The 2019 model year will bring about a refresh for Chevy’s midsize Malibu sedan, and these new 2019 Chevy Malibu spy shots show the car wearing less camouflage than before, thereby revealing a few interesting details.
Out front, the 2019 Malibu shows a revised grille that appears to be significantly more aggressive than the current model. New headlights flank the redesigned grille… but we can’t tell with absolute certainty if the cluster houses a full-LED setup or High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting via projector beams. The LED accent lights on the lower facia also appear to have been redesigned.
Out back, these new 2019 Chevy Malibu spy shots show a revised exhaust outlet along with new taillamps that are in line with those seen on the 2018 Equinox.
Despite the rest of the car being camouflaged, we don’t see many other changes outside of those we have mentioned. It’s also difficult to tell whether the interior will get any updates based on these spy photos.
Under the hood, expect the 2019 Chevy Malibu to offer the GM 1.6 liter turbo-diesel engine (LH7) that is offered in the Cruze Diesel, Equinox Diesel and Terrain Diesel. In the Cruze, the motor makes 137 horsepower (102 kW) at 3750 RPM and 240 pound-feet (324 Nm) of torque, while delivering an impressive 31 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 37 mpg combined.
The current Chevy Malibu was introduced for the 2016 model year, representing the eighth generation of the nameplate. But despite addressing many complaints with the previous model, with the biggest being a small rear seat, sales have been on a steady decline over the past 16 months as a result of aggressive in-market sales tactics by the likes of Nissan (Altima) and Hyundai (Sonata). In addition, all-new launches from the segment’s stalwarts – Toyota (Camry) and Honda (Accord) that are arguably more exciting than Chevy’s entry, as well as the ongoing shift in consumer buying dynamics from sedans to utilities (crossovers/SUVs) have stifled the Malibu from reaching the sales success many were hoping to see. Check out historic Chevy Malibu sales.
Expect to see the Chevy Malibu refresh revealed at an auto show in the coming months.
Comments
It looks like the grill has ACC behind where the badge would be.
Thank goodness. The current front fascia is a disaster. Typical GM to leave out LED headlights as well. Hopefully they show up on the option sheet like the Equinox. HIDs bare minimum.
I think I see some LED lights on the front.
Glad they kept the attractive shape. The Malibu has great styling except for the front end. Looks like they addressed that.
LED’s better be standard. Also, if Chevy refuses to offer soft touch material for the upper dash on their vehicles, why not offer leather wrapped (Faux probably) upper dash material so at least it looks nicer on the Premiere versions.
Looks like a ZL1 grille
Awesome car! GM should just give it a better interior and more power.
This looks promising. They either moved the badge to the upper grill where it should be or they’ve put the adaptive cruise control sensors up there. I very much like the tail lights.
Looks like they took a very good car and improved it. Looking forward to seeing it without camo.
The re designed front end looks good , but the lighting should be LED’s instead of HID’s , not only does it look better but the lighting itself is better . Although I am also a GM owner , past n present , that Honda Accords lighting system just looks awesome .
More and more automakers are going withe horizontal lighting in front so i wonder if GM will follow suit with all of it’s new models ( which the Elmiraj had ) .
Poor Impala , shoulders on n on n on with no love ! When will we read it’s OBIT ?
Hopefully they addressed any and all shortcomings as compared to the competition. The also need to do a better job in promoting the Malibu. what good does it do to have a great product if you are not going to let people know you have it.
there are led lights on front and back of this car and they are very cool looking
All Chevrolet cars deserve a Camaro inspired grill. In addition, lighting needs to meet or surpass the Accord benchmark. GM must stop dumbing down Malibu in an effort to make Buick shine brighter. They are different brand deserving unique industry-leading features.
I loved the greenhouse of gen 6 Maliibu with that high belt line. It would have looked luxury if not for the stubby front and rear.
Do you mean Gen 7?
Yes, thanks for noticing. Gen 7 is the only Bryan Nesbitt designed car I’ve ever liked.
I have a fully loaded 16′ Malibu Premier and literally my only complaint is the lighting.
1st: Headlights suck, I mean, they are terrible… I went from a 16′ Silverado with HIDs (LT Z71.)
These aren’t even in the same ballpark as those, hell they aren’t even playing the same game….
BARE MINIMUM have HIDs standard and LEDs on LT with Convenience and Tech Package and standard on Premier.
2nd: Interior lighting. Why only put LEDs in the map lights and no where else?
It looks so stupid at night when I unlock my car and the front half is white and the rear is yellow….
Might as well put LEDs everywhere there is lights, this is 2018 after-all. (Rear dome, license plate, trunk, vanity mirrors.)
You honestly probably saved $4.20 per car by not making those 4 LEDs; Don’t be cheap GM.
Besides that, don’t put the 1.6L Diesel in it.
The market just isn’t there, see Diesel Cruze and Equinox sales for example..
Instead, here is the absolute best thing you could do for the Malibu:
GIVE IT AWD, at least as an option.
Honestly, it is $1,500 more on a Trax, $1,700 more for Equinox.
You could even charge $2,000 for the Malibu and I’d still pay for it.
If they save $4 per car that’s over $600,000 saved for 2017 alone with lowballing 185,000 sold. It’s a big chunk of change however I agree with you on all LEDs. Another thing I hate is when automakers have LED DRL/fog lights but halogen headlights. The mismatch in light hue looks off and cheap
Just a question. Lets just say the part is indeed $4. Couldn’t GM just charge us the customers?
GM also needs to address exterior and interior colors and trim packages. Look at the variety in those areas on the new Toyota Camry. The Malibu’s paint and interior colors are a snooze by comparison. Where are the bold metallic paints that Honda, Ford, FCA and Toyota have in abundance?? And the weird light brownish grey Chevy uses on the interior (Light/Medium Atmosphere) looks like a mid-90s rental car.
Way too much of old GM still hanging around. I realize that a dollar saved is a dollar earned. But the idea of making your vehicles the leaders of their class and perhaps becoming the sales leader also should carry more weight than saving a buck or two. Just my two cents.
I have 2017 Impala premier and the HID headlamps don’t look bad with the LED halo around the light. I do think that the new Malibu with follow in the foot steps of the Equinox and offer HID in lower end trims and LED in premier only. The Impala not sure they will change what they have as I do believe that the model will be canceled in way of the Malibu being the front runner. I drive a lot and see a ton of ford fusions and hardly any of the Taurus and I feel that GM will kill Impala. I had a 14 LT and traded for Premier and it seems when sales were up on the Impala is when they liquidated them with the 20% off and that month was high on sales and as soon as the 17’s were gone and 18s were on the lot with minimal discounts sales numbers dropped horrible. I know my dealer has that model on the lot for months. I don’t think it will be horrible move if they cut that car from line up they have done it before and brought it back. I feel if the trail blazer comes back and you have that , the Equinox, Traverse, Trax, and Taho that the car line up will shrink since so many people are converting to SUV’s. When I trade next it may be for SUV.