The current, ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu is the right product at the wrong time: thanks to the ongoing shift in consumer vehicle buying dynamics that favors crossovers over sedans, sales of the midsize sedan fell 17 percent to 97,006 units in 2016 and are off 35 percent in the first four months of 2017. Regardless, Chevy is giving its midsize sedan a few updates for the 2018 model year.
A new exterior color — Sandy Ridge Metallic — joins the color palette, bringing the total exterior color count to ten. There’s also the addition of the Malibu Redline Edition. Announced earlier this year, the Redline appearance package includes:
- Nameplate badge in Black with Red outline
- Black front and rear bowties
- 19″ Black-painted aluminum wheels with Red hash marks
- 245/40R19 all-season, blackwall tires
- Blacked-out grille
- Black outside mirror patch
The Redline package is available only on the LT trim level and requires the Convenience and Technology Package along with one of the following:
Exterior Colors
- Iridescent Pearl Tricoat
- Silver Ice Metallic
- Summit White
- Mosaic Black Metallic
Interior Trim
- Jet Black
The Redline Package is not available with the Sport Package or Sun and Wheels Package.
The 2018 Malibu also sees the deletion of accessory/LPO-level 19-inch aluminum wheels and the replacement of the 13-gallon fuel tank on L, LS, and LT trim levels with the 1.5L Turbo LFV engine with the 15.8-gallon unit, the same as on the Malibu Premier, which comes standard with the 2.0L Turbo LTG engine. Meanwhile, the Malibu Hybrid continues with the 13 gallon tank.
Finally, the Sun and Wheels Package sees its RPO code changed to WPM from PCL and two new fleet-specific decal packages become available — one for Nationwide and another for Allstate.
The updates and changes described here are specific to the U.S. market and may be different for other markets.
More Information & Reporting
- 2018 Chevrolet Malibu info
- 2018 Chevrolet Malibu changes, updates, new features
- 2018 Chevrolet Malibu order guide
- 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Redline info
- Chevrolet Malibu sales numbers
Comments
Soooooo what’s the point if you can only have it on the LT trim and NEED the tech package? What if I wanted a Premier sport with red line appearance?
Agreed. The availability needs to be expanded.
I’m guessing that Chevy will see how it performs on the LT trim first and grow it from there… OR it could also be that there is a limited availability of parts to make the Malibu Redline possible, and that availability will be expanded into the future.
Hopefully it will be expanded. It’s a good addition to an already handsome sedan
It does seem strange, when I think Red Line I equate it with sporty but that package isn’t available. Very strange
Yeah I was trying to look into a cruze premier with the redline package.
Malibu is a cursed nameplate. Sonota and Fusion often outsell.
Cruze is an example of how nameplate matters, and turns the page.
Many off us still think of six gen Malibu.
The 7th Gen was a huge hit, the 8th generation actually was a disappointment but Chevy’s 9th Gen is a great car. The name plate isn’t cursed at all it’s a classic
own a 2017 malibu, love it. also had 2000. 2012, 2015 . 2000 was horible, the rest are good cars
Then what’s the fuel tank on the 2.0T?
It has been 15.8 gallons. We have updated the article for further clarity.
Impala looks really nice in this particular photo. I think it looks Lexus ES like, but better, in this instance. I’ve never ridden in an recent Impala, but always admired it’s looks.
I think the picture above is malibu but you’re right about the impala though
The new Malibu looks alot like the Impala but that picture is the new Malibu. Unless you are being sarcastic because the two cars look so much alike
I am not sure this will ever get to the to
Level trim. Like the Z71 package on the Colorado and Canyon it can not be has on the LT OR SLT packages.
This I thing was just made to add profits and volume to the mid priced models that sell the best.
Watch and see if the other Redlines just cover the mid level models.
I suspect this will replace the Shore line in the Colorado line.
Hold out for a better looking front end in 2019 too.
With the complaints of the headlights on the current Malibu not being bright enough, I am disappointed that they haven’t added LED headlights or at least a Bi-xenon option that is standard on the Premier and optional on the LT trim. Hopefully it will be added on the next model year.
Agreed about the lights. It’s downright embarrassing that the Malibu doesn’t offer anything outside of a halogen headlight, especially in 2018.
Meanwhile, Kia offers Bi-Xenons in the Optima.
The headlights need to be fixed on both the Impala and Malibu. They also need to get more than 160 HP out of the 1.5T. Note that Ford gets 184 horses out of there 1.5T and Honda under rates there 1.5T at 174 HP in the Civic. I would also like to see expanded availability of the 2.0T in the LT trim as it was in 2016. Restricting it to only the costly Premier which starts close to 32 large is plain dumb. At least make it available on the Redline and Sport package.
1. How do we know that the 160 hp figure from the 1.5T LFV is not under-rated?
2. Totally agree about expanding the availability of the 2.0T LTG.
Yes hopefully all will be resolved in 2019. If they increase the horsepower and torque to the figures of the same engine on the Equinoxt and then add the new 9 speed auto, it would do the Malibu some good. The current engine isn’t slow but the increase would do some good. Either which way I will soon be looking at another car again. Malibu, Cruze, GTI, Mazda 6 are my choices.
why does Chevy not get the 3.0 liter and AWD from the Buick? we want to trade our Volvo in but no 300 HP AWD Chevy exists. That could be a legit Malibu SS.
That would kill the reason behind the need for the regal, it will reduce chevy’s EPA average rating for the brand, and the Malibu is already lightweight and the 2.0T with the 9-speed auto is already formidable.
Make Malibu Great Again!
I have the premier. Its a beautiful vehicle but yes the headlights are embarrassing, the cheap halogen yellow light looks ridiculous combined with the bright led running lights.
I would like to know why you can add everything to the redline Malibu but a sunroof!!!! Why can’t you have leather seats and a sunroof? If you google redline malibu you will find pictures of it with a sunroof and leather. IT makes no sense to me.
You can order a Malibu Redline edition with a sunroof or sunroof and leather. I picked mine up yesterday.