t anyone agrees with me
Just too bad 200 is leaving though.
What Chrysler did was fine. The styling was not earth moving but it was very nice. The same for the interior. As for what was under the skin it was just poor platform from Europe.
FCA should have funded Chrysler to do the whole car and not short cut it with the older Lancia platform.
FCA is in trouble and Sergio has put them there. They need new models like crazy and they have to just about be all home runs anymore with where they are.
They can only go so far on trucks and Jeeps. I suspect we may see them owned by one of the Chinese MFG before too long. I really hate to say it but that is who they are talking to about small cars and FCA has no money to contribute but they have shares in the company they can supply.
Sergio has separated Ferrari and looks to be heading there so I think he found his golden parachute and will move there to destroy them too.
I honestly don’t see the argument of having hydraulics hood vs the good ol hinge that holds it just as well. I don’t mind either, but it’s just the fact the hydraulic ones breaks a lot easier once it needs more lubrication.
Well it was done for two reasons cost mostly and I would expect some weight as they have lowered the weight anywhere they can even in shorter bolts.
It is a total engineering effort. They took all the extra length of the bolts and cut them to as needed length and save a lot more weight than you would ever imagine.
The price also is a factor. Look at what you can get in a LT package for only $27,000 vs many others in the same class and GM has a very good value package. Lets face it most people do not hardly ever open their hood anymore other than washer fluid and most could care less about the struts that generally lose their seals and never get replace on many car in class.
The key to the future of this class is weight and cost. People just can’t afford to pay much more in this segment anymore. That is why Hyundai has done so well as for a long time they made up on the Honda and Toyota with a lower price. They did suffer some quality and GM is trying to split them with good quality and better price.
As for weight it is the NEW HP war. All of the companies need to cut weight and they need to have done it yesterday. GM is one of the few that has really taken a lead in this and I expect more weight loss to come.
The old Bu was just a stepping stone to buy time till the new platform was ready. While it did not set the world on fire it did not totally tank like some others in segment. It did what it needed to do and buy time. Not easy to do in a segment so tough.
Have you started to see pound to horsepower mentioned in ads yet? I guess some people still equate heavy with safe? Is there any reason NOT to advertise Weight to HP? Are marketers afraid that consumers wouldn’t understand?
Well said
Why did GM leave out HID headlights on the Premier trim when the previous model LTZ trim has them. With aging eyes, night time lighted view with ID are so much better. We had the previous two generation Malibu’s and wanted a new Malibu, but will be looking for an equivalent size vehicle with HID instead, unfortunately. Maybe the Kia Optima as it even has power-folding mirrors, but I have always had a GM vehicle so it’s sad to make the move. Just like the new 2017 Acadia (out other vehicle has been an Acadia), they sadly removed Head-up display and power-folding mirrors which the previous generation has for 9 years.